For seasoned Studio Ghibli enthusiasts hunting through stacks of tapes back in the day, or catching whispers on early internet fan forums, finding On Your Mark (1995) often felt like uncovering a secret handshake. This wasn't a sprawling epic like Nausicaä or a cuddly adventure like Totoro. Instead, it was something rare and fleeting: a six-and-a-half-minute animated music video, directed by the master Hayao Miyazaki himself, set to the soaring J-pop sounds of the duo Chage & Aska. Yet, within that brief runtime, it packs an emotional and visual punch that lingers long after the VCR clicks off.
A Burst of Ghibli Sunlight
The story goes that Miyazaki took on this project during a period of intense writer's block while struggling with the behemoth that would become Princess Mononoke (1997). On Your Mark served as a creative detour, a chance to flex different artistic muscles. Commissioned by the massively popular musical act Chage & Aska for their song of the same name, the resulting short film is pure, distilled Miyazaki magic, albeit with a slightly different, more sci-fi flavor than much of his feature work.
The plot is deceptively simple, told entirely through visuals and music. In a seemingly polluted, possibly post-apocalyptic future where humanity lives under a massive dome, two police officers (modeled affectionately after Chage and Aska) raid a religious cult's headquarters. Amidst the chaos, they discover a hauntingly beautiful, angelic being – a young girl with feathered wings – held captive. What follows is their determined, high-octane effort to liberate her, culminating in a breathtaking flight into the potentially hazardous, but ultimately freeing, open sky.
Visual Poetry in Motion
Even constrained to the length of a pop song, Miyazaki's storytelling prowess shines. The world-building is incredibly efficient; we instantly grasp the oppressive nature of the domed city and the desperate hope symbolised by the winged girl. The animation, handled by the legendary Studio Ghibli, is fluid and gorgeous, particularly during the thrilling car chase and the final, uplifting aerial sequence. There's a kinetic energy here, a sense of breathless urgency that perfectly matches the driving beat of the song. You feel the wind rushing past as they break free, the sheer exhilaration of defying confinement.
The narrative plays with ambiguity, featuring cyclical imagery and a non-linear feel that invites interpretation. Does the rescue truly succeed? Are parts of it a dream or a vision? Miyazaki leaves it open, focusing instead on the core themes: the yearning for freedom, the clash between nature and manufactured environments, and the inherent goodness driving the protagonists' selfless act. It’s a potent blend, tapping into that sense of wonder and righteous determination many of us felt watching heroic adventures unfold on our CRT screens.
Retro Fun Facts & Fleeting Availability
On Your Mark has a slightly unusual history. In Japan, it was originally screened in cinemas as a short paired with the Ghibli feature Whisper of the Heart (1995), offering audiences a delightful, unexpected dose of Miyazaki action. Finding it in the West during the VHS era, however, often involved tracking down imported laserdiscs or fan-subtitled tapes – adding to its mystique as a Ghibli deep cut. It wasn't included on the initial Western Ghibli DVD releases, partly due to rights complexities and later, quite unfortunately, due to a scandal involving singer Aska that led Ghibli to temporarily withdraw the short from availability (it has since been included in some Blu-ray collections). This somewhat checkered release history only cemented its status among hardcore fans as a treasured, sometimes elusive, gem. There are no famous voice actors to point to here; the music and visuals carry the entire weight, a testament to Miyazaki’s directorial skill.
A Small Wonder
Despite its brevity, On Your Mark showcases so much of what makes Miyazaki and Ghibli beloved. The attention to detail in the animation, the underlying environmental consciousness, the expressive character designs, and that signature sense of flight and liberation – it’s all here. It’s a reminder that profound stories don’t always need two hours to resonate. Sometimes, a perfectly crafted six minutes is enough to capture the imagination and lift the spirit. It's a vibrant splash of Ghibli artistry, a concentrated shot of the wonder that defined so many animated discoveries from that era.
Rating: 8.5/10
This score reflects its stunning artistic execution, emotional resonance, and its unique place in the Ghibli catalogue. It's docked slightly only because its nature as a music video limits narrative depth compared to a feature, but what it achieves in its short runtime is remarkable.
On Your Mark remains a potent little miracle – a reminder that sometimes the best treasures on the video store shelf (or discovered through hushed fan networks) came in small, unexpected packages. A flash of brilliance well worth seeking out.