The Understated Importance of Setting in Liz & The Blue Bird

Today we take a look at the setting of Liz to Aoi Tori, Kitauji High School, and how it's established to provide deeper meaning to some of the later scenes in the film.
This was the Patreon Request for December - again, wouldn't be me if I wasn't late on everything - so for those of you supporting me on Patreon keep an eye out for the form going live tomorrow!
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Music:
Trophy - Super Smash Bros
Someday..my dream - After the Rain
An Admirable Doll - Violet Evergarden
Thumbnail & Logo: Drawplex
Special Thanks: Acoha, Alex & Ting

[@rogue5843]

probably no one noticed but the intro with nozomi and mizore had a small detail. Nozomi would always be framed and animated to complete an action (walking down stairs, turning a corner, etc.) Mizore would always follow but Naoko Yamada made sure that the camera would cut to a new scene before she can do the same action. Someone who looks up to their inspiration never fully lives up to her. Rather intricate and relatable

[@nicolaimarquez2211]

Is Yamada even human? How can she possibly make so much art that put me to tears? Like... Every freaking time. Im glad you made a video on Liz, especially because most people focus on the sound design (for GOOD reasons), but you choose to talk about the setting, which is also very well utilized. In fact, every piece of the production is incredibly well put, and it all falls in place like a perfect puzzle. This is the kind of movie that I enjoy more every time I watch it again.

[@nicolaimarquez2211]

4:36 Btw I hadn't noticed this little detail and IT'S AMAZING. You kind of have a eye for this kind of things, but seriously, once I noted that, I was blown away.

[@folcwinep.pywackett8517]

I agree #3. Pure genius, nothing more!

[@Strombowli]

This may be looking into it too much, but I find it interesting how at the end of the movie the Nozomi and Mizore meet in the biology lab. This is Mirzore's safe space, it's where she goes when she wants to be alone. So having Nozomi go there may represent how she finally understands and accepts Mizore's feelings. I think if the movie had been about coming together in the concert, that scene would have happened in the band room.

[@sapinta]

Nozomi's problem wasn't that she didn't accepted Mizore's feelings, was that she couldn't deal with her own envy and insecurities. Still, the movie is obviously not about the concert, it's about their relationship. It's a very personal issue and the resolution taking place away from the music room, away from any kind of audience, underlines it.

[@TheCathordran]

In my opinion, Liz & and the Blue Bird's biggest accomplishment was it's sound design. I can't think of many works where the sounds and music have so effectively presented the emotions of its characters. I feel like I could watch the movie ten times for this one aspect alone. I have to agree with your video as well. I hadn't thought much of the setting as I had already seen both seasons of Euphonium, but the introduction of the space in this movie was so masterful that even my friends , who hadn't seen Euphonium, felt the same way come the end of the movie. Great work as usual!

[@PositiviteaTheFirst]

Kyoto Animation has always had good sound design. Especially spatial sound design. This film took it to new heights.

[@ming5363]

I watched a lot English review. No one talks about how nozomi feels in the sence. In fact, Nozomi is more sensitive than mizore. Nozomi is jealousy about mizore's music talent. Mizore got the recommendation book for music university from the music teacher due to her talent. After Nozomi knew that. She told that music teacher she wanted to go to music university as well. But the music teacher just told her something politely and the teacher even was not 100% sure Nozomi's name! Both of them, Nozomi and mizore dont have any ideas about future's work. They all sent the blank sheet when they do the caree survey. But Mizore got teacher's attention and she did not get anything. When in the lab, Mizore told her real feeling about Nozomi. She love Nozomi!(not normal friendship) She love her voice, her hair, her steps etc. She love all of Nozomi! However, after hearing this, Nozomi knew that they were not in the same conversation again. Because what Nozomi wanted Mizore to say the most is "I love Nozomi's flute". The thing (music) Nozomi care the most is something unimportant stuff for mizore. So she stoped her by her words "I love Mizore's oboe". That is what Nozomi care and what she want Mizore to do in the future. She has talent. She has to let her fly~

[@guildfairytail]

This is so fascinating because i interpretated things differently. To me the whole thing with the teacher not really expecting anything from her just made Nozomi feels even more conscious that she can't be in the same place as Mizore even if she wanted to. The same way Liz can't stay forever with the blue bird because as a bird, in nature someday she will fly in the sky which is where she, as a normal person, can't go. Nozomi at the start didn't think to apply to that Uni, she thought to try it only after she heard it from Mizore so she wasn't really set to make music more than a passion. She goes in the lab after that performance because it was like she had the same confirmation, but this time from Mizore herself with her skilled performance earlier. While doing the "i love you hug" and start telling each other what they like about each others i don't think she wanted Mizore to say that she liked her flute sound because what hurt her more is not that she is not skilled as Mizore but rather that she inevitably won't be able to stay by her side. Nozomi feels like herself is Liz and Mizore is the blue bird that will inevitably flight away from her. After Mizore said she liked Nozomi's everything, i think in that instant she understood that while for her Mizore was the blue bird that she had to let go, to Mizore, the blue bird, the special one, was all along Nozomi herself. That's why after, without hesitation, she says she likes Mizore's oboe. It was like telling: No! the blue bird, the special one was Mizore empathizing her talent. I think this is also why she starts laughing and you can see she feels better knowing that they were thinking the same thing about each other as a special person.

[@isaidwithaposedlook4500]

Liz and blue bird is a good portrayal of the character's mindset or emotion change. The "sense of distance" between the their friendship is also well portrayed. The emotion is convey in delicate and beautiful way

[@arturcepakov1923]

Yes, please talk more about KyoAni!

[@Die-Coughman]

I just realized that I can pretty much visualize the geometry of the school and I haven't even been there.

[@christianweber7372]

This Movie is amazing. Naoko Yamada and her Team made a new masterpiece. I love the composer (Ushio Kensuke) for his perfect themes which supports a scene just perfectly.

[@KS-vf7nn]

This is probably the only channel on youtube where I put aside what I'm doing to watch, always incredible analysis and editing, always covering anime that I love (stumbled across the Hyouka series and was pleasantly surprised - and blown away) and your voice seems to have this soothing quality I can't quite put my finger on, keep up the good work man

[@runespar]

Love your inclusion of the Violet Evergarden background music.

[@Roak1]

your sound design w the VE score at the end was god tier btw, i cant get enough of your editing. honestly i can see a kanyasai level analysis on just liz being possible. id pay top dollar for it. great video as always, the swell at the end nearly made me cry

[@podracer35]

> swell at the end nearly made me cry Same

[@ligrerium9891]

Oh no, you didn't put how mizore's perspective most of the time cuts the head of other character not close to her. This implies that she doesn't see eye to eye with others and is shy and inclusive. This almost never happen with nozomi You also didn't mention at first nozomi never looks back when they are walking together and in the very end nozomi finally looks mizore in the eye as mizore's face turned into a joyful surprise. Why..... Why..... How can replay value missed it out 🤣 Nah I'm joking i bet you saw that too Hehe amazing video mate... as always love you

[@ming5363]

I watched a lot English review. No one talks about how nozomi feels in the sence. In fact, Nozomi is more sensitive than mizore. Nozomi is jealousy about mizore's music talent. Mizore got the recommendation book for music university from the music teacher due to her talent. After Nozomi knew that. She told that music teacher she wanted to go to music university as well. But the music teacher just told her something politely and the teacher even was not 100% sure Nozomi's name! Both of them, Nozomi and mizore dont have any ideas about future's work. They all sent the blank sheet when they do the caree survey. But Mizore got teacher's attention and she did not get anything. When in the lab, Mizore told her real feeling about Nozomi. She love Nozomi!(not normal friendship) She love her voice, her hair, her steps etc. She love all of Nozomi! However, after hearing this, Nozomi knew that they were not in the same conversation again. Because what Nozomi wanted Mizore to say the most is "I love Nozomi's flute". The thing (music) Nozomi care the most is something unimportant stuff for mizore. So she stoped her by her words "I love Mizore's oboe". That is what Nozomi care and what she want Mizore to do in the future. She has talent. She has to let her fly~

[@folcwinep.pywackett8517]

Excellent review! But there is one thing that I cannot understand. In the very last scene, they are walking away with Nozomi in the lead just like the beginning. Suddenly Nozomi stops and turns around, and the look on Mizore's face is priceless, but there is no dialogue, and it is difficult to see what Nozomi might have said or done in this situation, and there the movie ends. Does anyone have a theory or idea about what Nozomi did or said?

[@Eterrath]

I don't think Nozomi said anything in particular. And the reason Mizore has a priceless look on her face is because the scene of Nozomi turning back while walking so close to her is reminiscent of the same thing she did in middle school, when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and which is Mizore's most precious memory. I think she made that face because Nozomi turning back made Mizore instantly relive that memory, a memory from the time Mizore thinks the bond between them was the strongest. So it's like they've come back to that stage again, but it's not just what Mizore thinks, but rather they've become closer in an objective sense after opening themselves up to each other at the end of the movie, so they've come back stronger than ever. These are just my two cents but I interpreted this scene in this straightforward way when I first saw it on New Year's Eve this year

[@folcwinep.pywackett8517]

​@@Eterrath What you said makes a lot of sense, so your theory is much better than two cents! I had forgotten a lot of that so thanks. Liz is one of my all time favorites, such a beautiful work! Have a very Happy New Year!!!

[@Eterrath]

@@folcwinep.pywackett8517 Wishing a happy new year to you too

[@zLUSTz]

Your videos are always so informative. Your channel is so underrated!

[@Leo-ex9hc]

Love your videos, always brings a smile to my face when I see you've uploaded. Glad you've covered one of my favourite anime movies here, and hope you carry on with the great content!

[@ivananordinaryperson9404]

I been waiting for this 😍😍

[@shiro2821]

I love your analysis

[@Catherine_Ea]

What a lovely video about a lovely movie.

[@sed9385]

*sighs* _that was amazing_

[@Zoroasto1]

What a lovely movie

[@justinmullins1112]

English blu-ray when... Oh right, we actually have a date now! Rejoice!

[@wheresmyeyebrow1608]

I really liked this film, and was glad of the happy ending where they made up (spoiler below) But didn't actually separate? I guess they're still friends who are more open to each other as evidenced by Mizore's mood change.

[@inatus_s]

K you cant use violet evergarden ost while talking about this movie, that's just not fair TT

[@patrickdawson6281]

Can I watch this legally in the UK or am I using the one piece?

[@tsdev9861]

3:32 thats a one long neck

[@raseruuu3742]

Wanna hug uguu

[@lolpl0000]

This comment was brought to you by kyoani gang.

[@romulorafael5563]

man, you spoiled me about cowboy bebop, for free, I really wasn't expecting this

[@ReplayValue]

Dawg if learning about something that happens in the 5th episode of a series that's been out since 1998 counts a spoiler, you should be more upset about learning about the ending of The Lady From Shanghai or Pokémon Silver.

[@romulorafael5563]

@@ReplayValueHoly shit you answered me, i won't even argue cuz you're right

[@kukuri18]

pero explícame la escena finaaaaaaal xDDDDDD

[@audiio]

.

[@CaseNumber00]

I understand all the story boarding, cinematography. symbolism, etc, more greatness from Kyoani, but I couldnt resonate and empathize with this movie as much as everyone eIse. I dont know if its because I had a high school experience removed from a rose colored tint or didnt have close friends but doesnt anyone share the same thoughts about this movie? In any case I only saw the movie once and should rewatch it in a few months.

[@mrk131324]

CaseNumber00 It is an artistic, beautiful, long and boring movie. This is mostly due to it having only one story arc and a twist the is developed and explained for 2 hours. It is contemplating to watch, but if you do not get into the mood, it is boring as hell.

[@littlecloudflower]

I had a similar experience tbh. I understood everything but didn't find it as emotionally resonating as the rest of the Euphonium, even though I've had similar experiences with a close friend. As others have mentioned, it really is a slow movie, even if it's a beautiful one.