The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store

Akino is a new recruit into the elite of all department store shopping clerks in the prestigious Hokkyoku (North Pole) department store - that serves customers who are all animals. None of the gravity of tragic theatre and convoluted plot twists here, just a Christmas day treat. Although, for all the levity, we should be reminded that many of characters we meet - are now extinct species. I've just watched this in GFT as part of Scotland Loves Anime festival 2023 and the whole movie theatre was enchanted in seconds, moments of silence with ripples of laughter all the way through. We loved it, we cared, this is one of the most accessible animes ever. 8/10.

I just watched this movie at MONSTRA - Animatiom Film Festival in Lisboa and, to be honest, I wasn't expecting a great movie... But it really surprised me, with its lovely and warm story and characters. It is a simple movie (and it is also short, with only 1H10) but very heartwarming. The movie tells us the story of a concierge that is starting a new job at a special shop, where you can only find exctinted animal. It is an original idea, that became a funny, yet touching movie. In the end, I wanted to stay a little more time on that amazing and colourful shop, and also wanted to know more of its characters. It was a lovely animation experience!

I can't believe the average 6.7 rating here, geez, what's with people nowadays?? I really wonder why it got such low ratings here on IMDB. It is indeed a simple story told within only 1 hour and 10 minutes, but this movie tugs my heartstrings in the all right places, making me cry happy tears of joy and content. It is such a warm and heartfelt movie with beautiful color palette and amusing soundtrack as company. It will make you smile, laugh, cry a little, but once the ending comes full circle and the credits start rolling, you will be left with such coziness it would be a challenge to leave the dept store.