Colorful (Karafuru)

Winner of Japan’s top animation prize, Colorful is a tender story about rebirth based on a 1998 novel by Eto Mori. After reaching a purgatory-like state after death, a dejected soul is placed in the body of a boy who has just committed suicide. The soul must figure out what his greatest mistake in his former life was before his time in Makoto’s body runs out. As the reasons for Makoto’s tragic demise are revealed, the film becomes an emotional reflection of love, loss and regret. Director Keiichi Hara vividly conveys this agony with a sense of realism that is beautifully paired with the supernatural premise.