Ocean Waves (1993)

As a young man returns home after his first year away at college he recalls his senior year of high school and the iron-willed, big city girl that turned his world upside down.

Director:

Tomomi Mochizuki

Writers:

Saeko Himuro (novel), Keiko Niwa (screenplay) (as Kaori Nakamura)

Stars:

Nobuo Tobita, Toshihiko Seki, Yoko Sakamoto

Cast

Credited cast:
Nobuo Tobita	...	Taku Morisaki (voice)
Toshihiko Seki	...	Yutaka Matsuno (voice)
Yoko Sakamoto	...	Rikako Muto (voice)
Yuri Amano	...	Akiko Shimizu (voice)
Kae Araki	...	Yumi Kohama (voice)
Jun'ichi Kanemaru	...	Okada (voice)
Ai Satô	...	Taku's mother (voice)
Aya Hisakawa	...	Girl (voice)
Tomokazu Seki	...	Minarai (voice)
Hikaru Midorikawa	...	Tadashi Yamao (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rin Mizuhara	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Sumi Shimamoto	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Reiko Suzuki	...	(voice)

Storyline

The main character travels to his hometown for his high school reunion. During the trip, he recalls the memories of the days in high school. Friendship, subtle love, a trip to Tokyo and so on all came back to him as the film evolves.

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Plot Keywords:

studio ghibli | two word title | love | friendship | high school reunion | 

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Genres:

Animation | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some thematic material

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

5 May 1993 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Ocean Waves

Filming Locations:

Kochi, Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nippon Television Network (NTV),Studio Ghibli,Tokuma Shoten

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was the first Ghibli anime directed by an other person than Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata.

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Connections

References Porco Rosso (1992)

User Reviews

A movie about growing up into adulthood

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.