Ocean Waves - I Can Hear The Sea
Dating back to 1993 and produced by Ghibli, the movie features typical Ghibli character design and describes a slice of life. Highschool love and friendship. The time or place don't really matter, it happens all the time, all over the world. It, however, wasnt directed by any of the usual Ghibli "suspects" (Miyazaki and Takahata) but by the youngster Mochizuki... actually, the whole staff averaged between 20 - 30 years of age. Maybe that explains the special flair of the movie.
On his way from the university Morisato notices a girl on the other side of the train station. She looks familiar so he moves a bit closer to see, but a train arrives and moves in between them. After the train leaves the girl is gone. Later, when Morisato is preparing to leave Tokyo to his home at Kochi, a picture of the girl he saw falls to the floor...
But let's start from the beginning. It was a couple years back, when Morisato was still a highschool student. The teachers cancled their school trip and a couple students decide to protest against it. Nothing happens untill a week later when the principal asks for the protesters to come forward to give them an extensive explanation of the reasons behind the cancelation. Only two students raise their hands... they are instructed to come to the art class after school. However, the explanation is postponed and the students are instructed to write down their feelings about the trip. That was the first time Morisato and Matsuno met. And from there on they're the best friends. Acoulpe years later Matsuno calls Morisato at work and asks him to come to the school. When they meet in the class he tells Morisato and exchange student came from Tokyo. Her name is Muto and she's one of the prettiest girls they ever saw. While the boys walk home together Morisato realises Matsuno has feelings for Muto and decides to stay away from her. For a while his tactics works, but he soon realises Muto isn't very happy living in Kochi. She's even been labels as snobbish at school. That is when he gets involved... and that is when Matsuno starts getting jealous.
I Can Hear The Sea is most definitly my all time favourite Ghibli movie and thus probably my favourite of all... Great animation, great character design with excellent character development. Combine all that with an appealing story that touches everyone. We probably all experienced some sort of a love triangle between your best friend and the girl/boy you both fallen for. Maybe that's exactly what makes the movie so enjoyable to watch... it's... life.