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What is the purpose of Mima's character arc?

posted 8 years ago by pranith_online
4 replies | jump to latest

Okay so I finally watched this movie, I loved it, and surprising understood it from the first viewing. How she struggles within herself while outside factors take a toll on her life simultaneously. This is all stylishly portrayed with the fast pace and quick edits.
Anyway getting to the point, I am in wonder what the filmmakers wanted to get at through Mima's character, don't get me wrong she's well animated and fleshed out, but how is the viewer supposed to react to her arc? Should we be sympathetic to her plight in the movie and be relieved that she's overcome everything in the end? ( I loved the ending by the way) cause the film clearly criticizes the commercialization of the entertainment industry, so similarly are we supposed to be critical of Mima shedding her "good girl" image to pursue acting when it tarnishes her self respect and dignity, or should we support her for the choices she made which eventually put her on top as we find out eventually? The conversation she has with her mother really got me thinking about this... When the mother claims that "when she was young, singing was all she wanted to do". To which Mima retorts by saying she doesn't understand the entertainment industry or something along those lines. Mima's mother is never again mentioned or heard of again throughout the movie, which probably means that the conversation has something important to the story. I think it's a way of juxtaposing Mima's initial dreams with what commercialization and money has done to her. So... Is Mima a protagonist or an Anti Hero of sorts? Thoughts anyone?

[–] PreachCaleb 8 years ago

Like many of the scenes in this movie, it's really left up to the viewer what they got from Mima's character, as well as Rumi's.

The overall theme to me is just how lost someone can get in their quest for stardom. This applies to both Mima and Rumi to the point where neither of them truly know who they are.

I don't know if I can ever properly judge Mima's choices. Ambivalence is probably the best word. I respect her trying to expand her career, yet I can see how some of her decisions are tearing her apart inside.

Mima is definitely the protagonist, yet not really an Anti-Hero.

Mima's mother is never again mentioned or heard of again throughout the movie, which probably means that the conversation has something important to the story.

From what I've read, it's something that's lost on non-Japanese speakers. When Mima is on the phone with her mother, she reverts to a more "country" accent--an accent she doesn't use any where else in the movie--implying she's the classic country girl who moved to the city to make it big. This indeed is a crucial moment for the character as it shows even before the story proper, Mima has already been making choices to shed her past for fame and fortune, tying it all together with the choices she makes throughout the movie.

Let's be bad guys.

[–] pranith_online 8 years ago

I guess you're right about how it's upto the viewer to decide about what they got from Mima's and Rumi's character, but I still think the movie should and does in some way give an idea of its main characters arc. Although I haven't figured out what. Once again yes, the tendency to get messed up chasing stardom is probably a main theme of the film. Although I think it isn't relevant to Rumi, who in my opinion is just *beep* crazy. Thanks for sharing the part about her accent changing. I wasn't aware of that and it makes more sense now. But I'm still really conflicted about her arc. Anyway that goes to show what a thought provoking film this is.

[–] PreachCaleb 8 years ago

Although I think it isn't relevant to Rumi, who in my opinion is just *beep* crazy.

I'd say it is relevant. She was once a former pop star, too, if I'm not mistaken.

She probably got lost somewhere along the way like Mima did.

Let's be bad guys.

[–] Daf (105) 4 months ago

(Adding my thoughts, years later, for posterity's sake).

Mima's character arc ends with her realizing she should forge her own identity and figure out what's best for her rather than to let others dictate her life. One of her managers pressures her into the raunchier side of the business, and she goes along with it because apparently that's what the public prefers, it's what people keep telling her, and she ends up feeling used and exploited.

The twist at the end is that Rumi and the fans who object to her new image don't actually have her interests at heart, either, and are also just trying to impose their own idea on Mima about who she is. Whatever direction she decides to go in after the movie is over, she at least realizes it should be something she herself believes in, and moreover she shouldn't let her professional act dictate her identity as a person.