The World Where ‘Japan Sinks: 2020’

Trigger warning: there is sexual assault in the series.

Japan Sinks: 2020 is a anime series that begins with a large earthquake that causes current-day Japan to ultimately be submerged under the ocean. The story follows the Mutohs, a family of four in the aftermath of the disaster. Ayumu Mutoh is a teenaged track and field athlete who was at practice when the earthquake hit. Her younger brother, Go Mutoh, loves video games and was at home. Mari Mutoh was on a plane and worked at a resort hotel after retiring as a swimmer. She is also Filipino. Last but not least, Koichiro Mutoh is a lighting engineer and was working on set when he was caught in the earthquake. Netflix categorizes the series as ‘dark’ and although the slice of life is not a typical doomsday horror story like other disaster shows, don’t let the animation fool anyone. Every turn the family makes, they find people who become their friends or enemies and the unfortunate impact of the earthquake does not end in the first episode. At the onset, the family travels with their neighbors, Nanami Miura and Haruo Koga. Later in the series they meet Kite, an 18 year old YouTuber. The pack tries to make their way to safety seeing that where ever they are, disaster erupts causing them to keep moving. The family even comes upon a utopian community that seems an oasis in the midst of destruction. Whenever an unfortunate event happens, a voiceover from the past overlays b-roll (supplemental footage) which gives the character in the situation a deeper meaning and connection to the series overall. The effect is although the audio shows a lighter time before the earthquake disaster, it gives depth to the current loss. The series takes a very bizarre circumstance and story and mires it in realism to show an extreme slice of life. This story is action packed, if someone is not dying, there’s natural disasters, high speed escapes, human drama. Everything that could go wrong, does.

The show is created by Masaaki Yuasa is the director and Pyeon-Gang Ho is the series director. Science SARU, founded by Yuasa and Eunyoung Choi, produced the series. Science Saru also produced another animation called DEVILMAN crybaby for Netflix in 2018 with the same director. Other well known works by the production company include Adventure Time, Crayon Shiin-can and projects for studios like Disney. The studio was first created in order to work on Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time. Toshio Yoshitaka is the series writer and kensuke ushio is the composer, who also worked with Yuasa on DEVILMAN crybaby. Japan Sinks: 2020 is the first animation adaptation of the 1973 novel Japan Sinks by Sakyo Komatsu. Prior to the Netflix’s animated series, the novel has been adapted into two live action films. The opening sequence is dreamy and establishes the lightness of each character’s life but is also a contrast to the harshness of the disaster series. The series soundtrack stands out as a juxtaposition to the events onscreen. It captures the sadness and melancholy of the situation but also the optimism that is life, captured beautifully by the theme song called “a life.”

The elements in the animated series grounds the audience and allows the story to shine and honor those lost in the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011. For example, to celebrate the family uniting, Mari takes a picture of all of them together. Her character is optimistic and although people around them are dying and in desperation, it makes sense that she would want a moment for them to cheer up. This simple act seems innocent enough until the audience learns later that she has a heart condition which Ayumu realizes and they both disclose to the younger Go. The picture taking is bittersweet because as the series moves along, we also realize that these photos are ways to cement the present in an ever changing, often drastically, situations. A peculiar turn in the series is the traveling band’s discovery of Shan City, the utopia where there’s enough food and resources to go around. Ayumu is ecstatic when she finds out she can sleep on a real bed again after so many days of surviving on the road. Even though the thought of Shan City does not make sense in this relatively realistic portrayal of a natural disaster aftermath in Japan, the family’s time in the oasis provides a break from continuous destruction and despair. The script also presents a reality that the kids, Ayumu and Go dealing with so much death and loss. There is a moment towards the end of the series when Kite turns on music from his smartphone and raps while the group is taking a break at a hot spring that erupts. It is a curious moment but as each character takes turns in the activity, rapping allows them to have an emotional release and share with the audience what each person is going through.

Ayumu Moto is voiced by Reina Ueda. Reina is known for The Blade of Destruction. Go Muto is played by Tomo Muanaka, Mari Muto is played by Yoku Sasaki, Koishiro Muto is played by Masaki Terasoma, Haruo Koga is played by Kiroyuki Yoshino, and Kite is played by Kensho Ono. Daniel is played by George Cuckle. Daniel is a displaced Yugoslavian who has an American accent when he speaks English. He is a noticeable character since he is the only person who is not Asian. The animation of food if incredibly appealing. This is apparent when the pack arrives at Shan City and can finally have a decent meal. On the other hand, the animation of dancing is somewhat awkward even though it is better than other animations I’ve seen before. The detail in the drawings are impeccable. For example, cars on the road are given such intricate detail, I could tell what brand and make car it is.

Japan Sinks: 2020 a disaster apocalyptic story that takes audiences on a melancholic and intimate journey mired in realism. The production is executed well and is fresh for the filmmakers. The script is thoughtful and meaningful. Last but not least, the voice acting and animation does a decent job of allowing audiences to sink into the experience. This series is an homage to those who perish in natural disasters in Japan and those who survive.