Flavors of Youth

Flavors of Youth is a 2018 anthology anime film co-produced by CoMix Wave Films and Haoliners Animation League. Composed of three independent yet emotionally interconnected short films, it has been jointly directed by Yoshitaka Takeuchi, Li Haoling, and Jiaoshou Yi Xiaoxing harnessing animation styles that create a poetic appeal for the viewers. Taito Ban, Dorothy Elias-Fahn, and Matt Fowler lend their voices to the main characters, assuring a heartfelt conveyance of the narrative’s nuanced layers.

The film fluidly compartmentalizes three tales, each rooted in a different part of China, portraying the complexities of growing up, the melancholy of lost youth and the delicate nuances of daily life. The evocative nature of the film’s title fits perfectly with the narrative, as it explores the sweet, sour, and bitter relationships with the passage of time. Each segment examines the lives of different individuals who are navigating their way through the trials and tribulations of youth, love, relationships, and the heartrending pangs of memories associated with food, clothing, and shelter.

The first tale, titled "The Rice Noodles", directed by Yoshitaka Takeuchi, takes us on a journey to Beijing and focuses on the protagonist, Xiao Ming. Taito Ban beautifully infuses life into this character. Xiao Ming is a young man wrestling with nostalgia, who finds deep associations with a bowl of San Xian rice noodle which takes him back down the memory lane, igniting long-buried emotions attached to his grandmother, first love, and his past life in his hometown.

Next in line is "A Little Fashion Show," directed by Jiaoshou Yi Xiaoxing where Dorothy Elias-Fahn voices the character, Yi Lin. This segment is based in Guangzhou and tells the story of a struggling fashion model grappling with a rapidly changing industry and a strenuous relationship with her younger sister. The tale encapsulates the challenges faced by Yi Lin and her journey to find her place in the rapidly evolving world, both professionally and personally.

The third and final segment of the film, "Love in Shanghai," directed by Li Haoling, ventures into the quaint cityscape of Shanghai. The protagonist, Li Mo voiced by Matt Fowler, uncovers an old cassette tape that draws him back to his school days and his close friend Xiao Yu. The narrative progresses through a bittersweet exploration of young love, missed opportunities, and the courage to reconcile with the past.

An undeniable subtext running through each segment of Flavors of Youth is the vibrant and beautifully depicted culture of China - its bustling cities and tranquil villages, its traditional food and contemporary fashion scene. The film lavishly spends intricate details on how society transforms and adjusts with passing time, technologically, culturally, and personally. The animation style is a visual treat, effortlessly capturing the local textures of urban and rural China, relaying an underlying narrative of transience, nostalgia, and the passage of time.

Flavors of Youth can aptly be categorized as a reflective introspection into the various threads of human life. It breaks apart tropes typically seen in commercial cinema and delves into the deeper realms of human relationships, their struggles with ambitions, dreams and, above all, the ways they relish their cherished memories, an integral part of their existence.

Though the film doesn’t shy away from confronting sorrow, struggle, and heartbreak, it also instills an essential perspective in viewers; the realization that the past, no matter how glorious or painful, cannot be changed, and one must learn to make peace with it and move forward.

With its moving storyline, relatable characters, stunning visuals, and underlying tone of hope, Flavors of Youth is more than just an animated movie; it's a reflection of life's various stages conveyed through the lens of ordinary people in their extraordinary journey. This film is a must-watch for those who appreciate a good heartfelt story and the magic of detailed animation.