How can I call myself a true Otaku if I do not love the good anime with the bad, right? Not that Ocean Waves is a bad movie overall. In fact bad does not describe it at all. It was a sweet story about reconnecting with those you care about that you lost contact with, and coming home.But the animation seem like a waste of time. It was a story that could have easily been told in live action and most likely would have taken less time to produce (but maybe it would cost more, I don't know).So while it's a nice story, I can't help but to be so disappointed because that animation did nothing for the story and that is what I expect from my anime.It may be more fair for me to watch the movie again now that the shock of the animation being the bare minimum has taken it's toll. It's a nice romantic slice of life film as it is, but definitely not the anime I like.http://cinemagardens.com

This was my first time watching this film with English subtitles. I had heard it about it online because I am also a fan of many other studio ghibli's films such as Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo and The Cat Returns. This was one of the first films not directed by Hayao Miyazaki or his son and have to say, I believe that was one of the main reasons for my low rating. The story line was interesting, and seemed like just an interesting intriguing love story. But as you got deeper into it, it just seemed very predictable... almost everything that happened was obvious right from the start. At least from my knowledge of watching the film. I know it was created originally as a TV film but still.. they could have had a little bit more to offer to the viewers when it came to the plot twists and turns. We all knew the ending was going to be the way it was... These movies are just better off as movies NOT TV shows and directed by none other then, hayao. He is the true mastermind.

Ocean Waves is a Studio Ghibli's production for TV, made by the young artists in the studio, that tells a charming story of love and friendship during High School in the small town of Kochi. The main characters are Taku Morisaki and his friend Yutaka Matsuno, and the quirky opinionated newly-arrived-in-town girl they like - Rikako Muto.The movie tells a simple story of growing up and becoming adults, and shows all of the dramas surrounding teenagers, but it is well narrated and animated. The animation is not as impressive and detailed as others Ghibli's movies, but it has Ghibli's quality stamp on it, and is very realistic and beautiful.The mood of the movie is great and captures with great mastery the spirit of a small town and its people, and also the spirit of summertime in those years in High School, with all the activities, romances and friendships that we experience during our teen years; it really transports the viewers to their High School days. The characters are well drawn, psychologically and emotionally believable, and very likable.A very enjoyable animation movie perfect for teenagers and adults, not for children.

I rarely write reviews for movies but I simply have to recommend this one and straighten a few things out. First off let me say that this is my top 3 favorite films from Ghibli Studio (the other two being Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro). The reason I love it is because out of all the great Ghibli works, this one speaks to me the most. And the more I watch this film and the older I get, the more I appreciate it.It's a shame that this little gem is often underrated, under-appreciated and neglected by Ghibli fans, because it's so not like anything Ghibli or Miyazaki has done so far (which, ironically, is one of the reasons why I love it so much). It doesn't follow the usual Miyazaki formula (i.e. brave and independent heroine, epic stories, unusual adventures...you get the picture). Instead, it just tells a simple (yet highly-effective) coming-of-age story about an ordinary high school teenager in a realistic and sincere way. You may not have the similar experience as the male protagonist, but you can certainly relate to him and understand what he's going through (at least I could).Now it seems that the complaints from those who were less impressed by this film are mostly centered around the film's (seemingly) lack of a solid plot or exciting actions. To them I'd say you people just didn't get it. As some reviewers have said, this film is all about the subtleties. It's more of a character-driven film than a plot-driven one. In other words, it's more about how you feel about/relate to the characters (dialogs, emotions, relationships, etc) than what you see on screen (the plot, actions, stunning visuals, etc). The thing is you can't just watch the movie, you have to "feel" the movie and its characters as well. And it helps a great deal too if you also know a thing or two about the Japanese culture and life in small town there.Truth to be told I never really enjoyed all those Miyazaki extravaganzas such as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle, which of course isn't to say that they are not great. Don't get me wrong, I can see why they are great masterpieces and why people would love them, but personally I just couldn't connect with any of those movies nor can I relate to the characters. I always felt I was merely watching the movie, instead of "experiencing" it. But with "The Ocean Waves/Umi Ga Kikoeru", I felt like I was the main character and his story was my story. For some reason this movie just speaks to me like no other Ghibli movies can. It might be an animated TV movie, but to me it felt more real than most of the live-action TV dramas out there, because everything shown in that movie seems so realistic and familiar and therefore gives you a similar warm and nostalgic feeling that you also get while watching movies like My Neighbor Totoro. I've heard it said that it's the small things in life that make living wonderful (or something like that), and I think this best describes how I feel about "Umi ga Kikoeru".If you're into big epic/fantasy movies like Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle, chances are you probably won't like this one. At the end it really all comes down to whether you get this film or not. If you get it, you'll love it!