A critically acclaimed award nominated manga makes it English language debut from Dark Horse this month in The Credits Roll into the Sea. Umiko Chino is a 65 year-old retired woman in mourning for her late husband. Remembering how they used to watch films together, Umiko goes to the movie theater for the first time in years, where she meets Kai, an attractive, ambiguous young man who studies filmmaking at a nearby art school. They would seem to have nothing in common, except for this – both of them sometimes like to look more at the way the audience reacts to a movie than the movie itself. Kai believes Umiko has the same deep desire he possesses to experience how people respond to something they made… and challenges her to stake the rest of her life discovering that thrill.
If you look at the type of manga Dark Horse usually publish (mainly action and horror), this series is an outlier. But beyond the genre, any series that features a 65-year-old woman as the main protagonist is going to stick out on manga shelves. Yet it is in protagonist Umiko where the strength of The Credits Roll into the Sea lies. This is a manga that is heavily rooted in human drama with a focus on moving beyond grief. But it is also packed with humour and charm as an older woman finds herself trying to fit in and relate to a younger generation whilst embracing her passion for filmmaking.
Umiko brings a lot of depth to proceedings with much of the series charm being generated by her. Very much embodying the cool grandma archetype, she has an infectious passion for film that never feels like it’s been shoehorned in. Creator John Tarachine’s own experience at film school really shines through here as everything touched on feels very authentic. At the same time, this is balanced by Umiko’s feelings of distance from the younger generation she is suddenly exposed upon her enrolment into film school to younger classmates who have their own feelings on life and the art of film.
Tarachine has a refined art style that complements the overall narrative with the more emotionally heavy scenes getting a big boost. She also has some great character designs. Umiko is everything you’d expect from the classic lovely grandma whilst the slightly androgynous Kai’s is a memorable standout.
This is a top-notch manga that touches on topics you don’t often see explored in the medium. With an anime film from Kyoto Animation in the works, this is one fans need to take notice of.
The Credits Roll into the Sea Volume 1 is out now from Dark Horse (9781506752136, p/b, £13.99)
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