On-Gaku: Our Sound

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On-Gaku: Our Sound
Directed byKenji Iwaisawa
Written byKenji Iwaisawa
Produced byTetsuaki Matsue
Edited byKenji Iwaisawa
Music byTomohiko Banse
Grandfunk
Wataru Sawabe[1]
Production
companies
Rock’n Roll Mountain
Tip Top
Release date
  • 26 September 2019 (2019-09-26)
Running time
71 minutes[2]
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

On-Gaku: Our Sound (Japanese: 音楽, lit. "Music") is a 2019 Japanese animated musical comedy film written, directed and animated by Kenji Iwaisawa, based on the 2005 self-published manga Ongaku to Manga by Hiroyuki Oohashi.[3] The film was produced by the studios Rock’n Roll Mountain and Tip Top, and stars the voices of Shintaro Sakamoto, Tateto Serizawa, Tomoya Maeno, Ren Komai, Naoto Takenaka and Kami Hiraiwa.[2] The plot concerns three high school delinquents with no prior musical experience who form their own rock music band.[1][4]

On-Gaku has its world premiere at the Ottawa International Animation Festival on 26 September 2019, followed by a limited release in Japan on 11 January 2020. It received praise for its deadpan humour, musical score and vocal performances, and won Best Feature at the Ottawa International Animation Festival and the Ōfuji Noburō Award at the 75th Mainichi Film Awards. It was also nominated for Best Independent Animated Feature at the 48th Annie Awards and Best Animation Film at the 75th Mainichi Film Awards.

Plot[edit]

Kenji, Ota and Asakura are presented as three high school delinquents, though no fighting is ever shown on screen. Ota casually asks Kenji if he wants to go beat up the rival gang at Marutake High. Kenji agrees, and the three head out, but after realizing they have no idea where Marutake is, they lose interest.

Later on, Kenji is walking down the street when he witnesses a robbery. A passing musician thrusts his guitar into Kenji’s hands while he tackles the thief. Kenji takes the guitar home, and tells his friends the next day that they are going to start a band. They steal more instruments from the school to complete their ensemble. Kenji was unaware the guitar he stole was a bass, so the band ends up consisting of two basses, a snare and a tom drum. Knowing nothing about music, the only music they make is harsh, rhythmic noise. Still, the boys are inspired. Their first audience is their only other friend, Aya. When she asks what the band name is, Asakura suggests Kobujutsu (ancient martial arts), which Kenji agrees to without further thought.

Throughout the film, the story occasionally cuts to the mohawked gang at Marutake, led by a boy named Oba. The gang believes Kenji is taking its members out in fights, when in reality they are being scared off by Kenji’s mere presence. Oba plots to teach Kenji a lesson.

The next day, Asakura learns that there’s a band at their school with an incredibly similar name, Kobijitsu (ancient fine arts). Instead of confronting the other band, Kenji decides to hear them play first. Kobijitsu is an acoustic folk trio led by singer Morita. While Kobijitsu are incredibly nervous to play for the school thugs, Kenji appreciates their music. In return, Kenji has Morita’s band listen to their music. Morita is absolutely blown away by the raw, primal energy of the band, and asks if they will play an upcoming rock festival with them. Kenji agrees. The band begins to practice for the festival, but Kenji becomes despondent, claiming he’s now bored of the band. Aya tries to talk some sense into him, but is unable to change his mind. After a short fight, Aya storms off, leaving the apathetic Kenji laying on the ground. Ota and Asakura are confident that Kenji will show up at the festival anyway.

On the day of the festival, Kenji is finally confronted by Oba’s gang. Before Oba can fight him, Kenji smashes his bass and pulls out a recorder, playing it for a stunned Oba before running off, the gang chasing after him. At the festival, Ota and Asakura plan to play alone as Kobujutsu. Morita’s Kobijitsu plays first. Inspired by Kenji’s band, Morita’s folk act has now become a fully fledged rock band. However, near the end, Morita’s guitar breaks, and they walk off dejectedly. When Ota and Asakura get on stage, they freeze up, as Kenji has still not arrived.

Kenji, still being chased while playing recorder, leaps on stage. Kobujutsu, reunited, begins to play, and Morita’s band joins in. Oba watches in disbelief as the crowd starts to get into the music. The band finishes their song, and Kenji, ecstatic, finally breaks out of his neutral exterior, and sings out passionately to the crowd.

The day after, Kenji has returned to his stoic self. Aya sits with him alone in an empty classroom, where Kenji reveals the band has broken up. Aya is disappointed, but Kenji goes on to ask if Aya will go to Disneyland with him. Ota sees the two talking, but quickly leaves. Outside, Ota asks Asakura if they should ask Kenji for a band reunion. Asakura agrees that Kenji will likely say yes later that day.

Voice cast[edit]

Release[edit]

On-Gaku has its world premiere at the Ottawa International Animation Festival on 26 September 2019, followed by a limited release in Japan on 11 January 2020.[1]

Reception[edit]

Critical reception[edit]

The film received praise from critics for its deadpan humour, musical score and vocal performances.[2][5][6] On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 12 reviews, and an average rating of 8.5/10.[7] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 86 out of 100 based on 4 critical reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[8]

Accolades[edit]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Ottawa International Animation Festival 28 September 2019 Best Feature Kenji Iwaisawa Won [9]
Asian Film Awards 28 October 2020 Best Original Music Tomohiko Banse, Grandfunk and Wataru Sawabe Nominated
Mainichi Film Awards 31 December 2020 Best Animation Film On-Gaku: Our Sound [10]
Ōfuji Noburō Award Won [11]
Annie Awards 16 April 2021 Best Animated Feature – Independent On-Gaku: Our Sound Nominated [12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Grobar, Matt (12 February 2021) ‘On-Gaku: Our Sound’ Director Kenji Iwaisawa Pursues “New Expression” In Anime With Rotoscoped Debut Feature. Deadline. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Lee, Maggie (25 June 2020) ‘On-Gaku: Our Sound’: Annecy Film Review. Variety. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  3. ^ Frater, Patrick (22 February 2020) Nikkatsu’s ‘Our Sound’ Strikes Note With Buyers. Variety. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  4. ^ Moore, Caitlin (9 March 2021) Interview: On-Gaku: Our Sound Director Kenji Iwaisawa. Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  5. ^ Phillips, Maya (9 March 2021) ‘On-Gaku: Our Sound’ Review: They Will Rock You. The New York Times. Retrieved 11 May 2021. (Subscription required)
  6. ^ Egan, Toussaint (9 March 2021) The wild anime movie On-Gaku: Our Sound is about amateur passion, onscreen and off. Polygon. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  7. ^ "On-Gaku: Our Sound". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  8. ^ On-Gaku: Our Sound at Metacritic. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  9. ^ The Ottawa International Animation Festival Announces 2019 Winners, 29 September 2019. Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  10. ^ 毎日映画コンクール：最多ノミネートは黒沢清監督「スパイの妻 劇場版」　男優主演賞は草なぎ剛、女優主演賞は長澤まさみら　「鬼滅の刃」も, 23 December 2020. (in Japanese). Mantan Web. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  11. ^ 第75回毎日映画コンクール：「日本映画大賞」は長澤まさみ主演の「MOTHER マザー」　“毒親”役が話題に, 22 January 2021. Mantan Web. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  12. ^ Flores, Terry (3 March 2021) 2021 Annie Award Nominations: ‘Soul,’ ‘Wolfwalkers’ and Netflix Lead. Variety. Retrieved 11 May 2021.

External links[edit]

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