We watched Poupelle over the summer without realizing that it is a kind-of-perfect Halloween movie. After all, it's hard to catch that from the title, which is appropriate in its own way for a film that features a young boy's relationship with an animated (in multiple senses) trash spirit--well, almost appropriate, assuming p and b are allophones in Japanese?!? Geeky asides aside, the trash-man materializes from a falling star on Halloween night. This sentient, if shy and confused, gentle creature is at first accepted as just one of the costumed revelers in a truly carnivalesque explosion of music and color amidst the otherwise drab cityscape. Without a doubt the most striking quality of this film is the contrast between the vibrant colors of the characters and their surroundings and the oppressive smog overhanging the city that completely shuts out day and night alike in a perpetual grey. The plot too is interesting-the trash-man develops as a father figure for the boy, whose dad, a somewhat incompetent member of a group resisting the city's rulers, was recently killed by them. This group asserts that there is in fact a sky beyond the fog. Poupelle thus shares the common environmental ethos of Japanese animae, but mixes it with themes about the persecution of religious minorities in an interesting way. Definitely worth a watch, especially as an example of the aesthetic possibilities of an animation style which eschews the hyper-realism of most current American efforts.

I know movies can come out later in France, but... 2 years? It's a bit much isn't it? This review will be full of spoilers.

Such a beautiful anime! A mix between a Miyazaki, video games, and Nightmare before Christmas. You have the poetry and imagery of any Ghibli studio movie, the same dream of something else from Jack Skellington, with a lot of 90s/00s video game cinematics (especially in the beginning). To me, the movie is a clear parallel with Chinese communism (but you can also see a parallel with what is happening in a lot of modern societies). The people in the city live completely cut from anything outside, and anyone trying to say something against the current regime gets thrown into jail or killed. And this is where poubelle arrives, a good 'monster' trying to understand why and how things happen in this world. He was born in a dump and is made of rubbish, but he is full of hope and love. He helps little Lubicchi to find his way back to the dreams of his father, making them real for everyone in the city. A story where the dreamer, going against the government at his life's risk, shows the whole city how good the outside world is, just like his father tried to tell them all those years ago.

When considering to watch this movie, many may dismiss it as a one layered kids movie. It has in fact many layers and is suited for all ages although the very young might not as appreciate it as much as others. The colors, setting, characters, Japanese voice cast and soundtrack are all superb. The story, while seemingly simple, gets deeper as the film progresses. There could be some confusion in a minor detail or two which would make 2 viewings preferable. The garbage man should go down as one of the great cartoon characters of the century! The only criticism is that the storm troopers look-a-likes should have had their own look! Poupelle of Chimney Town is about family, following a dream, team work, and the rulers and those that are ruled. Make sure you listen to the end credit song sung by the beautiful voice of Lozareena.