There’s nothing amiss in this evocative character piece. It left me wondering if politics played a part in keeping “Ocean Waves” out of the public eye. The master would go on to write “Whisper of the Heart” (1995), his own version of a teen romance featuring his traditional fantasy elements. At its in-office premiere, Miyazaki stood right beside director Tomomi Mochizuki, voicing his disapproval. “Ocean Waves” was the first Ghibli film that wasn’t animated by Miyazaki or Takahata, making it a stressor for all involved, even causing health concerns. Ambient sound found at the train stations, school and Tokyo, enhance scenes and blends with the symphonic score by Shigeru Nagata. Voice acting comes through clearly in the dialogue-centered soundtrack. You can’t help but note the landscape looks better for it. “I put a tree here to create focus,” the animator says. Similarities are remarkable – picture perfect even after so many years. They compare pre-production, hand drawn stills with the actual locations used. In one of three bonus features, “Looking Back: Staff Reunion,” five members of the creative team meet to reminisce about their experiences making the film. The picture is clean and well textured, with a subtle color palette. There’s a lot of charm in here, even if it’s tinged with melancholy. The story is realistic its predicaments and conflicts universal, all part of the human experience no matter your nationality. Sounds like a romance drama, right? It’s got all the trappings still “Ocean Waves” is more about the transformations that escalate as graduation closes in. Taku wants nothing to do with her, but Rikako keeps popping into his life dragging all her troubles along. Eventually, he learns she’s reeling from the changes thrown at her by her parents’ divorce, but It doesn’t make her any more likable. Taku finds all this out after she borrows $300 from him, then learns she’s borrowed more from Yutaka. She snubs other students and manipulates the few friends she has. She’s brilliant in academics and sports, but majors in attitude. Pretty Rikako Muto (Yoko Sakamoto) hails from Tokyo. Yutaka has been asked to show a new transfer student around their school, and Taku learns his friend has a major crush on her. Scenes flashback to his younger self discussing the upcoming senior trip to Hawaii with his best friend, Yutaka (Toshihiko Seki). It’s a mixed blessing as he recalls the dramas of a time filled with the sort of challenges everyone faces during the last years of school. The story opens as Taku Morisaki, voiced by Nobuo Tobita, prepares for his high school reunion. E-Pilot Evening Edition Home Page Close Menu

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