MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA

My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 75 Mins
Audio: English Region 2
Due Out: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes 

When I first saw this, I wondered what it would be like as it isn't the usual anime that is done in the Japanese style or features Japanese characters. As it isn't what anime fans would expect, I figured it might need more of a look into. High school has two opinions for most of us; we hated it as we were bullied and would never fit in, or we loved it as we fitted in with our colleagues.


Even though the animation is pretty ropey throughout, there is a story and a point to watching it, especially as it has some famous names in the movie industry, including Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking, Lorenzo's Oil and Anywhere But Here). It is amazing how many famous actors and actresses now enjoy their time voicing over animations, and this one, I imagine would be a difficult one, yet when I watched it effective. 

This animation is set in Tides High School where friends Dash and Assaf have got another year to go through where they will prepare to annoy and destroy the lives of classmates through their school newspaper - their editor Verti is the one he wants to be his girl, and things look like they are going well for him. For Dash, however, the opposite is true; he wants to continue the newspaper even though no one actually reads it as most magazines and newspapers are online and due to the rise in earthquakes in the area, they are one rumble away from their high school sinking into the sea.

What is interesting is watching how the two of them cope with what happens in this disaster movie style animation that takes its cue from the disaster movies of yesteryear. Only Lena and a dinner lady can help them out of the school and into safety.

As an animation, My Entire High School Sinking Into The Sea is a strange, trippy ride through some of the most unusual and flashy visuals I have ever seen. Note to epileptics, be careful if you decide to watch it as it is really unusual and could freak you out. Written by Dash Shaw, the one who wrote the graphic novel this is based on has also directed what could be something of cult status among animation fans as it is unusual and weird enough to take on some of the more well known ones.



Bonus Material: 
Audio Commentary With Writer/Director Dash Shaw, Short Films By Dash Shaw, The Art Of My Entire High School Sinking Into The Sea, Theatrical Trailer.

Summary: Trippy and weird, this could achieve the cult status it deserves just for being different.