What a forgotten Ghibli masterpiece! I'm glad that I accidentally stumbled upon it. Someone else beat me to it in the review section twelve years ago, but I gotta emphasize: this movie is as authentic as it gets. The characters behave very realistically, they feel much more humane than those in similar slice-of-life movies. Because of this, you can relate to all the characters, their actions, their motives, and the story will get you involved in no time. Just don't expect any out-of-the-place action or sensationalism - the movie maintains a very relaxed pace, with everything in order, every slight movement feeling natural. This movie is a hour-and-a-quarter long contemplation, a travel into the past - just like the main character, you will catch yourself wondering about loves, friends and memories long gone. But you might just find redemption at the end of the road, and the end of the movie.Its seldom I get the bittersweet butterfly of nostalgia growing in my stomach; last time the Miyazaki-classic "Only Yesterday" were able to achieve it. The two movies share a common feel and theme (great reunions, evaluating your roots, and a change of life), and while I think "Only Yesterday" somewhat works better, "Ocean Waves" is an otherwise unrivaled choice for gloomy Sunday afternoon homecinema.

The huge fan of Studio Ghibli (and especially Miyazaki) that I am, I was really excited to find this, the last Ghibli full-length production that I had yet to see.That excitement turned steadily into sadness. The complete lack of plot-line and ludicrous love interest simply appalled me. This made-for-television piece of crap does not deserve to belong to the otherwise amazing Studio Ghibli canon. What could possibly motivate people to write such positive reviews for this? I am baffled. If I was Taku, the main character in this dreck, I would have absolutely NO nostalgic feelings for any of the events that occurred, let alone for the SURELY bi-polar Rikako.That H. Miyazaki had nothing to do with the direction, animation, or writing of this horrifyingly tedious movie provides some solace... unlike every single other Ghibli production that I have seen, this one is completely and totally charmless.The second star was awarded for the only moment in the entire movie that I and my girlfriend enjoyed: that ephemeral moment of redemption that occurred shortly after the 51-minute mark, when Taku b*tchslapped Rikako. Yosh.

Being the first Studio Ghibli creation directed by Tomomo Mochizuki, Ocean Waves (also known as I Can Hear the Sea) comes as a very well-structured, exceptionally beautiful, intensely emotional picture, which shows that this acclaimed Japanese animation studio is able to produce not only marvelous, fantasy-filled movies, but also ones that carry a deeply realistic overtone, and are set cleverly in real-life locations.When you think about it, the story shown in Ocean Waves is so authentic that it could have been made into a feature film as well. It depicts a tale of a complex and unfulfilled high school romance, and does it in the most subtle and profound manner that you will ever encounter in any animated picture. The characters are genuine, their problems are distinct and comprehensible, and the ambiance of the picture is quaint, so to say, making it a must-see for every true anime fan. When peaceful and well-mannered teenager Taku (voiced by Nobuo Tobita) is introduced to a pretty transfer student Rikako (Yoko Sakamoto), his cozy and undisturbed world is suddenly turned upside down. This rather socially awkward, saucy and iron-willed girl brings a bunch of troubles to Taku's life. He becomes angry and frustrated with Rikako's selfishness and aversion towards other people, and her continuous requests and tedious whims. But through those uneasy experiences Taku is able to realize that he has actually been attracted to her all along, since the first day he saw her in school. Unfortunately, so is his best friend Yutaka (Toshihiko Seki). This causes a bit of a quarrel between the boys and the girl they're both in love with. Yet, there are no winners or losers in this bizarre love triangle. While Taku seems to be getting closer to Rikako, because of an unexpected journey to Tokyo, he still isn't able to work out what's really happening in the girl's confused mind.The movie is told in retrospective, with an insightful narration, provided by Taku, the protagonist of the whole story, making it look even more like a regular feature of flesh and blood. The pitch-perfect art direction brings out all the magically colorful landscapes, whether it's in cities like Kochi and Tokyo, or on sunny Hawaiian beaches, and gives them an incomparable charm.While some people might say that nothing really happens, or that the movie lacks a steady storyline, Ocean Waves proves to be a wonderful character-driven experience, rather than a plot-driven one. Even though the movie runs for only 72 minutes, the characters are all well developed, which makes it easy for the viewer to get to know them and recognize their true feelings. I bet that many people can totally relate to the sensations that the three teenagers go through during the course of action. Viewers should note that this is a movie written especially for teenagers and adults, not for kids, mainly because of its weighty themes. All in all, if you want to get a glimpse of the magnificence of the other, more realistic than fantastical, Studio Ghibli you should watch Ocean Waves right away. It's one of their lesser-known films, but it's still a very strong position in the collection.

When I first saw "Nausicaa" in 2005 I went ahead and watched the brief docu on the Birth of Studio Ghibli that came with it. It contained a snippet of every film they produced from "Nausicaa" to "Howl". Of the films that caught my eye that had not yet been released in the U.S., the one I was most intrigued by was "The Ocean Waves". Perhaps what caught my attention was that the staff that animated the movie were all in their 20s and 30s, coming into their own since being recruited for "Only Yesterday" two years earlier, when Hayao Miyasaki and Ghibli decided to cultivate their own animators rather than delegating to external studios.Upon first viewing this film exceeded my expectations, and the energy and enthusiasm of youth simply surged throughout its ~72 minutes. I feel more connected to this film than some other Ghibli works mainly because the it involves characters in their late-teens to 20s living in the 90s, has a male protagonist, and also because the characters are so exquisitely deep and textured, and are the heart of the piece. No live-action actors or actresses could mimic their superb performances, and the modern urban and suburban settings are so richly detailed that this film feels more real than many live-action films in this genre. And as with all Studio Ghibli films; no matter who composes it, the score is first-rate, working in concert with the visuals to create the whole spectrum of moods and emotions exerted by the cast.In all, "The Ocean Waves" was a brilliant success on the part of the young animation team – deserving of a 10 in my humble opinion - and proof that Studio Ghibli is just as proficient portraying real life in the present-day time settings as it is at creating sublime works of fantasy. American Ghibli fans can only hope a DVD or Blu-ray is someday released here in the States, even though English voice actors would be hard-pressed to replicate their Japanese counterparts' work.