Wonderful Days
Encyclopedia
Wonderful Days is a South Korea
n animated
science fiction
film, released in 2003, written and directed by Kim Moon-saeng
. It features backdrops rendered using photo-realistic computer-generated imagery
, comparable to those in the film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
, along with the use of highly detailed models for some of the backdrops into which the cel animated characters were then animated. However, convincing CGI
animation of humans (especially human movement) was not attempted. The backgrounds in the film were shot with traditional motion control techniques, then processed to look like CG
. The vehicles were all rendered, and the characters were cel animated.
and Great Britain
under the title Sky Blue. These versions have been slightly distorted, with the loss of two minutes' running time compared to an original Korean cut. Other Western countries such as France
and Finland
have kept its original title—which is a Hangul
transliteration of the English phrase "Wonderful Days" (it would be rendered in Revised Romanization as "Wondeopul Deijeu"). The film was scheduled for release in the US on Blu-ray disc on June 28, 2008. As that date neared, it was re-scheduled for June 23, 2009, however the financial situation of Palisades Tartan in America has thrown a U.S. domestic release into doubt.
In Japan
, the film was adapted by Gainax
. According to adaptation director Hiroshi Yamaga, Gainax changed the direction of the film to make the dialogue less "alien" to Japanese viewers.
). He ends up in a love triangle with his childhood friend, Jay (Cathy Cavadini
), and her superior, Ecoban security commander Cade (Kirk Thornton
).
Jay chooses Shua over Cade and destroys the thick clouds over Ecoban, allowing blue sky to show through over the city.
The movie deals with environmental destruction, pollution
and class struggle
.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n animated
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
film, released in 2003, written and directed by Kim Moon-saeng
Kim Moon-saeng
Kim Moon-saeng is a South Korean animator, director and screenwriter.- Biography :Kim is one of the best-known commercial directors in Korea. His experience has been focused on special effects with animation film for over 15 years...
. It features backdrops rendered using photo-realistic computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
, comparable to those in the film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is a 2001 Japanese-American computer animated science fiction film directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the Final Fantasy series of role-playing video games. It was the first photorealistic computer animated feature film and also holds the record for the most...
, along with the use of highly detailed models for some of the backdrops into which the cel animated characters were then animated. However, convincing CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
animation of humans (especially human movement) was not attempted. The backgrounds in the film were shot with traditional motion control techniques, then processed to look like CG
CG artwork
CG is a term most commonly known in the West for its use in Japanese webpages to denote digital artwork. In traditional Japanese, it is an abbreviation of the Japanese gairaigo , used to refer to any form of digital artwork, from digitally shaded dōjinshi to legitimate cinematic art...
. The vehicles were all rendered, and the characters were cel animated.
Releases
The film has been released in numerous Western countries such as the U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
under the title Sky Blue. These versions have been slightly distorted, with the loss of two minutes' running time compared to an original Korean cut. Other Western countries such as France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
have kept its original title—which is a Hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
transliteration of the English phrase "Wonderful Days" (it would be rendered in Revised Romanization as "Wondeopul Deijeu"). The film was scheduled for release in the US on Blu-ray disc on June 28, 2008. As that date neared, it was re-scheduled for June 23, 2009, however the financial situation of Palisades Tartan in America has thrown a U.S. domestic release into doubt.
In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the film was adapted by Gainax
Gainax
is a Japanese anime studio famous for productions such as Gunbuster, The Wings of Honneamise, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann which have gone on to critical acclaim and commercial success, as well as for their association with...
. According to adaptation director Hiroshi Yamaga, Gainax changed the direction of the film to make the dialogue less "alien" to Japanese viewers.
Plot
Wonderful Days is set in 2142. Environmental pollution has led to a breakdown of human civilization. A technologically advanced city named Ecoban was built and it harvests energy from the DELOS System, which uses pollution in a carbonite catalyzed reaction to generate power. Carbonite extraction is carried out by people who live outside the city in the surrounding wasteland. Among them is an enigmatic young man known as Shua (Marc WordenMarc Worden
Marc Worden is a Canadian actor. His first film appearance was on two episodes of the television series Katts and Dog and his most recent appearances include a voice role in the films Planet Hulk and 10 Years Later. He was a cast member for 5 seasons on the Disney Channel's All New Mickey Mouse...
). He ends up in a love triangle with his childhood friend, Jay (Cathy Cavadini
Cathy Cavadini
Catherine Janet "Cathy" Cavadini is an American voice actress and singer. Most famous as the voice of Blossom on Cartoon Network's animated television series The Powerpuff Girls and Tanya Mousekewitz in An American Tail: Fievel Goes West and Fievel's American Tails. She is also the successor voice...
), and her superior, Ecoban security commander Cade (Kirk Thornton
Kirk Thornton
Kirk Thornton is an American voice actor.-Bio:He is known for playing tough or grouchy men in English-dubbed anime and video games. His career includes Hotohori in Fushigi Yūgi and Jin in Samurai Champloo...
).
Jay chooses Shua over Cade and destroys the thick clouds over Ecoban, allowing blue sky to show through over the city.
The movie deals with environmental destruction, pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
and class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
.
English cast
- Marc WordenMarc WordenMarc Worden is a Canadian actor. His first film appearance was on two episodes of the television series Katts and Dog and his most recent appearances include a voice role in the films Planet Hulk and 10 Years Later. He was a cast member for 5 seasons on the Disney Channel's All New Mickey Mouse...
- Shua - Cathy CavadiniCathy CavadiniCatherine Janet "Cathy" Cavadini is an American voice actress and singer. Most famous as the voice of Blossom on Cartoon Network's animated television series The Powerpuff Girls and Tanya Mousekewitz in An American Tail: Fievel Goes West and Fievel's American Tails. She is also the successor voice...
- Jay, Young Shua, Cheyenne - David NaughtonDavid Naughton (actor)David Walsh Naughton is an American actor and singer best known for his starring roles in the 1981 horror film An American Werewolf in London, the 1980 Walt Disney comedy, Midnight Madness, the 1984 comedies Hot Dog.....
- Commander Locke, Dr. Noah - Bob PapenbrookBob PapenbrookRobert DeWayne "Bob" Papenbrook was an American voice actor. Fellow voice actors often nicknamed him "Pappy". He was very well known in the worlds of anime and video game voice-overs for his voice acting of "gruff" characters...
- Goliath, Governor, Typon - Jamie Simone - Dispatcher
- Kirk ThorntonKirk ThorntonKirk Thornton is an American voice actor.-Bio:He is known for playing tough or grouchy men in English-dubbed anime and video games. His career includes Hotohori in Fushigi Yūgi and Jin in Samurai Champloo...
- Cade - Andrew Ableson - Zed, Digger Leader
- Karl WiedergottKarl WiedergottKarl Wiedergott, born Karl Aloysious Treaton is a German actor. He is noted for his voice work on the long-running Fox sitcom The Simpsons since 1998, voicing background characters and some celebrities such as John Travolta and Bill Clinton...
- Moe, Digger Foreman - Rebecca Wink - Woody, Young Jay
- Sunmin Park - Maya
- Jamie Simone - Dispatcher
- Jeffrey Winter - Trooper
- Marc Scarpa - Trooper
- Mark Lindsay - Trooper, Sentry
Festivals
Wonderful Days was screened at the following Film Festivals:- Sitges International Film Festival, 2003;
- San Sebastian International Film Festival, 2003;
- Cannes Film Festival, 2003;
- Sundance Film Festival, 2004;
- Brussels Fantasy Film Festival, 2004;
- Annecy International Animation Film Festival, 2004;
- Venice Film Festival, 2004;
- Tokyo Film Festival, 2004;
- London Film Festival, 2004;
- Holland Animation Film Festival, 2004;
- San Francisco Film Festival, 2004