After graduating from Kyoto Seika University, director and animator Hiroyasu Ishida already had two projects, “Fumiko's Confession” and “Rain Town”, under his belt which had not only won awards but also managed to get him international attention, thus enabling him to co-found Studio Colorido in Tokyo. When it came to his next project, he came back to an illustration he had done while still at university, showing children playing at their favorite secret place, away from all the adults in their lives. While his skill as an animator, creating worlds which blend memory, fantasy and reality had been established in his previous works, “Sonny Boy & Dewdrop Girl” would also be an exercise in storytelling, one dealing with issues such as first love and growing up.
At school, Hirata is a shy student who does not participate much in class or engage in talks with other classmates, and who feels more comfortable when he draws. Most of his drawings show birds which are his favorite subjects and also at the center of his daydreams, in which he is quite different, outgoing and adventurous. However, he is also in love with his classmate Shigure, but also afraid to talk to her about his feelings, rather showing his emotions in his drawings. Even though he runs away when she approaches and is kind of clumsy, she tries to build a connection to the introvert boy, which, little by little, seems to work.
However, both of their lives change when Shigure has to leave school as her parents are about to move away. Realizing this may be the last time he can confess his feelings to her, Hirata becomes increasingly anxious and nervous, fighting with his desire to speak to her on the one hand and stepping out of his comfort zone on the other.
Similar to his previous efforts, “Sonny Boy & Dewdrop Girl” is yet another example of Ishida's skill in blending animation, visuals and design, creating a unique world, in this case the imagination of a teenage boy in love. Like with “Fumiko's Confession”, which dealt with similar themes, the combination of 2D and 3D animation lets you delve deep into the thoughts and feelings of the main character, who, at one point in his life, feels pressured into doing something he would normally not do, thus stepping beyond the borders he established for himself many years ago. Besides, it is also interesting to see, how the shift within the story is mirrored in the animation and world design, suddenly changing from calm and dreamy to a more hectic, adventurous environment, when Hirata decides to at least make an effort to confess his feelings to the person he loves.
Additionally, “Sonny Boy & Dewdrop Girl” introduces the kind of world and characters which would be seen in “Penguin's Highway” later on. Addressed at an audience probably around the same age as the two main characters, Ishida's feature deals with the power of one's imagination, how it can, quite literally, give people wings, but also should not get in the way of an actual, emotional connection. Rather, one should perhaps strive for a combination of both of these worlds, which is something Hirata aims for.
In conclusion, “Sonny Boy & Dewdrop Girl” is a very enjoyable short feature by Hiroyasu Ishida, showing the progression he has made as a storyteller and a director. Combining his skill at animation and character design, the director tells a story about growing up and stepping outside one's comfort zone through the power of imagination.
