Watch Fireworks

Fireworks (打ち上げ花火、下から見るか？横から見るか？ Uchiage Hanabi, Shita kara Miru ka? Yoko kara Miru ka?) is a 2017 Japanese animated romantic drama directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and Nobuyuki Takeuchi, written by Hitoshi Ohne and produced by Shaft. The movie is a remake of the 1993 television drama of the same name.

Fireworks follows the story of a teenage boy named Norimichi Shimada (voiced by Masaki Suda) and his friends Yusuke (Mamoru Miyano) and Junichi (Takako Matsu) as they prepare to watch a fireworks display. Norimichi is in love with his classmate, Nazuna Oikawa (Suzu Hirose), and wants to confess his feelings to her at the event.

When Nazuna's mother decides to move away, she runs away from home and bumps into Norimichi and Yusuke on the way to the fireworks display. Nazuna invites Norimichi to run away with her, but he is hesitant because of his feelings of guilt towards leaving his friends behind. In the midst of their discussions, they discover a mysterious glass ball that has the power to control time, and they use it to try and change their fate.

Throughout the movie, the characters are faced with difficult decisions about their relationships and their future. The story explores the themes of lost love, regret, and the uncertainty of the future. The movie also touches on the issue of family and the importance of parental guidance in life choices.

Visually, the movie is stunning, with beautifully rendered scenes of fireworks and stunning ocean vistas. The soundtrack is also delightful, with a mix of traditional Japanese music and contemporary arrangements.

One of the strengths of the movie is its depiction of the awkwardness and tenderness of teenage crushes. The characters are all flawed and make mistakes, but they are relatable and endearing. Additionally, the movie explores the pressures of growing up and the expectation to conform to societal norms. Nazuna's desire to escape her mother's control and the pressures of school reflect many teenagers' experiences.

The movie has been criticized for its lack of character development and its convoluted plot. However, the movie's strength lies in its exploration of emotions, rather than in its narrative structure. The movie is poetic and touching, and it will leave viewers with a sense of nostalgia and a yearning for young love.

Fireworks is a movie that will appeal to fans of Japanese animation and romantic dramas. The movie is a visual feast, with stunning animation and a delightful soundtrack. It explores the complexities of teenage relationships and explores the themes of lost love, regret, and the uncertainty of the future. It is a movie that will leave viewers feeling nostalgic and wistful about their own youthful experiences.

Fireworks is a 2017 animated movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5 and a MetaScore of 40.