A sweet and simple episodic tale of a boy who discovers musical inspiration through nature. Pretty soon, we, too, begin to hear the cuckoo bird's underrated song and begin to see the animal-shaped clouds & trees in the background as the film progresses. Regardless of who its audience is, Gauche the Cellist offers some valuable lessons in perspective. Pre-Ghibli Takahata forming his prime.
13 Reviews
A great fantasy filled with enchanting music and beautiful artwork
xxbrennan14 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
*Summary is at the top, Review is at bottom*
Goshu the Cellist is a great fantasy that tells the story of Goshu, a cellist, and how he improves his cello playing by learning from four different animals, or spirits. Accompanying the story is an amazing score and beautiful, detailed artwork.
The story begins with Goshu and the orchestra he is playing in practicing for a recital. His maestro begins to get frustrated with his lack of emotion and out of rhythm playing.
Goshu later goes home and begins to practice and hears a knock at his door and opens it to find a Cat, probably prototype artwork for The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart. This Cat requests that he play a piece, but Goshu refuses and plays "The Indian Tiger Hunt". This makes the Cat fly around the room and hit his head, among other things.
The next night he is visited by a Cuckoo, who asks him to play the scale so he can practice. Goshu does this, reluctantly, and goes into a dreamlike state where he is in a clearing in the forest and the Cuckoo is flying into the sky, which is later broken when he thinks of Beethoven as a bird. He begins to yell at the Cuckoo and makes the him leave.
A young Raccoon (possibly another prototype for Pom Poko) is the next animal, or spirit, to visit Goshu. The Raccoon asks Goshu to play a song so he can play the drums on Goshu's cello. The first time Goshu plays it, the Raccoon tells Goshu that whenever he plays the second string, he feels like he is stumbling. Goshu then plays the song again and goes into another dream, where he and the Raccoon are playing on a moonlit field. It soon becomes morning and the Raccoon leaves.
Goshu's last visit comes from a Mouse and her child. She tells him that her child is dying and Goshu is the only one who can cure him. Goshu proclaims that he is not a doctor, therefore can not help. He soon finds from the Mouse that his music cures the animals, and that whenever an animal gets sick, they go under his floorboards and are cured almost instantly. Goshu agrees to play, and the child mouse is cured.
You then see Goshu performing with his orchestra. When they are finished, the maestro begins to cry. They are asked for an encore, so the maestro sends Goshu to play. Goshu thinks that this is to make fun of him, so he plays "The Indian Tiger Hunt" again. Even though he played this piece of music, everyone gave him a standing ovation. The maestro then comments on how he improved so much in just 10 days. The whole orchestra then goes to celebrate.
*Review* Goshu the Cellist is a wonderful piece of art. You could expect something this great from Takahata, and it also shows prototypes for the art in Pom Poko and The Cat Returns. The movie is filled with great artwork and music, and is very relaxing and gently paced. Although short, it will stick with you for a long time. This movie is hard to come across, so don't pass up the opportunity. You will not regret it.
Goshu the Cellist is a great fantasy that tells the story of Goshu, a cellist, and how he improves his cello playing by learning from four different animals, or spirits. Accompanying the story is an amazing score and beautiful, detailed artwork.
The story begins with Goshu and the orchestra he is playing in practicing for a recital. His maestro begins to get frustrated with his lack of emotion and out of rhythm playing.
Goshu later goes home and begins to practice and hears a knock at his door and opens it to find a Cat, probably prototype artwork for The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart. This Cat requests that he play a piece, but Goshu refuses and plays "The Indian Tiger Hunt". This makes the Cat fly around the room and hit his head, among other things.
The next night he is visited by a Cuckoo, who asks him to play the scale so he can practice. Goshu does this, reluctantly, and goes into a dreamlike state where he is in a clearing in the forest and the Cuckoo is flying into the sky, which is later broken when he thinks of Beethoven as a bird. He begins to yell at the Cuckoo and makes the him leave.
A young Raccoon (possibly another prototype for Pom Poko) is the next animal, or spirit, to visit Goshu. The Raccoon asks Goshu to play a song so he can play the drums on Goshu's cello. The first time Goshu plays it, the Raccoon tells Goshu that whenever he plays the second string, he feels like he is stumbling. Goshu then plays the song again and goes into another dream, where he and the Raccoon are playing on a moonlit field. It soon becomes morning and the Raccoon leaves.
Goshu's last visit comes from a Mouse and her child. She tells him that her child is dying and Goshu is the only one who can cure him. Goshu proclaims that he is not a doctor, therefore can not help. He soon finds from the Mouse that his music cures the animals, and that whenever an animal gets sick, they go under his floorboards and are cured almost instantly. Goshu agrees to play, and the child mouse is cured.
You then see Goshu performing with his orchestra. When they are finished, the maestro begins to cry. They are asked for an encore, so the maestro sends Goshu to play. Goshu thinks that this is to make fun of him, so he plays "The Indian Tiger Hunt" again. Even though he played this piece of music, everyone gave him a standing ovation. The maestro then comments on how he improved so much in just 10 days. The whole orchestra then goes to celebrate.
*Review* Goshu the Cellist is a wonderful piece of art. You could expect something this great from Takahata, and it also shows prototypes for the art in Pom Poko and The Cat Returns. The movie is filled with great artwork and music, and is very relaxing and gently paced. Although short, it will stick with you for a long time. This movie is hard to come across, so don't pass up the opportunity. You will not regret it.
Lovely, dreamy, funny
Exploited16 January 2002
Classic anime and as an Anime-fan I just HAD to see this one.
Really lovely scenery, velvety storyline and hugely funny bits and pieces make this one a real treat. The Disney-influences are still really noticeable, but also are many aspects of what has become known as anime a couple of years later.
As classic a movie as Disney's Snow White.
Really lovely scenery, velvety storyline and hugely funny bits and pieces make this one a real treat. The Disney-influences are still really noticeable, but also are many aspects of what has become known as anime a couple of years later.
As classic a movie as Disney's Snow White.
Its beautiful to look at but the story was just okay
dbborroughs20 December 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Isao Takahata's film, based on a Kenji Miyazawa story, about a cellist who is taught by animals to play better. It's a beautiful movie that is a nice marriage of sound and music. Coming from one of the founders of Studio Ghibli the style of animation is a close to but not a duplicate of the Ghibli house style. Emotionally the film seemed a bit distant to me. I could enjoy what I was seeing but at the same time I didn't feel as emotionally connected to what was going on. Normally with Takahata's films I have some form of emotional connection but this time I didn't. Its not bad, but I wanted to feel more at the end. That said this is definitely worth a look because its so beautiful its a must see
Pathway to musicality
dvfinnh2 January 2006
Art with a didactic agenda often fails by succeeding - once we learn the message, we lose interest in the messenger. Fortunately, the animal night spirits here disguise their lessons *for* Goshu as requests for favors *from* Goshu. They never explain themselves. Even for the viewer who gets the point before Goshu, the film will deserve at least a second viewing to appreciate the teacher's cunning.
Goshu begins the film as a *mediocre* professional cellist (so his playing may already sound pretty good to a child beginner!). He already shows dedication to practicing; the film carries a message more subtle than the mere value of hard work.
The spirits aim to teach the higher values of music. Indeed it takes a pretty good ear, at first, even to hear the difference they make. Sufficient ambiguity surrounds their didactic message that no one should find the film heavy handed. As subtle as its message about music itself, the movie really speaks to the art of teaching (hence didactic of the second order!).
I suspect that a Japanese viewer will immediately understand the animals as (potentially menacing) supernatural spirits (rather like denizens of dreams), and thus understand Goshu's initial violent hostility to his actually friendly visitors. If one misreads the visitors as mere (fantasy) animals, Goshu's reactions to them just seem monstrous. In other words Disney would expect you to suspend disbelief in the presence of a talking cat (not to mention a person who so quickly finds it natural to talk to a talking cat), but Goshu knows cats don't talk, though spirits, manifestations of our inner demons, very well may. A young Western child watching this film might find it useful or even comforting to have this explained in advance!
Goshu begins the film as a *mediocre* professional cellist (so his playing may already sound pretty good to a child beginner!). He already shows dedication to practicing; the film carries a message more subtle than the mere value of hard work.
The spirits aim to teach the higher values of music. Indeed it takes a pretty good ear, at first, even to hear the difference they make. Sufficient ambiguity surrounds their didactic message that no one should find the film heavy handed. As subtle as its message about music itself, the movie really speaks to the art of teaching (hence didactic of the second order!).
I suspect that a Japanese viewer will immediately understand the animals as (potentially menacing) supernatural spirits (rather like denizens of dreams), and thus understand Goshu's initial violent hostility to his actually friendly visitors. If one misreads the visitors as mere (fantasy) animals, Goshu's reactions to them just seem monstrous. In other words Disney would expect you to suspend disbelief in the presence of a talking cat (not to mention a person who so quickly finds it natural to talk to a talking cat), but Goshu knows cats don't talk, though spirits, manifestations of our inner demons, very well may. A young Western child watching this film might find it useful or even comforting to have this explained in advance!
Great early anime film
jose-cruz5317 December 2012
Isao Takahata is one of the greatest directors of all time, either in animation of live action, and here we are shown one of his early pre- Ghibli films. The quality of the artwork and animation is sub-par compared to his later films (such as Grave of the Fireflies, which he made only six years after this film but it feels like it was made with ten times the budget and more advanced technology). The soundtrack is marvelous as it consists of Beethoven's 6th symphony and there is a very interesting cello solo later in the film.
Overall, I found this film better than Pom Poko and Yamadas but not as good as Grave of the Fireflies and Only Yesterday, which I consider his two masterpieces.
Overall, I found this film better than Pom Poko and Yamadas but not as good as Grave of the Fireflies and Only Yesterday, which I consider his two masterpieces.
Warm and interesting
wcmwcm129 August 2003
My grandson and I enjoyed this film together. We have developed a taste for such from Totoro and Castle in the Sky. In a quiet way you come to see the development of Goshu, enjoying the artwork, music and animal characters along the way. What a nice change of pace from the current stuff on Cartoon Network!
Missed opportunity
re-eino29 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Takahata begins the story of a cellist having difficulties with his performance within an orchestra. They are training Beethoven for a music competition as the deadline is closing. The conductor seems to have problems pinpointing the exact problem with Goshu's play. First he tells he's lacking behind, then he suggests he's out of tune and finally he explains that he has no sense of expression. I can't but wonder this kind of indecisiveness in supposed to be professional orchestra leader. Goshu trains very hard by himself, but that doesn't help him to get better in sync with other players in the orchestra (somewhat a logical conclusion).
While Goshu is training, the animals start to visit him, asking him to play for them. First one is the cat telling him to play something different for a change. He is immediately hostile toward the animal and decides to torture the cat with a simple tune called 'Indian tiger hunt'. The cat is now in terrible agony and tries to escape the torture. Next one in line is a woodpecker. He is still irritated, but now he agrees to play two notes over again with the bird for a while until he loses his temper again. Goshu (the musician) doesn't seem to understand when the bird is explaining him that two notes always sound a little different when played repeatedly and frightens the bird away. The third animal is a raccoon playing drums with him. It tells Goshu that he is not in sync with drums and then it leaves. Finally he cures a mouse pup by putting it inside the cello and playing some random tune. His reactions towards the animals are now less hostile and he has mastered his technical and expressionistic difficulties by these exercises. In the competition Goshu exceeds all expectations made for him by somehow surpassing all other players of the orchestra also now in sync with them. He's asked to play an encore and not yet convinced of his improved skills decides to play the 'Indian tiger hunt', clearly marked as not so much of a song. He still manages to convince everybody with his improved skills of performance even with this beginner class song.
The film is supposed to tell a story about music, but it doesn't work as whole because Takahata can't decide in what part he should concentrate in. It would be easy to judge that he doesn't know much about music and decides to tell an innocent story about art of teaching instead, just masked to be a story about music. However perhaps the lessons are made so simple and incoherent just that the audience can easily follow the links of the teachings to Goshus multidimensional problems as a cellist. I think this movie would have worked better if instead of a instrument player it would have told a story about composer stuck with some piece he's been working at. It fails to be great movie because lack of depth and consideration in both dimensions of the story. It is also too short to take advantage of all the possibilities which could have been utilized. However it shows some signs of a good movie such as character development. It doesn't contain major holes even tough all the lessons that Goshu receives don't seem to fit perfectly in the greater picture. Finally it is one of the few movies that at least in part, tries to tell a story about music.
It was an interesting experience for me and it shows great promise for future works of Takahata. It's also nice to see how well Takahata's skills have developed after this movie in works such as 'Grave of the fireflies' which succeeds in those aspects this movie fails at.
While Goshu is training, the animals start to visit him, asking him to play for them. First one is the cat telling him to play something different for a change. He is immediately hostile toward the animal and decides to torture the cat with a simple tune called 'Indian tiger hunt'. The cat is now in terrible agony and tries to escape the torture. Next one in line is a woodpecker. He is still irritated, but now he agrees to play two notes over again with the bird for a while until he loses his temper again. Goshu (the musician) doesn't seem to understand when the bird is explaining him that two notes always sound a little different when played repeatedly and frightens the bird away. The third animal is a raccoon playing drums with him. It tells Goshu that he is not in sync with drums and then it leaves. Finally he cures a mouse pup by putting it inside the cello and playing some random tune. His reactions towards the animals are now less hostile and he has mastered his technical and expressionistic difficulties by these exercises. In the competition Goshu exceeds all expectations made for him by somehow surpassing all other players of the orchestra also now in sync with them. He's asked to play an encore and not yet convinced of his improved skills decides to play the 'Indian tiger hunt', clearly marked as not so much of a song. He still manages to convince everybody with his improved skills of performance even with this beginner class song.
The film is supposed to tell a story about music, but it doesn't work as whole because Takahata can't decide in what part he should concentrate in. It would be easy to judge that he doesn't know much about music and decides to tell an innocent story about art of teaching instead, just masked to be a story about music. However perhaps the lessons are made so simple and incoherent just that the audience can easily follow the links of the teachings to Goshus multidimensional problems as a cellist. I think this movie would have worked better if instead of a instrument player it would have told a story about composer stuck with some piece he's been working at. It fails to be great movie because lack of depth and consideration in both dimensions of the story. It is also too short to take advantage of all the possibilities which could have been utilized. However it shows some signs of a good movie such as character development. It doesn't contain major holes even tough all the lessons that Goshu receives don't seem to fit perfectly in the greater picture. Finally it is one of the few movies that at least in part, tries to tell a story about music.
It was an interesting experience for me and it shows great promise for future works of Takahata. It's also nice to see how well Takahata's skills have developed after this movie in works such as 'Grave of the fireflies' which succeeds in those aspects this movie fails at.
The story of a young Cellist, who has to improve in music
nguyenm17 July 2002
Goshu, a young Cellist, is fond of Beethoven, but isn't good enough to please his comrades...
There's only 10 days left before the great concert, and he still isn't ready.... working hard at home, he's disturbed, every evening, by animals, who will help him to learn how to play music with true feelings.
It's like a faerie tale, ideal for children, and if anyone thought classical music was only useful for adds, he should go and see this film!!
There's only 10 days left before the great concert, and he still isn't ready.... working hard at home, he's disturbed, every evening, by animals, who will help him to learn how to play music with true feelings.
It's like a faerie tale, ideal for children, and if anyone thought classical music was only useful for adds, he should go and see this film!!
Great fun for kids and adults.
JG200113 January 2001
I just watched this film the other night with a bunch of other college aged students. We all had a blast. This is a great film for kids to watch as it contains only a tiny bit of mild animated violence, no profanity, and plenty of laughs.
Wonderful!
Freethinker_Atheist28 December 2020
What did he have to improve on?
neenahhh2 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I was expecting to connect emotionally with this film, since I found that I'm a sucker for movies/TV shows/commercials that have big "everything-changes-for-the-better-and-you-prove-everyone-else-wrong" scenes. I mean, have you seen that inspiring Pantene commercial? Unfortunately, "Goshu the Cellist" didn't do that for me.
I felt like this movie lacked character development. All that was shown were different animals coming to Goshu's house each night and requesting him to play the cello for them over and over again. I felt like there was no development in Goshu's part. His playing seemed all right in the beginning. There were no loud pauses or screeches or anything that showed that Goshu needed to improve. It was the same until the very end. Maybe Goshu's personal development was only caught by people with a more professional musical ear.
While watching this, I got reminded of "Bambi", "A Christmas Carol" and "Aesop's Fables". Those are all great works, so I didn't understand why "Goshu the Cellist" didn't make me feel anything throughout the whole movie, even until the very end. This film was made for children, seeing as it is a fairytale, though a few people who are older, may find some kind of enjoyment in it, I guess. Not for me, though.
Viewed on: May 2, 2011
I felt like this movie lacked character development. All that was shown were different animals coming to Goshu's house each night and requesting him to play the cello for them over and over again. I felt like there was no development in Goshu's part. His playing seemed all right in the beginning. There were no loud pauses or screeches or anything that showed that Goshu needed to improve. It was the same until the very end. Maybe Goshu's personal development was only caught by people with a more professional musical ear.
While watching this, I got reminded of "Bambi", "A Christmas Carol" and "Aesop's Fables". Those are all great works, so I didn't understand why "Goshu the Cellist" didn't make me feel anything throughout the whole movie, even until the very end. This film was made for children, seeing as it is a fairytale, though a few people who are older, may find some kind of enjoyment in it, I guess. Not for me, though.
Viewed on: May 2, 2011
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