Spoilerfree review. TLDR below. Pompo: The Cinphile isnt much of a love letter to film but a mantra to an albeit cliched notionto never give in. https://files.catbox.moe/jbhxis.mp4 Why Hirao was an excellent fit for this adaptation. Takayuki Hiraohttps://anilist.co/staff/102247/TakayukiHirao returns as a Director and Scriptwriter after a fiveyear hiatus from direction to produce a coalition of recklessly entertaining storytelling. With CLAPhttps://anilist.co/studio/6400/CLAP studios adaptation of the shoujo manga Pompo: The Cinphile Hirao takes a pompous but quite fitting pace into the film. If you arent very familiar with the Director Hirao has worked on the likes of Majokko Shimai no Yoyo to Nenehttps://anilist.co/anime/15813/MajokkoShimainoYoyotoNene Manabi Straighthttps://anilist.co/anime/3219/GakuenUtopiaManabiStraightSpecial and is most renowned for his exceptional work on The Garden of Sinners: Paradox Spiralhttps://anilist.co/anime/4282/KaranoKyoukaiMujunRasen. Facilitating these ventures was megagiant ufotablehttps://anilist.co/studio/43/ufotable in probably one of their most experimental features but most notably the total disaster that was God Eaterhttps://anilist.co/anime/20849/GodEater/. Much like youd expect this took an enormous impact on Hiraos outlook on his directing career and was an unavoidable downfall of his work in the studio. Gene is an assistant to Pompo a small girl who is a major film producer in Nyallywood a fictional version of Hollywood. She predominantly focuses on bmovies with the only objective of entertaining receiving an extensive network of contacts cinematic interests and film expertise from a wellknown producer. She recognizes Gene as a remarkable individual working for her and realizes he has latent potential. Consequently she chooses to bring it out of him by briefing him about a script shes been working on starring Martin Braddock a wellknown actor who hasnt starred in a film in ten years. Much of what I found as a sentiment of Hiraos exposition was the transparent connection between him and Gene. So much of what Gene faces in the films third act is a weary and harsh reality of overwork and selfdestruction. However in a conclusion of rather fantasy it endures the same motto of burdensome attempts to impress others. Much like the team that worked on God Eaterhttps://anilist.co/anime/20849/GodEater/ or really any anime Hirao takes a great deal of belief in that sense which augments a degree of genuineness to the film that mightve not been there without him. https://files.catbox.moe/m45ord.mp4 Outstanding production and misgivings. You would presumably await an exceptional production for an albeit film about a film and it unquestionably does. The cinematography visual motifs and the apparent special transitions are employed wonderfully. Hiraos inventive choices are still consistent with his previous works such as Paranoia Agenthttps://anilist.co/anime/323/MousouDairinin/s pilot episode. The most animeesque cuts of Gene quite literally cutting film tape through sequences of sakuga make for the usual wacky enjoyability. It is just as engaging as it is profuse in selfreferencing innovativeness. However these transitions can cultivate to be either hit or miss. Correspondingly Hiraos disordered methodology to the artistic process is an unavoidable presence in the film. While the original work is somewhat satirical about its complacency Hirao accepts it earnestly. Questioning whether the creative technique is truly connected with sacrificing elements of your life relationships and even health as an essentially lonely activity. And it looks to be such to him. Gene and his characters journeys are selfharmingtheyre well aware of this as is the film but neither has the determination to criticize or even mention it as poor. Their perspective is questioned but can only present a conflict of its ideas without any sizable conclusion or nuance. Now as gloomy as the films thematic ramifications might be Pompo: The Cinphile is still a refreshing film to see. Hirao being entrusted with a picture that celebrates the artifice of cinema and the power of editing enabled him to release all of his techniques in an unadulterated and passable form. That howbeit may not have been as amazing of a return was fitting all the same. https://files.catbox.moe/i0lfe7.mp4 TLDR Pompo: The Cinphile is just as much a return to Hiraos possible direction of excellence but a means of illustrating his struggles in an exhibition of what makes films genuinely an enjoyable experience through a passion for technicality. It is a refreshing and amusing clutter of naivete of optimism and pessimismfor better or worse its candidly a liberation of his sentiment toward film. The duality of Hiraos and Genes conflict is about proving others wrong equally as it may be indeterminate to its principles which may very well sum up Hirao. Nevertheless I will certainly keep an eye on Hiraos future works and I hope you do as well. Thank you for reading