Reviews

Eight Clouds Rising is a fascinating, insular little 90s OVA that is in some ways similar and in other ways distinct from the massive catalog of short anime projects released at the time. If nothing else, it is a pretty, intriguing, and generally entertaining OVA. Beginning with the story, it follows a theater troupe visiting a shrine for inspiration regarding their upcoming play, as things begin to go awry concerning the bizarre mystical nature of the place, and the family that handles the sacred operations of the temple. While there are some weird themes I feel didn't necessarily fit in the narrative very well, it still has a very storybook atmosphere, as though this were something told around a campfire, which I believe plays to its benefit. However, it also only feels like a prologue, as though it is the beginning part of some more interesting story that it is about to embark on. Unfortunately, that part doesn't exist, and all that's left is a fairly solid prologue.

The art, meanwhile, stands out as the strongest aspect of this anime by a mile. It is rich, colorful, and smooth, bolstering the sense of a sacred and mysterious atmosphere that this anime gives off. I especially like how they animated the eyes of the characters, which are not only unique but also capable of carrying poignant emotion.

The sound is solid, meeting all basic standards of quality, with characteristic voice work and a detailed sounds of life that really breathe life into the show's more mystical elements.

The characters are also generally pretty good, meeting all basic standards of quality, and while they do feel as though they are being moved along by the plot for its own ends, that kind of plays into the bizarre religious atmosphere of the anime, which is a strength. Of them, my favorites are the brooding and mysterious Kuraki, and the generally nonplussed Emu. Kuraki is exactly the kind of character you'd need in a story like this, and in addition to bringing a good character design to the table, he contrasts the Naieve Takeo, while Emu, despite being only a secondary character, contrasts everybody in the story as being somewhat detached from it- Emu is just a guy, caught up in and yet unbothered by the goings-on of the strange tale unfolding around him. Overall, Eight Clouds Rising is a generally fine way to spend 58 minutes. Whether or not you'd enjoy it comes down to your personal taste, but if you like subtle Japanese mythology and ubiquitous forested mountainscapes, you'd probably find this worth your time.