Kami no Fude

Akari's grandfather has died, and a display of his work is set up in his memory; her grandfather had been a model maker for kaiju films, creating the brilliant monsters and other creatures that populated these films. Akari is surprised to find a schoolmate, Tokuya, visiting the exhibit: he was a huge fan of the genre and revered Akari's grandfather. When a mysterious man called Mr. Hozumi asks the two to find the brush of the god in order to stop the world from disappearing, the children soon find themselves in a fabulous country, filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures - and filled with danger, for them and for the world.

This film was directed by Keizo Murase, who himself is a master model maker who worked in Japanese film from the 1950s on. Having retired some time ago, he decided that he wanted to make his own kaiju film and this gem is the result. The film is at turns exhilarating, scary, gorgeous, poignant and funny - and clocks in at a mere 74 minutes! Really marvelous stuff, something everyone should get a chance to see. Highly recommended!