Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko

2021 97 min ★ 7.0 Animation, Drama, Family, Comedy

Brash single mother Nikuko is well-known for her bold spirit, much to the embarrassment of Kikuko, her pensive yet imaginative daughter. In contrast to her mother, Kikuko wants nothing more than to fit in as she navigates the everyday social dramas of middle school. Life in the harbor is peaceful until a shocking revelation from the past threatens to uproot the pair's tender relationship.

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Cast

Shinobu Otake

Nikuko-chan (voice)

Cocomi

Kikuko (voice)

Natsuki Hanae

Ninomiya (voice)

Ikuji Nakamura

Sassan (voice)

Izumi Ishii

Maria (voice)

Atsushi Yamanishi

Zenji (voice)

Yuichi Yasoda

Old man at the aquarium / Other characters (voice)

Matsuko Deluxe

Darcia (voice)

Riho Yoshioka

Miu (voice)

Hiro Shimono

Lizard / Gecko (voice)

Details

Director

Ayumu Watanabe

Screenplay

Satomi Oshima

Status

Released

Original Language

JA

Production

Yoshimoto Kogyo, STUDIO4℃

Reviews

C

Chris Sawin

August 28, 2021

★ 8/10

_Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko_ is so simple on the surface, but is also complex and meaningful as an animated film. The ending of the film juggles tearing at your heartstrings and having everything come full circle. It feels like Kikurin is ashamed of embracing the fact that she’s becoming a woman while Nikuko is dangerously content with her gender and sexuality. They’re both lonely, but they find s...