Eu e Meu Avô Nihonjin is an emotional journey that addresses various themes through Japanese immigration to Brazil.

Inspired by Nihonjin, the first novel written by author and university professor Oscar Nakasato, 'Eu e Meu Avô Nihonjin' is an brazilian animation that lives up to its ability to create a narrative that captivates different generations. It's important to remember that with this book, Nakasato won the Jabuti Prize in 2012 (renowned Brazilian literary prize).

Noboru, a boy of Japanese descent, needs to complete a school project whose objective is to portray his family's history. To do this, he tries to talk to his grandfather Hideo to gather information, even though the task is not so easy, as his grandfather doesn't like to talk much about the family's past.

Although the animation appears more educational than purely entertaining, it's important to highlight aspects that make it interesting and necessary: the power of memory, the need to value culture and customs, learning from the past to avoid future mistakes, family and ancestry.

With characters that transform throughout the narrative, the film addresses different themes: xenophobia, the exploitation of cheap labor, exaggerated nationalism and women without a position or place in society.

The intention is to avoid an overly anime-style approach. Much of what was created attempts to capture Brazilian culture and nature. The settings, on certain occasions, evoke the Impressionism of a Van Gogh.

The soundtrack features moments with a samba rhythm in the background, highlighting the tambourine playing that dictates the rhythm of some scenes. The theme music was composed by André Abujamra (member of the Brazilian group Karnak) and Marcio Nigro (an experienced composer with several soundtracks in his portfolio).

Even when the film doesn't focus on Noboru's grandfather's stories, the boy's presence with his friends at school provides equally beautiful moments. It's worth noting that the director emphasizes multiple nationalities and ethnicities (not just Japanese). Children need to learn that accepting diversity is something that begins early.

Eu e Meu Avô Nihonjin is one of those animations to watch with the family, to feel proud of our ancestors' history and not care which country they came from. In the classroom, it will also be appreciated and will make many students think like Noboru: life is much more than a school assignment to be written.

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Noboru, a young Japanese-American boy seeks answers about his heritage from his reluctant grandfather, uncovering unexpected family secrets and a hidden connection that changes everything.

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Eu e Meu Avô Nihonjin

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