It's easy to judge a person based on prior opinions, hell bad takes. Especially the anime community especially does this and I'm guilty of this too. I'm a huge Type-Moon fan. But it's easy to let this color the perception of an individual more than they actually are. In my opinion an anime take shouldn't color your view on someone, and here I see a creator. A creator who wanted to put thir vision out into the world and contribute to their favorite medium at any cost, and as someone who loves watching people create things, especially their own stories, I can only tip my hat. I was a huge fan of Makoto Shinkai not because of his bigger works, but because of his first indie project, specifically Voices of a Distant Star. For a similar reason, I'm a huge fan of Shelter as a short anime music video, both examples of short-form storytelling that use the anime medium in their own ways.
For this; I'm not going to judge this made by Gigguk/The Anime Zone. I am judging this as Garnt, an anime fan making a short anime, and not letting any prior opinions influence this.
I'm not even going to exaggerate when I say this is probably one of the best short films I've seen in this medium, so much so that I want to explain why because it deserves it.
Story:
The story is simple, and is equally the highest ire of the project so far. A lot of people have been saying the story is too short, and while I can understand that to an extent that it's not a perfect score, I think it's important to judge this as a short film, not a full length anime. It's closer to one of those short episodes you watch between airing episodes to bide the time. In this case. baan actually achieves quite a lot. It's a case of where very little is wasted, with each scene does something to add to the world or characters, sometimes directly (especially in the beginning), othertimes without even trying.
When putting this in mind, there's a lot that tells the story outright, and a lot that just infers things, only monologuging when it has to, which is extremely important considering the legnth. The vision for this world is pretty big, it's clearly influenced by local cultures, which I heavily appreciate. I admit I'm really tired of isekai and I think using the term as marketing is kinda shallow. Despite this I see a very rich fantasy world that builds its own mythology and culture unlike others. Not that "being unique" is inherently better, but I see the creative vision of why this was done. Garnt iirc is Thai, and as a Hong Konger myself with a lot of pride for my homeplace, I fully emphathisze with the desire to bring this culture to the world. Things like the rice and aesthetic all infer as much. Hell even the big serpent thing it feels like something out of a Thai temple.
There's a unique race of people here, there's a unique world in the form of Euthania. It harkens to me more like a 90s isekai where they care about the location just as much. I remember places like Byston Well from Dunbine, or Gaea from Escaflowne. I will certainly remember Euthania. It has a unique culture that gives it its own identity, unique creatures with varying levels of sentience, and despite never bringing out the chalkboard to explain it, I feel like I get enough from the story. There are humans, yes, but Rin's a fantasy race with wings and magic. She's got a bond with one of the big serpent things. The creatures that attack it are predatory or curses of some sort. Even subtle things like Rin's wing color changing color as time goes on lets you guess what's going on before the story tells you. As short form storytelling, this story is effective, and I really can't ask for much more. When everything has a purpose, and most importantly, it balances that with making me able to enjoy it, I'm satisfied with the world. I don't think I can ask for more from a short film. Is that gonna make me want to find out more of this unique fictional world? No! But leave that to a full length anime project to satisfy that itch, not a short film.
Some things I did NOT expect are plot twists and expectation subversion. There are stories that do this for the sake of it and thinking surprising the audience is more important then telling the actual bloody story and that shit comes off as pretentious as hell. Baan does use this storytelling but thank god it's done tastefully and not just to fuck with the audience. I was genuinely surprised with the reveal that Daichi was Rin's adoptive father, and that the reason Rin left to earth was out of humbleness as to not burden him, and upon rewatch it kicks me that they actually foreshadowed this. Rin's dad doesn't have magic wings, and the first local Daichi meets is that one Aunt character that watches over Rin just a scene earlier. Subtle as to not give awayn or ruin the impact of the twist but enough for someone to notice to feel like thet warned something. This is genuinely good narrative. A proper use of foreshadowing that compliments the story and adds a twist to it without being overbearing and I think this is what pushes the edge of the story to me. To accomplish this much in 18 minutes is truly impressive. Most writers in general have trouble compressing shit period. This is honest to god as good as short films get. Truly hats off.
Score: 10. That's fucking right.
Characters:
As a short film, the cast is naturally going to very small and focused. There are hardly any lines (I stg CDawgVA had a line in this though), so how does this story tackle it? I'm happy to say quite well. The characters are aptly charming and connectable, and it's so clear they both come from the heart. There's two different perspectives here and they contrast the other so well.
Rin is the clear center character of this story, and as someone who struggles with constant homesickness to an unhealthy degree I fucking relate. She starts off so cheerful but her struggles in her job and difficulty adapting to another culture is something I feel hard. Rin stopping herself from using her magic which her friends say are a part of her is literally just the story saying to your face that she's losing the parts of her that makes herself in a different location and I hate how much I feel and relate to this. I'm lucky enough to have my family where I live right now, but I swear to god it's so easy to get swallowed by the feeling that you're in a foreign place and don't belong That you don't have a path forward but a difficult road filled with struggle. The job market in the current industry is so unrforgiving and while customer service horror stories are funny to watch, they hurt infinitely more when you're on the other end. Like Rin gets one bad customer and that's enough for me to get PTSD. I'm a bit biased here naturally, but man working customer service broke me let me have this. Watching her wings change colors as time goes on is a visual indication that she's not doing well adapting despite her appearances, and FUCK do I relate. That expression she has when she cooks on her won without magic is a face I know all too well. Good work connecting a character in such a short amount of time. Then again, as someone who's in similar shoes, I guess I was naturally going to relate to a character like this no matter what.
In complete contrast, Daichi is the person who moves to a new place to escape from his home. For him, his home is suffocating, and adding to a loss of identity thanks to overprotective family. This is also something I relate with to an extent. Some parents can be really doting and think that they always know better even when you're an adult (is it an Asian thing?). Daichi wanting to free himself from that cycle and become their own person is a fantastic choice to contrast Rin. This is an example of moving somewhere for your benefit. There are so many people who I know need to move out and find their own two footing. Life is harsh, but individuality matters. People need to find their happiness for themselves and to be encouraged to do so, Daichi is a more inspiring example of someone who's able to break free and discover what works for them. Risks be damned, be yourself. Find the place that works for you and live it.
Both characters here are great for one reason: they both represent the two extremes of 'home'. Whether it's finding where you belong, or going far from that place. I've said earlier I struggle with constant homesickness, probably to an unhealthy degree, and thus I felt this story to my core. It's clear Garnt used his experience as an international person living in Japan to influence baan. This is a story told from a person who has been molded by this theme, and thus I think it is the exact kind of story that should be presented to the world. The characters are great, if only for the fact they represent and share the experiences of the creator to the world.
Score: 8
Production:
This is typically the part where I expect to give the most slack and lower the score a bit when it comes to self-made project. Like no shit a self-made project isn't going to look that groundbreaking or visually stimulating. Usually when this happens, the unique style of the presentation is typically what I think effects it the most. Makoto Shinkai's Voices of a Distant Star looks extremely rough sketchy, but stuff like the lighting, the authentic Asian home atmosphere, and those wide spaces give it a unique and distinct feel that makes it visually stunning. Shelter, despite being a music video, IS filled with stunning visuals that color it's world and is a masterclass in visual storyelling. While I personally don't think it's as visually interesting as other indie projects or short anime, it does the job. There's enough style and color that conveys the vision. It is a bit generic of a style, but it's not overly so like a lot of modern productions. There's enough of a unique style specificlally in the fantasy elements to make it memorable. The creature design is absolutely where the visual production shines. From the serpent to even the magic wings on the humanoid characters and the ceremonial clothing they wear, this is the aspect of the story I feel is what gives the visuals an edge over other anime.
The soundtrack, bro do I even need to gas up Kevin Penkin more than anyone else. This is the biggest name on this production and for bloody good reason. Straight up one of the best anime composers of the current time and extremely talented. From what I see, Kevin and Garnt are friends, and bro that's the realest shit. I don't even want to talk about the music itself cuz you know it's good; it's fucking Kevin Penkin. But when your friends genuinely support you and work together finding your own unique talents to create something together that's from the heart that's just bloody wholesome. I'm glad Garnt has a friend like this in the industry that was able and willing to provide their talent to a homie. That's magical. Huge respect to both of these people relying on each other and helping each other out. This is what I wanna see when people say 'the power of friendship'.
On that, the voice acting. I believe the dub is mostly handled by Garnts' friends as well, and honestly they did well. There's clear evidence of experience in the dubbing industry and professionalism to a degree. I remember Garnt did abridged anime back in the day so I suspect there's some experience but of course, a professional project is a whole different monster. There is a bit of that more "homegrown" flair to the dub butI get the sense it's made with love. The JP voices are my ultimate preference though and holy shit to see actual voices in the industry is really cool. Fucking Wakana Gojo voices the male MC that's crazy. There's a clear vision to the casting of the characters though because the main character, Rin, seems to be a starting member of the industry, and at the same time I think she's a perfect casting. Full of energy and punk while also able to convey the more somber moments. I wish her the best, and hope baan serves as a stepping stone for more roles in the future.
PS, I don't think Garnt realized it but that auntie character is voiced by Bazett Fraga McRemitz from Type-Moon's Fate/Hollow Ataraxia. Bro is getting the big dawgs holy shit.
Score: 9
Summarization:
I enjoyed this a lot. I didn't really know or expect that much from 'anituber anime', this could've been easily soulless advertising as many of these projects can be. Still, going into this with an open mind that it as a person that wanted to share a story, I can't help but applaud this story. I'm not saying this because I watch Gigguk anime videos. I'm saying this as a person who has an appreciation for these kinds of stories told by passionate individuals. I felt the theme of this story to my core as someone who struggles with these emotions literally every day, and I truly am inspired to see that a creator was able to tell their story to the world in their preferred medium, and most of all get rewarded for it.
It's so easy to hate someone you've never met on the internet, it's so easy to come to a conclusion on someone due to having shit anime takes or propagting misinformation. Hell I'm guilty of it as well to an extent. But we often forget that behind literally every comment, every screen, there's a human being behind that. Hell I'll say, sometimes people can be pretty shit. Sometimes they are the asshole that their comments make them out to be, but what I'm saying is that you don't truly know someone from this. I don't know Grant or Gigguk or whatever based on their anime content or hell, even after watching this show. I can only assume based on my limited knowledge on this screen.
But even then, I don't see anything here but an earnest man telling a story from their heart that they want to share with the world and goddamnit I think this kind of content more than anything deserves attention. This, more than anything, is the type of story I WANT to see. Things like Voices of a Distant Star, Shelter, and now baan are all projects that are never gonna be on a top 10 anime list ever but they are still going to be favorites of mine because of their content. This is an earnest story that highlights themes of belonging, discovering your place, and finding where you truly belong. This has a story and message it wants to tell, and it's one that really helps highlight the struggles of homesickness. It's backed with genuinely clever, effective storytelling that I did not expect from a production like this. Genuinely, it's got soul.
Good job Mr. Anime Youtuber.
