Though rendered a bit heavy-handedly for such an abbreviated film, the metaphor is nevertheless a clever way to talk about San’s struggle to understand her role in service of a country demanding unquestionable loyalty in the face of death and terror.

I was very moved by it. So impressed they could tell this story in such a succinct way. Great debut for the studio and director

The brevity of cocoon is a demerit to the story it’s trying to tell, despite the heavy subject matter it depicts.

Cocoon earns its place as a quintessential anime not only for the difficult conversations it brings to light about girlhood being a special kind of hell during wartime, but for the unwavering hope it harbors that such events may never happen again.