Samurai? Only for cats
The animation I Became a Samurai takes the viewer to a land reminiscent of centuries ago Japan, with one slight difference. The country is inhabited only by cats. Each village has a samurai cat that cares about the safety of its inhabitants. However, not all are brave enough to serve as defenders. Cats from one place, which the samurai abandoned in fear of the approaching attack, find out about it. The village remains unprotected and, thanks to some intrigue, the clumsy dog Hank becomes its new defender. His charges do not take it well, and the main character is put to the test to prove that even an ordinary mongrel can be as agile as a cat warrior.
Unfortunately, this is one of those animations, after which I wonder if productions for children must be equally inspiring and surprising each time; does each of them have to carry some extremely revealing or moralizing message.
The problem with the plot of As I Became a Samurai is very simple – the story is extremely predictable, which makes the adult viewer lose interest in it in the blink of an eye. Its message will not surprise anyone either, as this topic was discussed in a similar fashion in, for example, Mulan . The younger ones can be attracted by spectacular fight scenes, of which there are quite a few in the animation, although it is difficult to say whether the story itself will attract their attention.
Hank, the main character, also doesn’t act like someone who is supposed to set an example for kids. It only becomes bearable towards the end, because for the rest of the film he either acts like a dismissive arrogant or he doubts himself all the time. At times, it seems as if he wasn’t trying so hard for this samurai position. It’s much easier to sympathize with supportive characters who are likeable and who will say something funny at times.
Ubiquitous jokes, sometimes better, sometimes worse, can be treated as an advantage of the film. Although they are usually simple, they often add a humorous tone to the action, which makes it more enjoyable to watch.
Even though I didn’t like the main protagonist, that doesn’t mean that there weren’t any intriguing and interesting characters in this story. The antagonist of Ika Chu is definitely noteworthy, little Emiko (who by the way would be better than Hank when playing first fiddle), Szogun, Ohga and my absolute favorite – Chuck. There was something about this cat that made me laugh at the mere sight of him, in the most positive sense of the word.
Still from the movie “How I Became a Samurai”
Sweet cats are always up to date
However, there is a reason to watch How I Became a Samurai . Aesthetically, the animation is amazing. Cat character designs, village, clothes – the appearance is definitely the main advantage of the production. In this respect, it is definitely unique. It can also evoke a bit of nostalgia in the viewer, somewhat reminiscent of the style of Kung Fu Panda , which my entire generation has fondly remembered from childhood.
However, there is one “but” that can spoil the visual experience. Music. In such a universe, I expected something more in the style of traditional Japanese songs, Asian rhythms straight from the Middle Ages. Instead, I got Gangnam Style – a song that probably everyone who does not live under a rock has eaten by now, which destroyed the whole atmosphere that the aesthetics had built. Pity.
Still from the movie “How I Became a Samurai”
Maybe it will work next time
The ending of Hank’s story leaves a lot of room to show off in terms of a possible continuation. One character even mentions a sequel, breaking the fourth wall. I sincerely hope that it will be created, because the world presented in the animation is an interesting place, beautifully drawn. I would love to come back to this world because I love cats. I hope that if we see the next parts, it will be with a different musical setting and a better idea for the plot, so that kids can get something valuable from the screening.
We invite you to the movie How I Became a Samurai to Cinema City cinemas !
