Lu Over the Wall
2017 · Directed by Masaaki Yuasa
Original language: Japanese
- animation
- adventure
- music
- fantasy
- family
The story
In a small fishing village, a gloomy middle school student named Kai meets a mermaid named Lu.
What it’s like
Bright hand-drawn animation with loose, wobbly linework and saturated summer colour: turquoise water, sun-bleached harbour walls, glowing sea-green fins against deep blue ocean. The look is painterly and kinetic, with frames that bounce and smear during musical numbers and a soft, sunlit warmth in the village scenes. Sound leans on bright pop-folk songs, rolling waves and gentle percussion, with quieter passages of lapping water and wind over empty streets. The vibe is sun-drenched and buoyant with a wistful undertow, the feeling of a long school holiday that is just starting to tilt toward loss. Pacing is easygoing, with playful bursts of energy and slower stretches of drifting over the sea. Emotionally it follows a sullen, isolated boy slowly warming up to a bold new friend, and the tone stays gentle. Violence is minimal; there is some peril and a few tense, mildly frightening moments at sea, but nothing graphic or cruel. Suited to a lazy summer afternoon, a comfort watch, or anyone wanting something warm, colourful and quietly tender, for viewers who enjoy whimsical animation with a bittersweet heart.
More films like Lu Over the Wall
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Lu Over the Walland we’ll explain which ones fit you.
