Short Peace

I wanted to like "Short Peace." I really did.

“Short Peace” is a compilation of 4 anime short films, all created by different directors, actors, and even features different animation styles. Join me as I recount these four very different (but also very similar) tales.

Possession

The first film, directed by Shuhei Morita, follows a traveler as he meets strange spirits whilst taking cover from heavy rains in an abandoned shrine.

The simplest of all of the works, “Possession” does what it sets out to do well: to tell a small, acute little story. It’s simple and it knows this, and decides to tell a fast-paced (albeit a bit rushed and anticlimactic) story while also trying something new, which is, of course, its CGI. CGI in Japan is sort of a hit-or-miss nowadays, with some fairly outstanding entries, and some truly horrific ones. Luckily, “Possession” decides to use it well; not overdoing it, but still making it well done.

Combustible

Taking a break from the CGI, “Combustible” decides to tell a more old-fashioned, “laced with fine edges” legend (in fact, throughout the entirety of the film, old fashioned Japanese book marks cover the top and bottom of the screen).

“Combustible” is, easily, my favorite of the four films, and for good reason. Directed by the same filmmaker as the international hit “Akira,” this short film quickly drops by for a well-learned message: one’s own self-preservation is not to be tampered with. I will not go into details, since “Combustible” is incredibly easy to spoil, but with its double-meaning and fantastic old-school animation, “Combustible” is not to be missed.

Gambo

“Gambo” follows a very mysterious, gigantic bear, and the horrendous village-slaughtering demon it tries so much to destroy.

If that synopsis confused you, it isn’t your fault; I’m not even sure what “Gambo” was trying to be. Was it attempting to be an epic “good versus evil” fight? The saving of a village from a heavenly being? Even with its well-choreographed fight scene, it just seems all too pressed to be enjoyable. The film, simply, rears its ugly head of little explanation all too often.

Whatever “Gambo” was trying to be, it most certainly did not succeed.

A Farewell to Weapons

Set in an post-apocalyptic Japan, “A Farewell to Weapons” follows a crew of men armed with battle suits as they attempt to take down futuristic “destroy everything in its path” automatic tanks.

“A Farewell to Weapons” has some very well-done CGI action scenes, even taking it up a step higher than “Possessions.”

Oh? Where you expecting more positives? Well, I may be sounding a bit bitter here, but “A Farewell to Weapons” is, genuinely, terrible.

One thing this short film does not understand are its characters: for action to be exciting, the audience needs to care for the characters. Not only does it not give enough backstory for us to care, but what it does give doesn’t even help its case: we get a short scene of them talking, and some quick (disgustingly cheesy) cuts to previous experiences. After that, they explore an abandoned city and get attacked, with some of them even being put in serious peril. Are we supposed to care about these people? I’m sorry, but I sure didn’t.

I really wanted to enjoy “A Farewell to Weapons;” however, it just had no understanding of where to go and what to do.

Overview

Even with its two fairly strong first entries, the last two short films have little to nothing to offer besides good animation. And when only half of a film is worth recommending, is it really worth watching at all? I wanted to like “Short Peace.” I really did.

3.5/10- Its first two films are good in their own right, but when half of a film is not worth reccommending, is the final product even worth it?