Effective Storytelling Without Excessive Visuals

I appreciate "The Man Who Planted Trees" for two primary reasons.  "The Man Who Planted Trees" deviated from the common tone of animations in our viewing list, offering solutions of hope instead of warnings against vice.  The film additionally provided contrast in its relative simplicity of image.  Despite its simplicity, the film still effectively conveyed its message.

"The Man Who Planted Trees" didn't simply ignore hardship in a bliss to generate a message of hope- its message is based on raising up and moving on from hardship.  The man who plants trees devotes his life towards creating inspiring beauty and happiness despite losing his family.  The film juxtaposes war with the tranquil, sublime forest.  If the man can overcome the loss of his family, the most fundamental aspect of a human life, then people should be able to overcome the causes of the war to create a new era of peace.

"The Man Who Planted Trees" - hope and peace

"Akira" - greed, opposition, and destruction

"The Man Who Planted Trees" also contrasts films like "Akira," "Princess Mononoke," and "Grave of the Fireflies" because of its aesthetic style.  The Anime animations contain rich levels of detail and precision, rendering all elements of the scene.  They employ a sophisticated color palette to convey emotive qualities of a scene.  "The Man Who Planted Trees," however, accomplishes the same affective qualities and power of message without such visual techniques.  Is a film better if it can convey an effective story without visual indicators of meaning?

"The Man Who Planted Trees" - simplistic lines and impressionistic dots of color

"Princess Mononoke" - dense patches of color and texture