On-Gaku: Our Sound

When a misfit trio gets their hands on a bass guitar, half a drum kit, and (another) bass guitar, their simplistic music taps into something primal, and they inadvertently find themselves headlining a local rock festival.

This deadpan Japanese comedy took seven years to complete, the final result being an entirely hand-drawn feature film that shows you don’t have to have a clue what you’re doing, or even any enthusiasm, to create great music. An eccentric, mumblecore anime that salutes amateurism, On-Gaku is a love letter to garage bands and the galvanising power of music. It’s also one of the best, and funniest films we’ve seen in recent years.