Finding life in the face of to its title no, it’s not some strange story about cannibalism, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas is a beautiful and moving exploration of what it means to truly live, told through the perspective of an emotionally distant boy whose life is changed by a terminally ill girl. While director Shin'ichirō Ushijima’s film adaptation of Yoru Sumino’s web novel could have been a bit more subtle in its delivery, the strength of its heartwarming central relationship and the satisfying way in which it all concludes makes for a powerful coming-of-age story that celebrates life in the face of death. Sakura, a teenage girl suffering from a pancreatic disease, befriends a boy from her school after he discovers she’s ill, which she has kept secret from her close friends. The boy, whose name is purposefully kept a mystery for the majority of the film, is withdrawn at school, avoiding relationships with anyone outside his family. While its “sick girl helps emotionally-distant boy see the beauty in life” premise isn’t the most original concept see Your Lie in April, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas makes excellent use of it as a springboard for significant character growth. Additionally, the lifeless personality of the male lead serves as a fantastic foil to Sakura, who, despite her circumstances, is full of life. Gorgeous Stills From I Want to Eat Your Pancreas Sakura’s overly upbeat attitude is at times obnoxious and comes dangerously close to feeling cartoonish, but it successfully captures how an extroverted person like Sakura might cope in the face of their own mortality. Since the story is primarily framed from the boy’s perspective, the exaggerated portrayal of her personality also works to convey how someone on the opposite side of the social spectrum might perceive her overbearing friendliness. That said, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas is a bit heavy-handed in its delivery. The dialogue is sometimes too on the nose for its own good, causing some of the key emotional beats to feel forced. The performances in the English dub are quite strong, but I can’t help but wonder if some of the subtlety I was looking for got lost in translation. While the music generally fits the story quite well, the selection that accompanies the narrative’s most shocking moment is too melodramatic, with dissonant piano tones better suited to a horror film. The absence of subtlety isn’t so egregious that it robs the story of its satisfying conclusion, though. While the way in which it all ends isn’t too difficult to predict, it packs an emotional punch, and the catalyst that propels the narrative to that conclusion took me by surprise and reinforces the central message in a way I wasn’t expecting. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas was produced by Studio VOLN, a fairly new animation studio whose small body of work is primarily composed of co-productions. This is its first solo effort, and the animation is serviceable, but it lacks the high fidelity one expects from a feature-length production. A handful of CG elements like a 3D car moving across a 2D backdrop are noticeable, but not jarring to the point of distraction. There are, however, a couple instances where the camera pans over an assortment of still images, which felt more like a cost-saving decision than an artistic one. The gorgeous art direction, though, makes it easy to overlook such animation shortcomings. The backgrounds are rich with detail and vibrant colors, adding texture to the world and elevating the emotional beats of the present moment. Bright pink cherry blossoms and shimmering blue streams visually echo the life still radiating within Sakura, while a softer, more subdued color palette during a conversation at the beach beautifully reinforces the sequence’s contemplative tone. The character designs are gorgeous and delicate, with a simple, yet distinct look that pops but marries nicely with the Want to Eat Your Pancreas tells a touching coming-of-age story that celebrates life in the face of death, though a more subtle delivery would have made it a stronger film. Its stellar art direction makes up for shortcomings in the animation department, with beautiful backgrounds rich with detail and a vibrant color palette that pops off the screen. Its premise isn't especially novel, but the strength of its core relationship and the satisfying way it concludes makes for a memorable story with a powerful This ArticleI Want to Eat Your Pancreas ReviewgreatI Want to Eat Your Pancreas is a beautiful and moving exploration of what it means to truly Osborn