As a young man Taku returns home after his first year away at university in Tokyo, he recalls his senior year of high school and the iron-willed, big city girl Rikako Muto that turned his world upside down.
I’d never heard of this made-for-TV Ghibli movie before but I’m glad that I watched it as it’s a very enjoyable movie about teenage life, growing up into becoming an adult and relationships. This wasn’t directed by Hayao Miyazaki at all. Studio Ghibli wanted to give their younger animators a chance at making a movie with a small budget. Unfortunately for them they ran over budget and over schedule and that was that. I don’t think they’ve had a chance to make another movie which is a shame as this is a very underrated, unappreciated Ghibli feature. Sure, it may not be an epic as the more famous Ghibli movies but you’d be doing yourself a big mistake by not checking it out. I thought it was a fun movie with a simple, effective and gentle romance storyline and is right up there as one of the studio’s best IMO. The animation is as good as any other Ghibli movie with a brilliant soundtrack. I loved it.
Sadako’s Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
I’ll keep and eye out for it. I generally love Ghibli films, even those not Miyazaki’s. Thanks for reviewing this one.