Program Note
Yoshida Haru makes trouble as soon as he entered a high school and is keep being absent. Mizutani Shizuku, who sits next to him, visits Haru to deliver homework. Touched by her unintended kindness, Haru acknowledges her as his friend. Haru does not leave Shizuku’s side after returning to school. Originally from cartoonist Robico, My Little Monster is a school romance anime. A boy and a girl, who do not seem to make a well-matched pair at all, fall in love. The story itself may seem typical, but My Little Monster makes interesting variations on the characters. Shizuku only focuses on studying, thinking success is most important in life. She is not interested in friendship or love. That Shizuku is now attracted to the ‘monster.’ Haru is a ‘little master’ of a wealthy family but he lacks social skills. To ordinary people, he is just a ‘monster.’ This movie reminds of Beauty and the Beast, but ultimately My Little Monster concludes to Shizuku’s growing up. This is a story of Shizuku expanding herself and learning to accept who she is, which is done not by merely loving a man, but by seeing through a person who seemed to be a monster and falling in love. (KIM Bong-seok)