A kid trades his boots for three wishes to a boy made of rain. What could go wrong?
A lonely kid who lives in the countryside meets a strange boy who has a ragged umbrella over his head and there is always rain pouring over him. The rain boy is dazzled by the other kid's boots and offers three wishes in exchange for them.
Direction
Tezuka's economical storytelling in 24 perfect minutes
Practical Effects
Hand-drawn rain effects that feel genuinely wet
Writing
Three wishes structure twisted into something haunting
Director
Masateru Yoshimura
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was one of Tezuka's personal favorite short films, made when he was already legendary but still experimenting with form.
The Rain Boy resembles Japanese yōkai folklore spirits who embody natural phenomena, but Tezuka subverts the trope—he's not malevolent, just desperately lonely.
JP
