[Anime Movie Review] My Neighbors the Yamadas / Houhokekyo Tonari no Yamada-kun / ホーホケキョとなりの山田く

Tonight I will write a little bit review of Studio Ghibli's My Neighbors the Yamadas.

The story is super simple. It is about a family, Yamada family, which consists of 5 persons; a dad, a mom, a son, a daughter, and a grandma.

I could say it is more like to a short story which is compiled together and it becomes a 2-hour-movie. However, it is not bad. It's actually super good. Telling us about some daily life stories from the Yamada family, bringing a topic which might be around us too.

For me, I personally like the story where their son, Noboru, said something like this "It would be good if I have a better parents". His mom and dad replied with something like this: if they hadn't been there, then probably Noboru won't exist too.

Another story I like, is when they tell us what a marriage is. As long as a family sticks to each other, they somehow can face the wildest sea, but not for a calm water. We relax, loosening our hold, and we might not realize that we are actually in danger.

Well, if you really watch and think about it, there are actually some good messages that you can get from this anime movie.

As expected from Studio Ghibli, another amazing movie. The concept is totally different with another Studio Ghibli's movie, and the drawing is also nice, which is more like a manga rather than the usual movie, and it's not even lessen the value of the movie.

I would give this movie 9 out of 10 points. I love it so much!

[Anime Movie Review] Grave of the Fireflies / Hotaru no Haka 火垂るの墓

Ok, another Studio Ghibli movies streak. Grave of the Fireflies, or Hotaru no Haka. This movie was released on 1988. If mostly Studio Ghibli's movie is about fantasy, this time I could say it's more to a daily life story with World War era setting.

The story is actually quite simple. There was a brother and sister called Seita and Setsuko who lived in a city in Japan in the World War era. The American bombers were flying above them, which led them to go to the bomb shelter. Their mom went to the bomb shelter ahead since Seita needed to secure their belongings. Seita took her little sister Setsuko with him.

Before they reached the shelter, the bomblets dropped which led to fire in the whole city. Seita and Setsuko were succeed in fleeing, however, their mom got into the fire and badly injured.

Their mom died no longer after that incident. Seita decided not to tell Setsuko first since Setsuko was just a little girl.

Having no home due to the fire, Seita asked help from their mom relatives. At first, they were accepted, but as days went by, their aunt kept nagging and hated them. Well, I think it's just as expected since the food was hard to get at that time.

Seita decided to live on their own. Seita brought Setsuko to an unused cave and stayed there with Setsuko.

Things went even worse. Food scarcity led Seita to be a thief, yet, they still didn't get enough nutrition. Setsuko suffered from malnutrition and died.

Seita who was left by his whole family felt hopeless and also died not long after that.

This movie has a really simple story but very touching. In reality, maybe many people who experienced the same as them back then in World War II. This gave me a thought that egoism from the politics could lead a war and made the whole country suffer from it. In the same time I also grateful that I was born in this era, in a place where there is no such a war, and hopefully it will never happen in everyway.

Well, it's a super good movie, even though there are other movies which has the same theme and similar story (like "In This Corner of the World"), but it's still good and interesting, giving us one more alternative life story which might happen in the World War era. It's a must watch movie.

I gave this movie 8 out of 10 points.

[Anime Movie Review] Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind / Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa 風の谷のナウシカ

Another Studio Ghibli film's review streak, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind which was released 1984. This is the first Studio Ghibli's film I think. Now, let's just get started.

Nausicaa is a princess from a kingdom Valley of the Wind. She is so great in flying using a glider.

So, the setting is in a world with so much toxic caused by a war. There is a poisonous forest named Sea of Decay, which has so many giant mutant insects. One of them is Ohm.

Ohm is an insect which eyes would turn red when they are angry. Its shell is very hard and could break swords made of iron. No one could survive if they are attacked by the raging Ohms. The Kingdom of the Valley of the Wind could make weapons from a died Ohm's shell though.

The toxic are getting worse day by day. People from many kingdom are anxious and try to find a way to save themselves. One of them is the Tolmekian which are led by Princess Kushana. They invade the Valley of the Wind and want to use the Giant Warrior to harm the jungle.

Believing that the best way to handle the poisonous jungle is not with force, Nausicaa tried to stop them. Well the story continues until it ends with a happy ending of course.

I can't actually believe that it's the first film ever made by Studio Ghibli because it's super good. Compared to other movies created by them, I think I could say this is one of the best. Well, most of them are the best though, lol. But, recently I found one of the latter movies is not that great, and this is just the contrary.

I could give this anime movie 8 out of 10 points.

[Anime Movie Review] Kiki's Delivery Service / Majo no Takkyuubin 魔女の宅急便

Another review on Studio Ghibli's movie, Kiki's Delivery Service. It was released on 1989.

Kiki is a daughter from a witch family. In the witch's tradition, when children turned into 13 years old, they must leave the house for a year for training. Kiki has turned into 13 years old, so it's her turn to do the training. She left the house with her black cat, named Jiji.

Kiki decided to find a city near the sea because she liked the sea. She found one which was quite a big city and Kiki was flustered at first.

When Kiki tried to find a place to stay, she met a woman who had a bakery. One of her customer forgot something on her store, and Kiki helped her to bring the item to the customer. Later, Kiki was allowed to stay in her place.

Kiki decided to work because she needed money to live alone. Realizing that her only talent was to fly with a broomstick, she opened a delivery service, while trying to get along with the people in the town.

To sum up, it's really a simple story but super entertaining. It's easy to understand, really compatible for both children and adults. You don't need to think hard, it's simply entertaining, easy to watch (easier than any other Studio Ghibli's movie I've watched so far). I think it's really one of the best movie produced by Studio Ghibli. I like this movie a lot!

I can give this movie 8 out of 10 points.

[Anime Movie Review] Howl's Moving Castle / Hauru no Ugoku Shiro ハウルの動く城

Another writing about one of Studio Ghibli's film, Howl's Moving Castle. This film was released on 2004 based on a novel written by Diana Wynne Jones. Well, let's get started!

The film setting was on a war period. Sophie, a girl who lived in a small town, was a hatter who tried to make the best hat. One day, on her way home, Sophie met some soldiers who tried to tease her.

In danger, suddenly there was an unknown blonde man who helped her. Later, she would know that the man is Howl, a witch who lived in a moving castle near her town.

While in other hand, a witch of waste, who had a one side love with Howl, started to get jealous and put a curse on Sophie. Sophie became an old grandmother, and because of that condition, she left her town to find a place for her to stay.

On her way to find a place, she met a moving turnip. That moving turnip helped her in finding a place to stay, which was Howl's Moving Castle.

Old Sophie met the Turnip

Howl's Moving Castle

In that castle, Sophie met Markl, a little boy who lived with Howl, and Calcifer, a fire demon who was the source of energy to move the castle.

Together, they faced problems related to the war. Sophie helped Howl in many ways.

Based on what I watch, the animation of this film is no doubt. Studio Ghibli, as always, is stunning and amazing. However, it's quite hard to understand the line of the story. The story is a little bit abstract and hard to understand. I could say that this is the worst Studio Ghibli movie I've watched so far. Even though the story is not so clear, especially from the middle to the end of the story, but it's still entertaining and not bored to be watched, as expected from Studio Ghibli.

Well, I still could give this film 6.5 out of 10 points.

[Anime Movie Review] Princess Mononoke / Mononoke Hime もののけ姫

For those who doesn't know yet, last time I went to the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, and ended up watching Laputa Castle in the Sky which I had written the review before. Now, I want to write a review for another Studio Ghibli movie, Princess Mononoke. It's actually an old film from Studio Ghibli which was published on 1997 and maybe many of you have watched this film, but still, I want to write the synopsis and review for those who hasn't watched it yet.

Ashitaka is a prince, as well as a warrior from a small town, between north and east. One day, a demon boar came to the town and was going to attack Ashitaka's village. To protect the people in the village, Ashitaka had no choice but to kill it.

Ashitaka was cursed when killed the demon boar. There was nothing could cure the curse, except going to the west and saw what made the boar turned into the demon which might help Ashitaka found a way to cure the curse.

Ashitaka started the journey to the west and found out that a village was burning the forest down which made the animals there angry. He tried to reconcile the relationship between humans and animals. He also met San, a human which was raised by wolf, making her in the animals' side.

Even at the first San looked like an enemy, but in the end she and Ashitaka were helping each other. Together, they tried to save the forest from the bad people and also saved the people from the God's anger.

It's just a short synopsis from me, but when you watched it, it's actually so interesting. "This is Studio Ghibli" is all I can say about this anime movie. So far, Studio Ghibli is never disappointing me in all the story, animation, and concept. I think my blog will be full of Studio Ghibli's films review.

I have watched four of Studio Ghibli's film: Spirited Away, Totoro, Laputa Castle in the Sky and Princess Mononoke, and the story of all of them are very different, yet interesting and amusing. I'm really looking forward to watch and write a review for another Studio Ghibli's movie, so please look forward to it!
I gave this anime movie 8 out of 10 points.

[Anime Movie Review] Laputa Castle in the Sky / Tenku no Shiro Rapyuta 天空の城ラピュタ

Last time, I went to Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, somewhere near Tokyo. It made me love Studio Ghibli even more. A big robot statue was in the top of the museum and regretfully I don't know what that was. It turns up to be the robot from Laputa Castle in the Sky film. I decided to watch it after going back from the museum. It's actually a famous old anime which was aired 1986.

The story starts from an orphan girl named Sheeta who has a mysterious stone. She fell from a plane after being kidnapped, and mysteriously the stone make her flying. Pazu, an orphan boy from a small mining town, saw her and took her to his house.

In his house, Sheeta saw a photo captured by Pazu's belated father, which was Laputa, a floating island.

However, the kidnapper was still going after Sheeta. They were after the mysterious stone which Sheeta had, and Pazu helped Sheeta to run from the chaser. Later, Sheeta told Pazu that her full name contained 'Laputa' which means Sheeta was one of the Laputan. Sheeta was caught by Muska, one of those who chasing the stone. 

Pazu tried to save Sheeta with the help of another chaser of the stone, Dola. Dola is a pirate who is after the treasure at Laputa. They successfully saved Sheeta but the stone is dropped somewhere and taken by Muska.

Pazu, Sheeta, and Dola were following Muska who had known the direction to Laputa through the stone, and successfully landed in Laputa. They met a robot in Laputa, which leads them to a big tree with a tomb below it. They found out many robots were not working anymore.

Muska soon landed in Laputa too and tried to activate a weapon mass of destruction which was made by advanced Laputan technology. Sheeta and Pazu worked together to mess up Muska's plan.

After watching this anime, I was more and more impressed with Studio Ghibli. It was a nice story and I barely felt this is an old anime even though it was aired in 1986. Studio Ghibli's film is really everlasting and interesting to watch, even until now. I gave this anime movie 8 out of 10 points.

[Anime Movie Review] Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom? 打ち上げ花火、下から見るか? 横から見るか?

I could say only just recently I become interested in the anime which doesn't have many episodes, only one movie.
Another one I watched is Uchiage Hanabi, Shita Kara Miru Ka? Yoko Kara Miru Ka? which means, fireworks, should we see it from the side or bottom.

The main idea about this anime is about daily life of some high school students.
One day, Shimada Norimichi, a boy in the high school which is the lead main character in the anime, went to the pool with his friend, Azumi Yusuke. They were in charge of cleaning the pool, when unexpectedly they met Oikawa Nazuna, a quiet girl in their class which they found quite charming.

 Shimada Norimichi

Azumi Yusuke

Oikawa Nazuna

The three of them decide to do swimming competition. Nazuna intended to ask one of the winner goes out to see the fireworks in the festival tonight. Yusuke won the competition and was being asked by Nazuna. On the other hand, the boys from the high school was arguing about how a fireworks look like if it's being seen from the side. They tried to prove if it's flat or round tonight too.

 
Due to some shock, Yusuke reject the offer by avoiding Nazuna. Nazuna didn't know and met Norimichi while waiting for Yusuke. Nazuna said that she was hoping that Norimichi was the one who won the swimming competition. Later, Nazuna told her story that her mom is going to remarried for the third time and they are moving to another city. Nazuna escaped from the home, but soon captured by her mom. Norimichi who cannot help Nazuna, desperately throw something like a glass transparent
ball which was found by Nazuna in the morning, and suddenly the time is rewinding.

Norimichi went back to the time where they were still in the swimming pool. Norimichi then started to change the future one by one, a little by a little.

When I saw the title of this anime movie, I was interested as I have heard of it before, even though I've never watched it. After I watched it, the only comment I could say is "Another time slip? Another going back in time?",as before, I watched Kimi no Na Wa, and the concept is just very similar and it was released not a long time ago too.
I wonder, is it because this is the second time I watched an anime movie with the same concept that I became not interested in it?
Well, I don't know, but I gave this anime movie 4.5 out of 10 points. I wonder if I would give a better points if I watched this first before Kimi no Na Wa.