Five-year-old Gilson and his blind sister Gami are orphans who wander the countryside searching for their mother. By chance, the pair are discovered by monks who inhabit the hillside, and are taken under their wing in body and spirit. Throughout the seasons, Gilson and Gami lead a quiet life in the monastery, learning about life and the teachings of Buddha, until one day, Gilson decides to accompany one of the monks to a temple in the mountains. With the snowfall comes great change, and soon, nothing will be the same...
In the not-so-distant future, mankind is at war with itself. The lives of Chise and Shuu are torn apart when Chise is chosen to become the ultimate weapon to fight for Japan against their enemies. Death, sadness, and the hardships of love accompany Sai Kano in its grim look at war and its consequences.
My Beautiful Girl, Mari is a story of two childhood friends, Nam-woo and Jun-ho, who are growing up in a fishing village full of unwanted change. With the discovery of a glowing marble, Nam-woo sometimes finds himself in a lush, dreamlike world, inhabited by a beautiful girl named Mari. With more change inevitable, Nam-woo and Jun-ho struggle to cope with reality, even when tragedy strikes.
Two ambituous, languidly-paced and serious-minded Korean animated dramas that are mature and mostly realistic, though Mari also has a strong fantasy component. Neither are exactly perfect but they make for charming and interesting viewing and if perchance you have seen one consider giving the other a try.
In 19th century Belgium, in the Flanders countryside, lived a young boy with an artistic flair named Nello, and his faithful companion Patrash. Though poor in the physical sense, the two friends shared a rich life along with Alois, one of Nello's neighbors, and his grandfather, his last living relative. Though great sorrow and hardship looms closely in the future, one thing is for certain, the devotion and companionship of Nello and Patrash will never fade...