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IMDbPro

Ocean Waves

Original title: Umi ga kikoeru
  • TV Movie
  • 19931993
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
17K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,843
585
Ocean Waves (1993)
Trailer for Ocean Waves
Play trailer1:20
1 Video
40 Photos
  • Animation
  • Drama
  • Romance
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
17K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,843
585
  • Director
    • Tomomi Mochizuki
  • Writers
    • Saeko Himuro(novel)
    • Keiko Niwa(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Nobuo Tobita(voice)
    • Toshihiko Seki(voice)
    • Yoko Sakamoto(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tomomi Mochizuki
  • Writers
    • Saeko Himuro(novel)
    • Keiko Niwa(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Nobuo Tobita(voice)
    • Toshihiko Seki(voice)
    • Yoko Sakamoto(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 62User reviews
    • 36Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Ocean Waves
    Trailer 1:20
    Ocean Waves

    Photos40

    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)
    Ocean Waves (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nobuo Tobita
    Nobuo Tobita
    • Taku Morisakias Taku Morisaki
    • (voice)
    Toshihiko Seki
    Toshihiko Seki
    • Yutaka Matsunoas Yutaka Matsuno
    • (voice)
    Yoko Sakamoto
    • Rikako Mutoas Rikako Muto
    • (voice)
    Yuri Amano
    Yuri Amano
    • Akiko Shimizuas Akiko Shimizu
    • (voice)
    Kae Araki
    • Yumi Kohamaas Yumi Kohama
    • (voice)
    Jun'ichi Kanemaru
    Jun'ichi Kanemaru
    • Okadaas Okada
    • (voice)
    Ai Satô
    • Taku's motheras Taku's mother
    • (voice)
    Aya Hisakawa
    Aya Hisakawa
    • Girlas Girl
    • (voice)
    Tomokazu Seki
    Tomokazu Seki
    • Minaraias Minarai
    • (voice)
    Hikaru Midorikawa
    Hikaru Midorikawa
    • Tadashi Yamaoas Tadashi Yamao
    • (voice)
    Rin Mizuhara
    • Additional Voicesas Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    Sumi Shimamoto
    Sumi Shimamoto
    • Additional Voicesas Additional Voices
    • (voice)
    Reiko Suzuki
      • Director
        • Tomomi Mochizuki
      • Writers
        • Saeko Himuro(novel)
        • Keiko Niwa(screenplay)
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

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      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        This TV movie was an attempt to make anime solely by the young staff members, mostly in their 20s and 30s. Tomomi Mochizuki, who was 34 years old then, was brought in to direct. Their motto was to produce "quickly, cheaply and with quality," but the project went over budget and over schedule.
      • Connections
        Featured in JesuOtaku Anime Reviews: Ocean Waves (2012)

      User reviews62

      Review
      Top review
      An Intriguing & Surprisingly Mature Take On Teen Relationships.
      Ocean Waves was Studio Ghibli's attempt to allow its younger staff to showcase their movie-making talents and although what they manage to put on screen is a fascinating & surprisingly mature take on high school romance, it lacks the refined quality that could have hurled it into the leagues of the studio's best works.

      Based on the novel of the same name, the story of Ocean Waves follows a young college kid who's returning home after his first year at university but after glimpsing a familiar girl at the train station, recalls his senior year of high school when that same girl transferred to his school from Tokyo and turned his life upside down.

      Directed by Saeko Himuro, the plot is always focused on the characters & their relationships, all of which is portrayed in a very subtle & authentic manner. Its hand-drawn animation may not rival the best works of the studio but it still carries their quality stamp on it. The story is grounded & lifelike, and it never tries to do more than it can handle.

      Of the three people caught in the love triangle, it is the character of Rikako Muto who exhibits the most interesting arc. Her behaviour & actions add an element of mystery in the story and it unfurls very gradually. The backdrop setting is splendidly detailed at all times. However, despite being only 72 minutes long, the film still feels somewhat stretched out.

      On an overall scale, Ocean Waves is a gentle meditation on teen relationships and is brought to life with sufficient care, affection & sincerity. Working as both an intriguing coming-of-age drama & a muted love story, Studio Ghibli's first & only TV feature still remains their least seen work and even though it is no match to their greatest efforts, it nonetheless deserves a watch or two.
      helpful•6
      2
      • CinemaClown
      • Apr 26, 2016

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • July 13, 1994 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • Japan
      • Language
        • Japanese
      • Also known as
        • Puedo escuchar el mar
      • Filming locations
        • Kochi, Japan
      • Production companies
        • Nippon Television Network (NTV)
        • Studio Ghibli
        • Tokuma Shoten
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

      Edit
      • Gross US & Canada
        • $87,738
      • Opening weekend US & Canada
        • $4,942
        • Jan 1, 2017
      • Gross worldwide
        • $87,738
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 16 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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