Two observations about Ocean Waves: The first is that it comes from Studio Ghibli – and it shows. The second is that it is not the work of Hayao Miyazaki or of Isao Takahata – and that shows, too.
Ocean Waves was made for TV and released in 1993 by young staff members of Studio Ghibli as a kind of apprenticeship piece. It was directed by Tomimo Mochizuki. The technical quality of the film maintains the high standards expected of the studio – animation and design are exemplary and the film is a visual feast. However, the storyline is rather slight and characterisation is not as well developed as would be expected from Myazaki.
The story is largely told in flashback as Taku flies back from Tokyo, where he is a university student, to his home in Kochi. It concerns his relationship with his high school friend Yutaka, and their rivalry for the affections of Rikako, a beautiful but rather condescending and manipulative girl who has transferred from a school in Tokyo following the breakup of her parents' marriage. One of the major problems of the film is that there does not seem have been any real attempt to present the protagonists in any depth, their personalities are shallow, almost caricatures.
Other Ghibli films which have explored the world of school days and coming of age are Only Yesterday and Whisper of the Heart. In no way does Ocean Waves approach the complexity and subtlety of these beautiful films. That does not mean that this film is bad, it isn't by a long way, but we do expect rather more from this studio. Having said that, this film is still far ahead of anything Hollywood produces.
Ocean Waves was made for TV and released in 1993 by young staff members of Studio Ghibli as a kind of apprenticeship piece. It was directed by Tomimo Mochizuki. The technical quality of the film maintains the high standards expected of the studio – animation and design are exemplary and the film is a visual feast. However, the storyline is rather slight and characterisation is not as well developed as would be expected from Myazaki.
The story is largely told in flashback as Taku flies back from Tokyo, where he is a university student, to his home in Kochi. It concerns his relationship with his high school friend Yutaka, and their rivalry for the affections of Rikako, a beautiful but rather condescending and manipulative girl who has transferred from a school in Tokyo following the breakup of her parents' marriage. One of the major problems of the film is that there does not seem have been any real attempt to present the protagonists in any depth, their personalities are shallow, almost caricatures.
Other Ghibli films which have explored the world of school days and coming of age are Only Yesterday and Whisper of the Heart. In no way does Ocean Waves approach the complexity and subtlety of these beautiful films. That does not mean that this film is bad, it isn't by a long way, but we do expect rather more from this studio. Having said that, this film is still far ahead of anything Hollywood produces.