Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
In an abandoned Tokyo overrun by bubbles and gravitational abnormalities, one gifted young man has a fateful meeting with a mysterious girl.
Bubble is a visually stunning Netflix anime film with breathtaking parkour sequences and inventive gravitational set pieces that push the medium's animation quality to impressive heights. However, the plot — a loose retelling of The Little Mermaid set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo — feels underdeveloped and emotionally thin, rushing through its romance and world-building. The protagonist's emotional arc and the central relationship lack the depth needed to land the bittersweet ending with full impact. The voice performances are competent but unremarkable. The film's greatest asset is its cinematography and fluid action choreography, which are genuinely exceptional, while its narrative ambitions outpace its execution.