One thing I have never associated with Japanese anime is a Spanish cyclist, yet here I am watching a film called Nasu: Summer in Andalusia (2003). Typically, I prefer to watch more fantastical or horror-driven anime, but I decided to give this a try. AnimEigo has reissued the film, and deservedly so.
It’s significant for a couple of reasons. It was the first anime to ever compete at the Cannes Film Festival. It’s also the debut directorial feature of Kitaro Kosaka, a key animator for Studio Ghibli, working on critically acclaimed films like Spirited Away (2001), The Boy and the Heron (2023), and many more.
The summer in Andalusia has been blazing, not just from the relentless heat! With the fiery action of La Vuelta underway, local cyclist Pepe Benengeli, riding for a struggling sponsor, isn’t seen as a contender even though it’s the race of his career. It also happens to be his older brother’s wedding day to his ex-girlfriend. Reflections on his life are racing through his head, trying to focus, but when unexpected twists shake up the race, Pepe seizes his chance, launching a daring, full-throttle sprint toward victory.
Nasu really attempts to get into the mindset of a pro cyclist and how dedicated the athletes are to the sport. The lead character, Pepe, can be a bit unlikable at times, but the journey he goes on is quite interesting. The animation is excellent, and I enjoyed how wonderful the background scenery of the race looked. It’s very detailed and colorful; nature never looked so good.
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I thought there would be more drama; it’s there, but the main focus is on the race itself. At under fifty minutes, Nasu is a fascinating look into cycling with gorgeous animation, but it falls a little short, at least for me, in the story department.
I love that AnimEigo is re-issuing so many animated films and series from Japan’s earlier years. The quality of their physical releases rarely disappoints. Nasu has a few bonus features listed on the back of the case, but I was delighted to see there’s far more than what it actually lists. Included are two interviews with Kitaro Kosaka (one from 2003 and another from 2023), director/voice cast interview (2023), premiere event footage, full feature storyboards, TV promos, the original Japanese teaser and trailer, and the US release trailer.
This film was followed in 2007 by the sequel Nasu: A Migratory Bird with Suitcase, also directed by Kosaka.
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