Critic Lee Dong-jin has given the Japanese animated film 'Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island' three stars and shared a brief review.
On the 25th, Lee posted an article titled 'The Silent Light of Chiikawa: No Place to Look' on his blog. He stated, "I will be posting ratings and brief reviews for new releases this week," revealing evaluations for a total of 18 works.
Among these, 'Chiikawa' received three stars, with Lee commenting, "The bittersweet sadness that flows when you bite into a world that is adorably cute." Meanwhile, audience reactions to 'Chiikawa' can be summed up in one word: 'twist.'
The film captivates viewers with its cute characters and charming animation style, but it also contains a dark story and brutal developments, leaving audiences with an unexpected impression. The contrast between the film's appearance and its content is noted as a key point of appreciation.
Other critics have also highlighted this characteristic of the work. Critic Lee Yong-cheol described it as "the cutest dark film in the world," while critic Lee Woo-bin remarked, "It can't just be cute; it has to be this intense as well."
Audience reactions have also drawn attention for expressing the film's atmosphere, which contrasts with its cute exterior. One viewer who rated the film on Naver on September 30 wrote, "I thought it was a chocolate cake, but it had spicy chicken inside." This review received 1,139 likes.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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