Nobuhiko Obayashi’s Hausu
After an unusually long hibernation that lasted nearly a year and a quarter, Panda awoke not to what should have been a soft, gentle song calling a quietly sleeping bear to a fall morning in Brooklyn, but rather unfortunately to a tornado of evil doings caused by Snowflake, the white Japanese cat in Hausu, who had invaded Panda’s latest dream.
Panda disapproves!
Snowflake! You dreadful cat, Panda gruffed, holding Panda’s paw against a heart beating much too fast. What a poor choice for a movie before bed!
Soon enough, Panda slipped on Panda’s robe and slippers, the soft fabrics needed to cushion the little endangered bear from the modern word, and shuffled across the apartment. Panda picked up the DVD which layed on the floor alongside the remains of a Capri Sun, the last snack drink before the natural weariness of hibernation had descended upon Panda unawares.
This is indeed all too much. Panda frowned and glanced again at the awful Snowflake and the swirling faces of the Japanese girls splashed on the DVD cover. The black patches of Panda’s eyes pinched into stars—for the displaced white-and-black bear was confused! Panda found Nobuhiko Obayashi’s cult classic horrific, yet strangely satisfying in a psychodelic way. How could this be? Shall I no longer know what I like or dislike? Hausu!
Panda slipped the DVD back onto a shelf which Panda had labeled “Fine & Rare Horror Flicks” and tossed the over-ripe Capri Sun out the window, for Panda was still groggy from the psychological tail-end of the state of hibernation (and would later regret committing this unmistakable act of littering). After pausing to enjoy the southward flight of a flock of birds from the window, Panda sat at Panda’s desk.
As Panda held a fountain pen over a calendar to mark a grand “X” on today’s date, Panda shook! Could it be possible that Panda woke exactly one week before Panda’s most disdained holiday, Halloween? Indeed it was true. Panda slumped in the squeaky IKEA chair and sighed. Was Panda giving into the suspicion and remorse of being cursed? For what do the split-feelings over Hausu mean?
No! I shall not give in! Panda recalled Panda’s once vigorous study of sword fighting and the chasing away of bad spirits with a deeply meditative pounding of the gord.
Panda drew the glowing red eyes of the deceptively cute fluffy cat with the fountain pen, no longer concerned whether Snowflake was friend or foe. Panda’s skills will keep Panda safe.
It is also against Panda’s nature to hold a grudge.
This is so beautiful. Panda is victorious!!!
Amazing, but wait! But isn’t the cat’s name Blanche?