I wouldn't recommend Mai Mai Miracle to people who hate movies that are strong on nostalgia. I think Clarence is a better one for you. I don't think I even like movies about a third grader but this one is quite hard to like anyway. Thevoice acting is perfect and so is the animation. Shinko is way too annoying and she is the one that gives you the most nostalgia. It kind of reminds me of Totoro, though, I wish the sister (I forgot her name) was with her big sister more. The little sister and Kiiko are my favorite characters. The movie is truly forgettable, the second part is hard to follow, the movie is just a slice of life story, you know, no plot and not much of a fantasy either like Totoro is. I'm a Totoro fan and I can't like this movie because of how mediocre it is. Overall, it's a little bit decent, was a close second to stopping it, you know,

This is a pure feel-good enlightening movie about making the most out of the richness of life in the midst of a decent, not-well-to-do country life/ and poverty.The movie is full of moments that will bring anyone back to childhood innocence, from playing with plants & animals to swallowing the wrong food by accident :). And unlike Miyazaki's works and the suggestive speculation from its title, this movie sticks closer to reality (save for the parallel fantasies of a totally different time era) and is not too overdone.It is a nice reminder of Ohomide poro poro, one of my favourite anime of all time.