Anime Review ‘Flavors of Youth’, Understanding the Meaning of Life in 3 Different Stories – The animated film ” Flavors of Youth ,” which aired in 2018 on Netflix , featured a rare collaboration between Japanese and Chinese directors.
This anime features three parts depicting life in China with different city backdrops, telling about the ups and downs of life.
The film has a stunning visual appearance, especially in the realistic background animation. Although the character designs are simple, the film manages to capture the essence of life in China by focusing on the details of the background animation, which provides an experience comparable to Japanese animation productions.
The anime “Flavors of Youth” explores the complexities of human emotions through memories and nostalgia. With a poetic narrative, the film is like a video essay reminiscent of popular podcasts.
Small themes like food, family, and love are used to convey messages about modern life that often forgets the important things. The film creates a universal feeling that can be felt across cultures.
The film is divided into three parts, each focusing on different characters in different Chinese cities.
The first segment, The Rice Noodles, emphasizes simplicity and nostalgia by depicting a man’s relationship with his favorite noodles.
Meanwhile, other segments, A Little Fashion Show and Love in Shanghai, raise important themes in life such as family relationships and the true meaning of life.
While all three stories have their own charms, The Rice Noodles segment is considered the most captivating. Simple and nostalgic, this segment is reminiscent of a personal experience in the past.
Although the film’s pace feels slow at times, this may be intentional to provide emotional depth to the audience.
Overall, “Flavors of Youth” is a visually stunning and emotionally touching work of animation.
With a connected narrative and stunning animation, this film invites the audience to reflect on the value of memories and the impact of the past on the present life, as well as to give meaning to the meaning of life.
While it may not be to everyone’s tastes, the film is a worthwhile viewing experience. For lovers of emotional animated cinema, “Flavors of Youth” is worth a watch.