MY NEIGHBOURS THE YAMADAS is a completely atypical movie for Studio Ghibli and probably their most unusual movie to date. The hand-drawn animation seems crude compared to the more elaborate outings directed by Miyazaki, but the simpleness of cartoon characters does grow on you as the film goes on.
Essentially, this is a series of comic vignettes showing the various misadventures of an ordinary family living in Japan. Although there are a few fantasy sequences as the characters imagine themselves floating through the air or going on wild adventures, for the most part it's humdrum and realistic. The humour comes from the ditzy characters and the things they get up to, particularly the crazy old grandmother.
Those looking for plots about saving the world or battles between heroes and villains are likely to be disappointed by the ordinariness of this one, the matter-of-fact way the film develops and the distinct lack of any kind of storyline. However, I found it quietly charming in its own unique way, and it's certainly a distinctive movie, so there are things to recommend it - if you know what to expect beforehand and prepare your mindset accordingly to take a step back and just enjoy the minutiae of everyday life.
Essentially, this is a series of comic vignettes showing the various misadventures of an ordinary family living in Japan. Although there are a few fantasy sequences as the characters imagine themselves floating through the air or going on wild adventures, for the most part it's humdrum and realistic. The humour comes from the ditzy characters and the things they get up to, particularly the crazy old grandmother.
Those looking for plots about saving the world or battles between heroes and villains are likely to be disappointed by the ordinariness of this one, the matter-of-fact way the film develops and the distinct lack of any kind of storyline. However, I found it quietly charming in its own unique way, and it's certainly a distinctive movie, so there are things to recommend it - if you know what to expect beforehand and prepare your mindset accordingly to take a step back and just enjoy the minutiae of everyday life.