The sad atmosphere did not last long in the cafeteria.
The old lady, who always smiled gently, frowned, obviously unhappy about this topic. She scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about? Are you confusing Qixi Festival with the opening of the ghost gate?"
The old man said nothing.
He stopped what he was doing and stared at the plate in front of him. The camera turned and landed on the magnified tofu dish. Just when Luo Gaofeng thought he was in a daze, the old man suddenly said, "Speaking of which, I dreamed about that guy this morning."
"Who are you talking about?"
"It was Sakura's dream," he said. "I heard the sound of miso soup being made in the distance, and then I heard someone waking me up, like, 'Dad, what time are you going to sleep in?'"
Then the dream ended.
The elderly man slowly opened his eyes in the darkness, subconsciously sat up from the bed, and instinctively raised his head and looked towards the kitchen.
But it was quiet all around, no one was around, and of course there was no sound of miso soup boiling.
"It's been a while since that guy got married." The old man said this, with a hint of self-mockery in his tone: "I never thought I would have such a sissy dream. It's really bad to be old."
"It was so beautiful back then, Sakura's wedding dress..." The old lady said, "Time flies... It's been a few years, since that happened?"
“…About five years.”
So that's how it is.
Luo Gaofeng was thinking.
No wonder the traffic police calls the old man "Dad". It makes sense that, besides one's own biological father, the only person who can be called father is his wife's father, right
The plot of the animation continues.
The time on the screen is interpreted slowly through the interlaced shots of the sun and the moon. As the plot develops bit by bit, Luo Gaofeng gradually sorts out the plot context and character relationships of the first short story.
One of the diners is an old man with a stubborn personality. He runs a watch shop not far from Showa Shokudo. Because there are not many customers in the watch shop, he often doesn't even turn on the lights at night recently, with the reason being "there are no customers anyway."
The second young diner was a passionate and responsible traffic policeman. He always had a gentle smile on his face, but would put on a serious face when talking about issues related to traffic safety. He cared about the old man, but was often nervous for unknown reasons. Even in the Showa Shokudo, they had never met each other.
Although the traffic policeman referred to the old man as "Dad" in front of the grandmother, the two were not actually father and son in the true sense. What connected the stubborn old man and the young traffic policeman was not a non-existent blood relationship, but the old man's daughter, Sakura, the traffic policeman's wife.
So where did Sakura go
Luo Gaofeng looked at the phone screen.
Just as he expected, as the stubborn old man got up and left, the following plot naturally became an occasion for the traffic police.
The clock slowly ticked towards seven o'clock in the evening under the setting sun. The old lady collected the remaining dishes on the table one by one, took them to the counter, cleaned them, and then neatly put them in the cupboard. When she finished her work and her eyes accidentally fell on the last person in the cafeteria, the young traffic policeman had already lowered his head and looked at the table for a long time.
"What's wrong? Why are you just sitting there?" The old man's voice was as gentle as ever, a gentleness that comes naturally to an elder who has experienced a lot of things. His eyes followed the young man's line of sight and he asked, "Is that a photo?"
“…Yes,” the traffic police said, “It’s a photo of me and my wife when we were traveling a few years ago…”
She picked up the tableware in front of the young man and recognized the place in the photo. She smiled and said, "This should be Hakone, right? It's a nice place."
Infected by the elder's smile, the traffic policeman also smiled shyly but softly: "Yes, it's a great place. The two of us took a bus from the station to the hotel. The ride was very bumpy and we were so nervous that we didn't say a word because we were afraid of biting our tongues."
"Hahaha."
While the two were chatting casually, the animation camera shifted to the photo in the young man's hand. In the neatly bound photo album, a beautiful cherry blossom specimen was carefully sandwiched among them, right next to the girl's bright smiling face in the photo.
“Is this pressed flower?”
"Yes. Because it happened to be the season when cherry blossoms were in full bloom," the traffic policeman scratched his head, with an embarrassed look on his face, but a soft smile in his eyes: "'When you are working, please treat this as me', that's what she said to me."
A completely different attitude from the old man.
When one of them talked about his wife's past, his face was filled with a happy and gentle smile. When the other one talked about his daughter, an almost sad expression flashed across his usually stern face.
But Luo Gaofeng clearly understood that the essence of the two people was actually the same.
It seems that only the old man is still immersed in the pain of losing his daughter and has lost his passion for life itself, but this is not the case.
It's just that the two of them express their emotions differently.
The stubborn one became even more stubborn, and even his own health problems seemed to be no longer taken seriously. The good-tempered one still looked enthusiastic, but rarely showed sadness when talking about his wife. Instead, he showed a very gentle and somewhat silly expression.
This made Luo Gaofeng's mood even more complicated.
Just like the "plainness" that the animation itself boasts, the entire animation is actually very subtle in expressing emotions, without over-exaggerating any particular emotion. However, those seemingly tiny details are enough to make Luo Gaofeng understand: the lovely wife that the traffic policeman was talking about might have passed away.
Considering the overly serious attitude of traffic police when talking about traffic safety issues, the reason for his death may be related to this.
If the animation had clearly expressed the traffic police's sadness, Luo Gaofeng might have felt better.
But this animation has no intention of deliberately creating a sad atmosphere. Even if the traffic policeman occasionally shows a sad expression, it is only for a moment, and he will soon act as if he is nervous and working seriously, or change the subject and talk seriously about other things with the old lady.
It is understated, yet carries an indescribable truth.
People are just like that sometimes.
If "Showa Shokudo" was really trying hard to be sentimental, Luo Gaofeng might not have been moved. However, whether it was the old man's self-deprecation or the traffic policeman who often had a warm smile on his face, they all gave people the feeling that they were not immersed in sadness, but were still living seriously, responsibly and well.
It was this understatement that touched a soft corner in his heart, causing this man who thought he had a high level of sadism to be defeated in an instant.
The creator of this animation is obviously well aware of this.
Just like the character of a traffic policeman, he did not indulge in sadness too much. He broke away from his memories and gently stroked the photo in his hand. Suddenly, he said, "Um, grandma, I want to trouble you with something."
"What is it?"
"This photo... that... if you meet your father, can you give it to him?" The traffic police said, "I think he has never seen this photo before, and he will definitely be very happy."
It is obviously a very ordinary and everyday plot, but when put into such a background, it gives people an indescribable feeling.
Luo Gaofeng took a deep breath.
No, he couldn't waver. As a tough guy, how could he cry for such a sissy plot? Even if this gentle abuse was heartbreaking!
He tried to hypnotize himself in his heart, but the old lady in the animation shook her head: "For something as important as this, it's better to hand it over to the other party yourself, right? Or do you not want to see him?"
"But actually, I can understand it. After all, he is that stubborn old man..."
"No!" It wasn't a big deal, but the traffic policeman's attitude suddenly became serious. He pursed his lips and said, "It's not that I don't want to see him, but actually... Actually, there is something I have to tell him... But it's a little hard to say, so..."
"What? Where did your good spirits go?" The old lady said something that seemed to be accusing. She looked at the young man in front of her and smiled encouragingly: "If it's important, tell me as soon as possible."
“…That’s true.”
As if awakened by the other party's words, the young traffic policeman stood up at once. He still looked a little hesitant, but he had a little more understanding than before. Now he regained his previous efficiency and bowed to the old lady: "Sorry, I have kept you here for too long! Then I will go back to the police station to work now!"
What could be the thing that is hard to say
Luo Gaofeng thought while casually watching the animation in front of him. The following plot was still a series of memories. Then, as expected, one time, the two people who came to Showa Dining Hall mentioned a special dish without knowing it to each other -
"I just suddenly remembered that there is a dish between me and my father-in-law that reminds me of Sakura..." said the traffic police.
"I want to eat that thing called hamburger meat," said the old man.
Ah, here it comes.
Now that the final core dish is here, the first story is probably coming to an end, right
Although he has never seen a food animation with a similar theme, he believes that he has seen quite a few common routines. If nothing unexpected happens, the next plot should be that the old man and the traffic policeman find comfort in the food, the two reconcile as before, and then move towards a better future, etc.
The plot is not new, and even has some clichés, but it is the first time to feature it in a food-themed animation. Most importantly, the performance in "Showa Shokudo" is excellent, and it seems that all the emotions are self-explanatory. Just looking at the pictures in the animation is enough to evoke the audience's resonance.
Overall, it's a pretty good animation.
I just don't know what the final scene will be like. However, since so much has been laid out in the previous parts, it shouldn't disappoint people, right
In the animation.
"… "
"How about this hamburger meat?"
"It's really delicious." The old man, who was always very picky about the food in the cafeteria, now praised the hamburger meat in front of him: "Too good to find such delicious food..."
"Will this take a lot of time?" he asked.
"Almost. You have to knead it first and then fry it. It's a bit troublesome." The old lady said, "Why, you don't want to do it yourself?"
"No," the old man denied briefly. He paused, as if recalling something, or as if he was hesitating whether to say it out loud: "... In the past, that guy had done it before."
After she got married, she suddenly came back one day.
The daughter, who has grown up and dressed maturely and elegantly, frowned and kept muttering that her father did not eat well. The food she prepared was clearly out of concern and good intentions, but was stubbornly denied by her father.
"I won't eat anything that looks good." That's what he said at the time.
The old lady sighed and said, "You will really get your comeuppance."
The stubborn old man didn't want to fight back after being accused so rudely. He was silent for a long time before saying, "Yeah, it was probably retribution. Not long after that, the car accident happened..."
"So, from now on..."
"That was the last meal she cooked herself." I had dreamt of it countless nights out of regret, and the memory that I thought I would never mention again suddenly emerged so clearly.
Just because of an old man’s bored jealousy, because “I knew it was definitely not my favorite flavor, it must be something her husband likes to eat”, such an important dish was not even tasted.
"Thank you," he said. "The hamburger meat is delicious."
The camera turns.
As the sun rose and the moon set, the Showa Shokudo in the anime also changed. The place originally occupied by the old man was now replaced by a young traffic policeman, and the familiar dishes were placed on the table in front of him.
"What's wrong? Are you full?" The old lady went from chewing big mouthfuls to chewing slowly. Seeing the traffic police gradually stop what he was doing and only half of the hamburger meat was left on the plate, she said disappointedly, "It turns out that my cooking skills are not good enough anymore."
"That's not true!" As if to prove his point, the traffic policeman emphasized seriously: "It's very delicious... very, very delicious!"
How could I not like it
That was his favorite dish, and his wife used to cook it for him. At first, it was very bad, but later she became more and more skilled at it, a little soft and with a slight taste of tomato sauce.
only…
He thought for a moment and added, "I think the hamburger meat made by Sakura tastes better."
"Of course."
As the old lady said this, the young man laughed a little embarrassedly: "I'm sorry," he apologized honestly and said softly: "But, to be honest... I'm slowly starting to forget the taste of hamburger meat at that time."
"There's nothing we can do about it," the old lady said. "That's how time passes. When you get older, you'll really understand it."
While the two were talking, the camera began to turn to the outside of the door. The ginkgo trees beside the road seemed to have grown taller, and the lush green leaves of summer were dotted with golden yellow. Occasionally, a few leaves fell from the branches, swaying and landing on the busy path.
"Grandma, actually this time... I have decided to remarry."
"Is that why you're hiding? That stubborn old man."
"That's it. I'm so sorry..."
The boy's respectful and apologetic voice was still faintly heard through the open door of the cafeteria. From the perspective of the door, the expressions of both men seemed unreal.
"You don't have to worry about it," she said. "How many years have passed? Ever since that girl died."
“About five years have passed.”
"So I think it's time, no one will object."
The animation returns to the cafeteria at this moment. The old lady's smile is still gentle. She suggests with a smile: "If you really don't have the courage, how about drinking some wine to give yourself courage? How about some more hamburger meat? Eat more. It won't taste good if it gets cold."
"Yes, I'm going to start!"
Corresponding to the energetic words was the traffic policeman's equally motivated chewing action. The hamburger meat on the plate was getting less and less. He put the last piece of meat into his mouth and placed the cutlery neatly on the tray, but he suddenly lowered his head.
"But, grandma," the voice of the traffic police suddenly became hoarse in the animation: "I... Actually, I really, really want to eat the hamburger meat she made by hand again. For me... She practiced so hard, for someone like me..."
"Don't keep everything to yourself," the old lady said softly, "No one here will laugh at you, even if it's a policeman crying."
Luo Gaofeng: …
The characters in the animation have obviously resolved their emotional knots, but why is he feeling so uncomfortable right now
No, I have to be patient! Luo Gaofeng told himself.
You are already a mature fan of the star, you can't be so stupid as to flip out when the dog thief has already warned you! I! A true man of iron and blood, I will never cry for such a sticky plot!
The first episode of "Showa Shokudo" is gradually coming to an end.
After sending off the difficult guest with a rare good temper, the old man sat back on the only chair in the watch shop. As if noticing his unprecedented good mood, the old lady smiled and was very happy about the change in her old friend: "Why do you seem to have become so positive all of a sudden?"
"Last time my son-in-law came to the store, I had a rare chat with him about the past... about Sakura." The old man said, "Then he said he was going to remarry."
"It's been five years, and he's still young. It's normal to think about it."
As if he remembered something funny, the old man curled the corners of his mouth. He was used to having a cold face, so even when he smiled at this moment, it was inevitable that there was a little stiffness. But at least it could be seen that he was in a very good mood at the moment.
Because it reminded me of some good memories, right
Five years had passed, and when the guy who had kidnapped his precious daughter appeared in front of him again, he still had the same nervous and serious look as before—
"He was very nervous that day... He was just thinking that he was not drunk even though he drank so much... but suddenly he blurted it out, and he said it while kneeling."
The camera turns.
The living room was neither too big nor too small, but the decoration inside was soft and warm at home. The boy, who was very shy and nervous in the last second, suddenly knocked his head on the floor in the next second, and said loudly as if he was swearing, "Please give my daughter to me".
"So, I want to try a little harder. I feel a little uncomfortable that he is the only one who can start a new life."
The old lady couldn't help laughing: "Hahaha, that's right."
"… "
"It seems that I have unknowingly bound his life." The old man said, "Then I was also unknowingly bound... I don't know what it is, I was bound by that dark and gloomy thing."
"So, I also want to try my best in business."
"Then you should first change your withdrawn face and make yourself more approachable," the old lady joked, "Come on, smile!"
The first episode of the animation ended here. Luo Gaofeng watched the animation in front of him silently, and for a moment he didn't know how to comment on it.
There is no doubt that this is not an animation in the traditional sense. The characteristics of animation and its second-year mentality are hardly displayed in this animation. On the contrary, this animation, from the lines, storyboards to the plot, will not bring any sense of disobedience even if it is changed into a three-dimensional work.
There is no other reason, the performance in this animation is too realistic.
Unlike the reality of the paper man's acting in "The Gift of the Magi", it is through a series of split screens and seemingly ordinary but actually meaningful lines that arouse the audience's resonance. And it is precisely this kind of reality in emotional expression that can best determine the audience's empathy.
As for tenderness...
Although he was reluctant, Luo Gaofeng had to admit that the "Showa Shokudo" in front of him could indeed be said to be a gentle food animation.
This so-called gentleness not only refers to the characters in the animation, but also refers to the director's narrative techniques and methods when telling this story. Strictly speaking, even the ending of the first episode can be said to be a typical healing ending - the two protagonists finally loosened the things that bound them and walked towards a bright and warm future.
Pretending not to notice the strange looks from other people and even the waiter in the Yukihira Hotel—Isn’t it just because I cried while watching the video? Who has never been moved by watching TV series and anime
Luo Gaofeng thought indignantly as he paid the bill, then turned around and headed back home, feeling lost after having just watched an animation.
After thinking for a while, he took out his phone again, quickly logged into Weibo, and silently reposted Mu Suxing's clarification Weibo about the gentle animation.
Okay, you win.