Tomihiko Morimi's novel "Night Is Short, Walk On Girl" (Japanese title: "Yoru wa Mijikashi Aruke yo Otome") is set in the same universe as its predecessor, "The Tatami Galaxy" ("Yojohan Shinwa Taikei"), and is the latest to get the anime treatment by Masaaki Yuasa's Science Saru animation studios. This film, however, focuses a bit less on the male protagonist known only as "Senpai" and more on his love interest, "Kuro Kami no Otome" (the Girl with Black Hair). Notice the lack of identity beyond simple attributes? It's a way to make the story as generic as possible, though the film ends up being anything but.

While there have been negative rumblings from some online fans with regards to the film's length (93 minutes) and perceived disconnect from reality, these elements are precisely what makes "Night Is Short" work.

The story follows our heroine on an extremely long night of bar hopping, father-daughter drama and maybe — just maybe — romance. Senpai follows his black-haired beauty throughout Kyoto, though she seems to be too busy having fun to notice him. Along the way, she makes some friends and enemies, wins a carp costume and tries to hunt down a book she suddenly recalls from her childhood.