Review: Japan has a long tradition of stories about boys who refuse to grow up as well as of those about artificial 'boys' unable to fit in their society. With the technological development of this nation, SF was used more and more to express some burning contemporary issues, and so story about Pinocchio was merged with sci-fi motif of the robot, thus making the classic story for kids (written by an Italian author) into a very Japanese, very adult motif – a cultural archetype which obviously resonates with the nation's psyche, since we find it over and over again in both manga and feature films.

Unlike PINOCCHIO 964 (the first title I reviewed for KFCC and thus especially dear to my heart), HINOKIO is a film aimed at kids. The titular character is not an android but a robot whose function in the plot is entirely different. Hinokio is not an independent character at all: 'it' is merely an empty shell, a proxy through which our young protagonist attempts to re-enter the world. Thus, the film's promo material is a bit deceiving: the image on the DVD cover (a boy hugging the cute robot) would make you expect yet another variation on 'a boy and his robot' theme, with a tinge of E.T. vibe suggested also by the nonsensical subtitle ('Inter Galactic Love'). It is not really so. Satoru does not have any relationship with the robot: he has relationships through the robot. Hinokio's origin is not 'inter galactic' but very, very domestic, as it's created by Satoru's father, and the only hint of love in the film is, again, not inter-galactic, but very inter-human...

HINOKIO deals with serious issues, like childhood trauma, abandonment, alienation, suicide, retreat from the world into an otaku-existence in a cyber-world of video-games... In this case, the boy's alienation is triggered by a tragic accident in which he saw his mother die, while he was left temporarily shell-shocked. His key problem (dealing with the rest of the world) divides into three: coping with his schoolfriends (some of whom bully his robotic proxy); creating a real human touch (romance) with a girl; and, equally important, re-establishing contact with his father. HINOKIO does not shy away from the occasional 'darkness' of its themes and cruelties that the boy is subjected to, both physical and emotional, and for something that could too easily (and wrongly) be dismissed as a 'kiddie flick', it is surprisingly mature and honest in dealing with its themes. Some of the situations (especially the scenes in his school) may seem familiar and generic, but even they are accomplished with a real emotion, and manage to be both funny, entertaining and touching. HINOKIO turns a bit too sappy only towards the end (with the inevitable 'dead' boy resurrected by love and sacrifice), but even the over-emotional ending is well deserved by what preceded it.

For a film like this to succeed, the key lies in its convincingness, and HINOKIO packs a wallop in that regard: you'll believe every second of it thanks to the excellent performances of all involved, especially Kanata Hongo who has a difficult task of portraying an emotionally scarred six-grader Satoru. Of course, in a story centered around a robot you'll have to believe 'its' performance as well, and Hinokio itself (or should I say 'himself'?) is made real through an amazing mix of puppetry and CGI. No wonder, since Takahiko Akiyama's experience as an F/X designer (most notably for FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN) comes into play, and will challenge you to spot rare occasions in which you can be sure whether you're watching a robot-puppet or a CGI creation. Other than the seamless execution, Hinokio should be also commended for its design, which makes it/him rightfully take a place in a pantheon of memorable characters for children. HINOKIO is one of those cherished films aimed primarily at kids, but highly watchable for adults as well. In terms of its themes and imagery, it is a Japanese counterpart of what would probably be rated PG-13 in the USA (well, perhaps even PG), and is thus strongly recommended for both kids and their parents. Watching it with your kid may help establish a new connection and deal with some important issues that you may not have come across so far.