Origin: Spirits of the Past (Gin-iro no Kami no Agito)
Anime Review by DireWolf
Origin: Spirits of the Past opens with a cataclysmic disaster shattering the moon and reigning destruction across the earth. 300 years later, we come upon Agito and Cain, a pair of young boys living in Neutral City. As the two mischief-makers race down to the river where the city draws most of its water, they are caught by druids – sentient humanoid plants. While Cain gives up, Agito decides to make a run for it, swimming along the river until he comes to a hidden cave. Inside, he is drawn by a red light, soon revealed to be part of a stasis chamber. While most of the inhabitants are long dead, Agito finds one pod still active. Releasing Toola, its young charge, Agito brings her to Neutral City, where the grown-ups rebuke him and Cain and welcome Toola.
Neutral City, founded by the parents of Agito, Cain, and Minka- Agito’s girlfriend, stands between the sentient forests now dominating the Earth and Ragna, a city of humans who believe they must destroy The Forest. Unlike those from Ragna, the inhabitants of Neutral City believe they can find a way to coexist with The Forest, and work to bridge the gap between the races. To that effect, Agashi, Hajan, and Yolda – the founders of Neutral City – have ‘enhanced’ themselves by merging with elements of the forest, leaving them with silver hair (the original title of the movie, Gin-iro no Kami no Agito, translates to ‘Agito the Silver-Haired’).
Toola, asleep since the disaster, is shocked by what remains of her city. Living and scavenging among the ruins, the people of Neutral are a dismal shadow of the world she remembers. Wandering the city, Toola clings to her Raban – a personalized communicator – her only link to the past.
The Forest, aware of Toola’s awakening, is troubled by her presence. Predicting destruction, The Forest has begun to withdraw the water available to Neutral City, only willing to return it if Toola is turned over to the druids. Seeking a compromise, Agito takes Toola to visit his father, Agashi, whose enhancements have progressed to the point where he is becoming one with The Forest. Agashi councils Toola that the only way she can survive in this new world is by relinquishing the past.
Before anyone can consider further action, Shunack, a person from the same past as Toola who had himself enhanced, convinces her to join him in Ragna. Shunack worked with Toola’s father, and convinces her that, using her Raban, they can find Estoc – a scientific system developed by her father to return the world to how it was. Spurred on by her memories of the past and frightened by a Forest attack seeking to stop Shunack, Toola agrees to go with him.
Agito, horrified by Toola’s decision, seeks the counsel of his father. Agashi, undergoing the final stage of his transformation, supports Agito’s decision to follow Toola, knowing that it means Agito venturing into The Forest. Agito runs from Neutral City, leaving Cain and Minka behind. Soon he reaches its heart and is granted enhancement in support of his mission to stop Shunack and save Toola.
The newly enhanced Agito confronts Shunack and Toola, but is subdued. Toola, horrified by what he has done to himself, asks Agito to wait for her in Ragna while she completes her mission. But between his own unwillingness to accept Toola’s decision and Shunack’s attempt to kill Agito while he is subdued, Agito breaks free and follows Shunack and Toola to Estoc. What follows is a determined battle for the future of Earth, reflecting Toola’s internal struggle with the world that has changed around her.
With all the modern troubles of mad science and global warming, the story of Origin: Spirits of the Past is a rich and terrifying glimpse into our dystopian future. The characters, many of whom are only on screen for a short time, are remarkably human. Each scene is beautiful in its depiction of this damaged world. The graphics are modern, yet artistically rendered to relate back to a more classic era of anime.
Origin: Spirits of the Past is a beautiful tale of coming to terms with growing up and finding the world different from your childhood dreamed. Surrounded by strange people, hostile terrain, and terrifying yet wondrous magic, Toola’s ordeal reflects each of us as we come into adulthood.
If you’re a fan of Mayazaki’s various films, this movie is sure to be a hit. I rate Origin: Spirits of the Past with a 9/10.
