Umi ga Kikoeru

Ocean Waves is a rather obscure movie of the Studio Ghibli kanon. It is a made for TV movie with the younger generation of animators working at Ghibli at the time, so it really isn't surprising that it is little known. It is a departure from the norms of Studio Ghibli, not only because it doesn't involve Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata, but it also one of the movies more grounded in reality. So without the big talents that made the studio, where the movie stand? It's pretty good, but a far cry from Studio Ghibli at top form. The story is one of young adultsjust a few years out of high school. This is funny to say because most of the movie is a flashback to high school. Majority of the movie is the protagonist Taku reflecting on his time in high school, specifically his relationship with the beautiful and volatile transfer student Rikako Muto, as well as his best friend, Yutaka. The movie shows Taku's high school life until his graduating year, then cuts forward to him revisiting his hometown a few years later for a class reunion a few years later. Being that majority of the film takes place in high school, as you can expect it is drama driven. Thankfully, it is not its not melodramatic. In fact, it has the same gentle touch Studio Ghibli is well known for. It is typical high school drama with a love triange, school gossip, and adolescent antics; but restrained rather than overblown. The dynamic between the characters works well, as we get a fairly good sense of their relationship, which honestly do feel believable. The also does a pretty good job conveying some of the frustration of the teenage years, most prominently in the way Rikako behaves because she was forced to move to the country-side as a result of her parents divorce. However, the story is too safe frankly; everything in it is commonly used in this kind of drama. While it isn't executed badly, it also isn't done with enough finesse or inspiration to truly make it stand out. The only part that really feels inspired is Taku's class reuinion, which makes up only the last fourth of the movie. The material is quite good, but ultimately feels a bit underwhelming because of how it is presented. On the technical-side of things, well, this is Studio Ghibli we're talking about. Even though this is a made for TV movie not a theatrical release, it still looks very good. The character designs have the usual warm Ghibli charm; being both fairly realistic and appropriately cartoony. Backgrounds are beautifully detailed, and the animation is smooth, certainly more fluid than necessary for this kind of story. The music is also very good, as one might expect. Wonderful orchestrated pieces which fit the tone of the movie nicely. All that said, the movie doesn't really impress. Just as with the story's execution, the overall direction is competent, but not amazing on any level. There are not any shots or scenes which grab you with the way they are captured on screen. It is obvious that the animators had skill, but perhaps lacking in cinematic chops. The movie looks and sounds good, but not exceptional. Ocean Waves is definitely not Studio Ghibli at its best, and honestly, it is not hard to see why the movie is overlooked. It has a good story, and good technical merits; it's just lacking in the inspiration that is present in most of the studio's works. Still, it is a good movie and certainly worth its run time, which is a little over an hour.

Looking upon the Ghibli filmography through the lens of an anime expert, Ocean Waves is a classic in its own right. It may not be optimistic and atmospheric like Miyazaki or symbolic and sad like Takahata, but in the process of being dwarfed by the famous Ghibli greats, it finds its own place. It’s bold in its honesty and simplicity, unafraid to diverge from the studio’s norm. Instead of a couple charming and heroic children, Ocean Waves is led by a couple confused and moody teenagers. Instead of a fantastical adventure determined by good and evil, they embark on an uneventful time lapse through youngadulthood determined by life’s events. It develops a relationship with both mature and immature complexities that often leave the viewer— That’s it, I can’t do it anymore. I need to address something. You know why this movie isn’t popular? Why it hasn’t become a late classic in the eyes of Ghibli fans? Because the, dude, the main man, the protagonist of Ocean Waves, is a goddamn SIMP. If you’ve seen this movie, you know what I’m talking about. Seriously, if you looked up “simp” on the urban dictionary, a picture of our hero would sit comfortably right next to the paragraph about how simps sacrifice their own integrity, both social and moral, to appease some girl they have a crush on. He doesn’t even know he’s simping until he realizes that everything that ever fell off the rails in his highschool life could be traced back to stupid decisions he made to accommodate some random girl that never gave him the time of day. He loans her money, goes on a freaking plane so that she doesn’t travel by herself after her friend bailed, lets her sleep in his hotel bed while he sleeps in the bathtub, deals with her daddy issues, and after all that, the one time he doesn’t simp, the time he lets her get bullied without intervening, his friend punches him in the FACE. Uh oh, guess you weren’t simping enough, buddy. She walks all over this dude like a ten-cent tatami mat and this movie has the gall to punish him in the end for NOT going out of his way to fight her battle? How about a little respect for his simpin, huh? He is literally a role model for every twitter and instagram simp out there, because eventually he gets the payoff. But at that point, is it even worth it? Well, I’ve seen simps settle for far less from their queens. 8/10 for revealing a unique side of Ghibli that grows in distinction as it ages, but overall 7/10 for inventing the concept of simping.

This is one of the most underrated ghibli movies. It's certainly quite different from the other ghibli movies. It doesn't contain any fantasy and Hayao Miyazaki isn't involved in the production anyhow. It's just a slice of life/drama/romance story, a hell of a good one too. Ocean Waves may be one of the most natural animes I've seen. It doesn't throw in a load of super tragic drama or anything of that kind. It only tells the story of a group of teenagers as they walk the path to adulthood. The story is takes place in Kochi, Japan, a small town by the sea. Morisaku Takuand Matsuno Yutaka are two ordinary high schoolers and best friends. In the middle of the semester a city girl named Muto Rikako transfers to Matsuno's class. As the class representative he has to show her around school and that's how they get know each other, soon enough Morisaku is introduced to her. Muto has quite a hard time getting into the class. She's talented at sports and studies and quickly becomes popular, but that changes as many of the girls get envious of her and she becomes known for being a snob. The art and animations are really good. No different from any other works from studio ghibli. If your fond of the typical 90s animations you will definitely like the art in this one. The characters looks typically ghibli, but the design is quite different. It doesn't "re-use" the same main characters as many ghibli movies seem to do. Not just only the way they look. The personalities are really different too. Morisaku is just the ordinary kind and honest guy, the one that is always there to help. Matsuno is the reliable best friend that's very respected by Morisaku. Muto is kind of spoiled and self-centered. She acts very tough though she's actually pretty sensitive. I think the characters develop great and I could really tell how they've matured through time. The music was really good, very calm and fitting. It set the right mood. Voice acting is also very well done. The only thing I can complain about is the sound quality at times but it could have been fansub group's doing. I enjoyed this movie a lot. It's just a charming and relaxing story that will make you smile. It's not super romantic just very sweet at times. It's one of those stories that make you wish for the characters happiness. Anyone who loves a down to earth, short love story will enjoy this movie and if you enjoyed Whisper of the heart you may like this one.

Ocean Waves is not trying to be anything more than it is, and what it is, is absolutely fine. The story moves very smoothly and the perspective of our young protagonist Taku is set lucid immediately, showing classic hero potential in challenging his school on a decision he finds unfair. He is rational, hard working and emotionally moral. He takes a sight of Rikako, a fiery, athletic beauty and childishly does not realise that he is mad about her, fine, however:- As a strong upholder of ROMANCE, Ocean Waves is not critical enough in delivering the heart wrenching moments which it clearly builds up for, asthe characters are endearing and well developed in emotional integrity. For me, it borders irritatingly on adolescent, as there are far too many missed opportunities for real love to blossom on screen. It would be argued that this is not what the film or original story ever set about doing, however, one cannot help but feel bitter not seeing the climax of humanity's better emotions, in neither words or embrace. A friend of mine said that Studio Ghibli is practically a Japanese Disney, and with this in some area's I would wholly agree, though I have found at times all of their films to be incredibly mature and perhaps beyond the reach of younger audiences. Ocean Waves is no exception to this, as the ever impending love anti-climax is noticeable only when it's too late to be called subtle. It is high school, she is a vulnerable beauty, for God's sake man, kiss her, just do it, do you not realise that she wants you to? It makes me wonder, is it worth dedicating your own emotions to more than capable story lines if there are not fire works at the end, merely a screeching bottle rocket, slowly fading into a dismal silent fart.

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