Hal (2013 film)

Hal (ハル) is a 2013 Japanese animated film produced by Wit Studio and directed by Ryōtarō Makihara. It was released in Japan on June 8, 2013.

Synopsis
The story takes place in a technologically advanced society where robots can be programmed to behave like a human. After a tragic plane accident, a robot, known as Q01, is sent to a small Japanese town to help a person who just lost a loved one. While trying to heal the melancholic heart, the past of the couple is unearthed.

Production and release
The original film was revealed in the January 2013 issue of Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine. Ryōtarō Makihara directed the film, with Izumi Kizara writing the film's script, and manga artist Io Sakisaka providing the original character designs. The film was released in Japan on June 8, 2013. Yōko Hikasa performed the theme song "Owaranai Uta" (Unending Poem).

In July 2013, Funimation announced that they had acquired rights for a North American release.

Reception
Theron Martin of Anime News Network gave the film a B+ rating. In his review, he felt the film wasn't long enough to deliver its emotional impact but did give credit to its soft and understated score, quality artistic effort and well-cast English dub, concluding that "If you're looking for a low-key romantic tale and don't mind a big chunk of gimmickry, this one should fit the bill."