At a mere 60 min length, the film achieved much of what it set out to - a simple, contained, yet emotionally-resonant, neatly-paced high school love story. The highlight of this film is its score. Not only is it musically diversed and full of personality, it also plays with the scenes fluidly, in a way that indicates the use of the common technique of "animating over music", which is unique to animation and appreciated by meticulous filmmakers. The theme track is particularly catchy. It captures the quiet, contemplative, and wistful tone of the film very well.
The film has a rather simple story, an almost generic one, such so that the film can feel ambiguous. The focus is, after all, on the ending, the payoff at the latter part of the film. Everything that precedes it is rather bland, and while I don't consider those parts uninteresting, for they do carry meaning in retrospect, I feel like they could have been done better, enriched, made more memorable. The film's limited scope is its biggest enemy. With all the animation talent at its expense, the film could be more impactful, memorable, hard hitting had they decided for something more unique for the bulk of its story.
While I feel like the story substracts from the overall experience, there are still a lot to appreciate. The dynamic between the lead and the female lead is well crafted. I fairly enjoy the characters, and they deliver on the emotional core pretty well, which despite the film's simplicity, still packs quite a punch.
Overall, Ocean Waves is beautiful, quiet and contained, with an exceptional soundtrack and copious emotional impact. However, it is also too quiet, too unambitious, ultimately pointing towards plenty of unrealized potential. As a TV movie, it delivers on all of the fundamentals. For the wistful, nostalgic people out there, this film is for you.
The film has a rather simple story, an almost generic one, such so that the film can feel ambiguous. The focus is, after all, on the ending, the payoff at the latter part of the film. Everything that precedes it is rather bland, and while I don't consider those parts uninteresting, for they do carry meaning in retrospect, I feel like they could have been done better, enriched, made more memorable. The film's limited scope is its biggest enemy. With all the animation talent at its expense, the film could be more impactful, memorable, hard hitting had they decided for something more unique for the bulk of its story.
While I feel like the story substracts from the overall experience, there are still a lot to appreciate. The dynamic between the lead and the female lead is well crafted. I fairly enjoy the characters, and they deliver on the emotional core pretty well, which despite the film's simplicity, still packs quite a punch.
Overall, Ocean Waves is beautiful, quiet and contained, with an exceptional soundtrack and copious emotional impact. However, it is also too quiet, too unambitious, ultimately pointing towards plenty of unrealized potential. As a TV movie, it delivers on all of the fundamentals. For the wistful, nostalgic people out there, this film is for you.