I know a lot of folks loved this film and it was Oscar nominated. Yet, despite this, I had a hard time watching and enjoying "Mirai". Why? Because I found watching a horribly bratty little boy pitch tantrums every five minutes wasn't much fun. I had kids myself some time ago...and watching this really made me think that I usually watch films as escape...not to re-experience my daughters' worst toddler moments crammed into about 90 minutes!

So, while the animation is nice, I just didn't enjoy the film...regardless of the rest of the story. Seeing a bratty boy trying to repeatedly hurt his infant sister and the like just isn't my idea of entertainment. It's one to skip...despite the fine quality of the artwork.

Kun is a boy and only child of a young couple in modern Japan. One day, the mother returns after giving birth to his little sister Mirai. Kun grows angry and jealous as the parents direct most of their attention to the new baby. After throwing a tantrum, he finds an adult who has dog's tail who turns out to be the spirit of the family dog Yukko. He continues to be frustrated with life and finds comfort from time-hopping visits.

The bratty Kun can be off-putting but the character feels plenty real. He's a selfish, whiney kid and that's a truth. The intrigue comes from the time jumping visits. Here's the thing. The time jumping is real because the doll was put away. It's not imaginary. It's supernatural. While the bike is interesting, it doesn't wrap up the central aspect of the conflict. This movie is wrapped up in Kun's anger, fears, jealousy, and his relationship with his mother. That's why meeting his mother is so powerful and that's why this movie needs to end with meeting himself as long as that's allowed by its movie logic. The brat can be hard to take but it's a compelling family drama.

Mamoru Hosoda's Academy Award-nominated "Mirai no Mirai" (called "Mirai" in English) addresses topics such as jealousy and maturation, showing a boy's frustration with his family after the birth of a baby sister, only to have some experiences reminding him of his family's past and future.

This is the first Hosoda movie that I've seen, and I'd now like to see more of them. In addition to focusing on the tension that arises in this one household, he also manages to incorporate Japan's history into the story, as well as childhood fears of the outside world. It all adds up to a movie full of youthful ebullience that still addresses serious topics. Definitely one that I recommend.