Netflix's selection of anime has always been a mixed bag, but the newest film added to the service seemed like an unquestioned hit. With a ton of huge names in the credits and a gorgeous visual flair, Bubble is just like the concept that gives it its name; beautiful to watch, but completely transparent and empty inside.
Bubble is directed by Tetsuro Araki, the creative force behind Death Note, the first three seasons of Attack on Titan, and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. The first name on the writer's list is Gen Urobuchi, beloved scribe of Fate/Zero, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Psycho Pass. Death Note mangaka Takeshi Obata had a hand in the character design. The film's score comes courtesy of Hiroyuki Sawano, who previously composed for Attack on Titan, Kill la Kill, and Blue Exorcist. Finally, the film is animated by Wit Studio, the visionaries behind Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga, and most recently, Spy x Family. That is a monstrous call sheet packed with beloved talent and nothing could ever live up to the expectation set by that list.
Bubble takes place in Tokyo, amid a unique and localized post-apocalypse scenario. A sudden and unexplained spout of bubbles overtakes the entire world, followed swiftly by a massive explosion at Tokyo Tower. While the rest of the world was largely unaffected, Tokyo was surrounded by a massive bubble, trapping water and flooding the city. The populace flees, leaving most of the largest city in the world abandoned. Orphaned boys and curious scientists eventually make their way into the waterlogged city, finding a home in the once-great metropolis.
Once there, a new extreme sport forms, a 5-man Parkour challenge where participants must race to traverse the destroyed city while avoiding falling to the urban sea. Taciturn prodigy Hibiki leads a ragtag team to victory in these exciting races, while also desperately pursuing the site of the Tokyo Tower explosion. Hibiki has a connection to the event he can't explain, but his quest brings him into connection with a mysterious girl who may hold the key.
As everyone already knows, Bubble looks absolutely incredible. Every scene of characters acrobatically sprinting through impossible environments is a stellar visual ride. The animation is flawless, it glides with an effortless speed and beauty that cannot be overstated. This movie is worth watching on the merits of its animation alone. There are plenty of things wrong with it, but when the characters are in motion, the score kicks up, and the backgrounds fly by, it's like a great music video. The studio that first brought 3-D movement gear to the screen handles zero-gravity Parkour in a destroyed city as well as one would expect. On a purely visual level, Bubble is one of the best anime experiences one can find on Netflix. Unfortunately, there's much more to it than just visuals.
The characters, while very well-designed, are extremely sparse. There just isn't much going on behind the eyes of the free-running teens. In theory, Hibiki's relationship with the girl he finds in the sea is charming, but it lacks anything deeper than blushing and giggling. The narrative is built heavily around Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid of all things, and while it's fine to base stories around fairy tales, the film just can't stop telling the audience its source material. The writing has very little emotional depth. Hibiki comes complete with the standard-issue sad backstory, but it's more laid out than it is explored. This lack of interesting emotional detail turns Bubble into little more than a connection of pretty pictures. The characters aren't well-written enough to be fun to watch in downtime, so all that's left is the exciting scenes.
The film is very solid technically. The English dub features some big names and is generally well-executed. Hibiki is portrayed by Zach Aguilar, best known for playing Tanjiro in Demon Slayer, and he fits the role just fine. Robbie Daymond, of Persona 5 and Critical Role fame, is fun in a bitter rival role on the team. Much of the plot is wrapped around a recurring song which is performed admirably by singer-songwriter Riria. There's not much to complain about in the vocal talent department. Fans of subs or dubs will find an enjoyable experience.
Bubble is a beautiful, brilliantly presented, visually stellar film that is kept from greatness by a weak predictable story and lackluster writing. Fans of anime and animation in general could have a great time watching the film, but when the credits roll and the lovely end theme plays, nothing but the visuals will stick in the mind. A ton of people clearly put a ton of effort and artistry into Bubble, and it shows, but the heart of the story is lacking. Bubble deserved more, but what's there is still a solid use of 98 minutes.
Bubble is available now on Netflix.