Netflix’s Oni: Thunder God’s Tale is a new mini-animated series that charts the journey of Onari, and her father, Naridon, in a rural Japanese village on Mount Kamigami. Created by Daisuke ‘Dice’ Tsutsumi and Tonko House, the powerhouse team behind the Oscar-nominated film The Dam Keeper, the series has a run time of about 2.5 hours, with four episodes being 45 mins each.
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The Plot
The story is a tribute to Japanese folklore, focusing on varied monsters, divine gods (collectively called kami), and their Kushi (power). The series begins with Onari, one of the few students in her school who has not yet discovered her Kushi. Her teacher, Mr Tengu and her Principal advised her to look within that may help her figure out what she inherited from her dopey father.
In a world filled with gods and monsters of Japanese mythology, free-spirited Onari is determined to follow in their footsteps — but her powers are yet to be revealed.
From Academy Award nominated Director Daisuke Tsutsumi comes ONI: Thunder God’s Tale. Now on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/M2d52arzs6
— Netflix (@netflix) October 21, 2022
One of the many reasons why Onari is so keen on discovering her powers is because of two reasons: a) she is one of the last of kami who still does not have Kushi, and b) the blood moon is upon them, and oni (demons) will be attacking their village. Onari desperately wishes to join the other kami to defend her village, and her inability to protect them drives her to the edge of the forest, where she discovers the truth.
Spectacular Themes
Oni is perhaps one of the most subtly crafted films I have seen recently. While the large message is right in your face, a girl’s journey of self-discovery; other layers enhance this heart-warming series.
First and foremost is her relationship with her father, who can not speak. There are moments of frustration, but also love that shines through despite the differences. Onari is a curious girl, who wants answers about everything, yet, her father, who is usually aloof, can’t provide them. There is miscommunication, but despite that, Onari knows that her father loves her dearly and would do anything to see her happy. Dice explains this succinctly to Animationscoop in a recent interview, “While there are extreme differences and difficulties in communication that lead towards frustration, those are all so relatable. As a parent, that happens all the time. Really, at the core of this, you see where these two bonds are over food and play and going to school—this vulnerability of learning and growing together. And for me, in a nutshell, they are the best parts and the hardest parts of being a parent. And that’s what we tried to capture in the series.”
ONI: Thunder God’s Tale started over 5 years ago with this painting. Never thought culturally specific story like this can find home in Hollywood.
5 years later, thanks to #Netflix, it became a 154 min epic story. #ONI #thundergodstale pic.twitter.com/5EEo3k3ICg— Dice Tsutsumi – ONI 10.21 on Netflix! (@tonkohouse) October 26, 2022
While love is the core theme, so are other emotions that accompany it—jealousy, guilt, acceptance, anger, and above all, fear of losing the loved one. The movie craftily weaves all of this together to bring you moments of utter despair and exhilarating joy as our little Onari and her best friend Kappa traverse through thick and thin. Despite the challenges, Onari’s willpower is commendable, and so is the kami’s acceptance of their flaws. Moreover, the series also tells you there is no distinction between good and evil, rather, shifting layers of grey. It is where the story stops feeling like it’s for children and is more about people of all ages seeing the world.
But this is not it. Another significant layer is the theme of environment conservation and the importance of diversity. There are moments where the movie oscillates between Pixar’s emotional quotient while delving deep into more mature themes seen in Studio Ghibli’s movies. This blend is a strong glue holding many intricate facets of the series together.
Just finished watching Oni: Thunder God’s Tale and holy shit please go watch this masterpiece. @tonkohouse knocks it out of the park. It weaves an incredibly emotional, funny and heartwarming story in just four episodes. The ending was incredible. 10/10. pic.twitter.com/ISPH6n8bM7
— Vampire Batt AcooOOoña 🦇🎃 (@Acuna_Mattata) October 27, 2022
Stellar Animation and Moving Music
The series is a blend of 3D CGI and stop-motion animation, which works really well for the story. Another facet is the cloth-like appearance of the characters and everything that resides in Onari’s world, which is simply spectacular. Even the use of light, details and shadows is extremely good. There is a discussion between Dice and the VFX supervisor and DVFX supervisor of Megalis VFX that you should watch if you wish to know more about the process.
Naridon truly, truly loves Onari from the bottom of his heart.#ONI #onithundergodstale #tonkohouse #神々山のおなり #netflix #animation pic.twitter.com/iZaPEh91f7
— Seiya (@SeiyaOeda) October 26, 2022
The music scores are by Matteo Roberts and Zach Johnston, where the duo used traditional Japanese instruments with modern synths to create a nuanced, culturally driven score. The music is well-done as it draws you closer to the culture while pushing you to the verge of tears. In an interview with Cartoon Brew, Roberts explained their process, sayings, “Then when we brought in the taiko musicians and flute players, they helped elevate it to the next level. But in terms of references and style, we didn’t overcook it too much. We tried to keep it authentic to ourselves while being mindful of those Japanese influences. Our intuition got us pretty close to what we wanted most of the time, and then it was about finessing and fixing things from there.”
Beautiful Dialogues and Talented Voice Actors
Since Oni is targeted at children, naturally, the dialogues are simple, yet, they perfectly drive the point home. Perhaps, it is this simplicity that makes the whole series even more endearing to watch. As someone who has recently reviewed shows such as Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War, House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power, it was quite enticing to see all the subtext instantly rather than spending hours on Twitter and Reddit to figure out what it may imply.
Everyone PLEASE check out @tonkohouse spectacular ONI on Netflix!!! It’s full of magic, wonder, laughs and a ton of heart. A personal AND universal work like this must be experienced. It really is a miracle! Support original indie animation studios and help our art form grow. pic.twitter.com/pUdiHYuJZN
— Jorge R. Gutierrez (@mexopolis) October 26, 2022
As for the voice actors, they are simply mesmerising. Onari’s childlike wonder and genuine emotions are portrayed well, as, for her friend Kappa, patience and kindness shine bright. The Principal wise advice shines through the challenging aspects, while Noridon, who does not speak, uses various pitches to express himself.
Should You Stream or Skip?
Oni: Thunder God’s Tale is series that everyone must watch. It is entertaining as it drives significant messages home in an intricate and clever script and clear direction. The team’s effort to make Oni a memorable experience is commendable because varied artists lend a slice of their experiences during its creation.
Thunder God’s Tale: Oni.
Definitely go watch it on Netflix!!!!the storytelling, the art, I cried I laughed, just everything is so perfect❤️
Really enjoyed this series, congrats to everyone @TonkoHouseJapan .
(And Kappa is my favourite)
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. #tonkohouse #onithundergodstale pic.twitter.com/v9DsOwXkPK— Giada 🦥 available for work!! (@giada_carboni) October 26, 2022
Moreover, it does not speak down to the audience or over-explain certain aspects but rather leaves room for the viewer to absorb and ponder over where we are headed collectively. Whether there are joyous or sad moments, each is crisp so that it doesn’t seem too silly or preachy.
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Oni is a highly relevant show in today’s time, and easy for one to get deeply involved in it. We are shown a glimpse of modern times through gripping Japanese folklore. It is a reminder that history won’t repeat itself unless it is learned.
