Director Mamoru Hosoda's career has been fascinating to follow, having produced such anime hits as The Boy and the Beast and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. He is back with Mirai, telling the seemingly simple story of the four year old Kun, who becomes jealous of his new born sister and the attention she receives. From there the film blossoms out as it explores Kun's journey to accepting his sister, thanks to hallucinatory visits from figures of his past, present and future.

More grounded in the real world then Hosoda's previous films, Mirai nevertheless promises sumptuous flights of fantasy as it explores a topic that anyone with siblings is familiar with. By focusing on such an intimate subject the director manages to elevate his craft and offers novices the perfect jumping on point to follow his work.