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This is one of the most underrated ghibli movies. It's certainly quite different from the other ghibli movies. It doesn't contain any fantasy and Hayao Miyazaki isn't involved in the production anyhow. It's just a slice of life/drama/romance story, a hell of a good one too. Ocean Waves may be one of the most natural animes I've seen. It doesn't throw in a load of super tragic drama or anything of that kind. It only tells the story of a group of teenagers as they walk the path to adulthood.

The story is takes place in Kochi, Japan, a small town by the sea. Morisaku Taku ... and Matsuno Yutaka are two ordinary high schoolers and best friends. In the middle of the semester a city girl named Muto Rikako transfers to Matsuno's class. As the class representative he has to show her around school and that's how they get know each other, soon enough Morisaku is introduced to her. Muto has quite a hard time getting into the class. She's talented at sports and studies and quickly becomes popular, but that changes as many of the girls get envious of her and she becomes known for being a snob.

The art and animations are really good. No different from any other works from studio ghibli. If your fond of the typical 90s animations you will definitely like the art in this one. The characters looks typically ghibli, but the design is quite different. It doesn't "re-use" the same main characters as many ghibli movies seem to do. Not just only the way they look. The personalities are really different too. Morisaku is just the ordinary kind and honest guy, the one that is always there to help. Matsuno is the reliable best friend that's very respected by Morisaku. Muto is kind of spoiled and self-centered. She acts very tough though she's actually pretty sensitive. I think the characters develop great and I could really tell how they've matured through time.

The music was really good, very calm and fitting. It set the right mood. Voice acting is also very well done. The only thing I can complain about is the sound quality at times but it could have been fansub group's doing.

I enjoyed this movie a lot. It's just a charming and relaxing story that will make you smile. It's not super romantic just very sweet at times. It's one of those stories that make you wish for the characters happiness. Anyone who loves a down to earth, short love story will enjoy this movie and if you enjoyed Whisper of the heart you may like this one.

A lot of people say you have to have played the game to enjoy this movie. I only played the game for a few hours when I was a kid and watched Last Order before I watched the movie; the game was too difficult for me at the age so I put it away. The only characters I knew about were Barret, Cloud and Tifa. I didn't have any high expectations of the movie, but wow was I surprised.

The dialogue, graphics, design, music and battle scenes are some of the best I’ve ever seen. I was so confused by the story but in a ... good way, there was so much I didn't know so many mysteries and I knew there was a tens of hours long game where could find my answers. So after watching the movie I was so stoked, I had to pick up the game from where I left. After beating it I loved it. Even though I didn't get all my answers (Like who tell hell Kadaj and gang really are), I'm still happy. I think it’s better if some things aren’t told; it makes it more interesting even after it’s over. Seeing how the characters developed to what they are in Advent Children was a great joy.

Even though the story was confusing, I loved every second of the movie. Watching the most beautiful art, epic and beautiful music and epic scenes I've ever seen put together in something I can only describe as a masterpiece is a feeling I can’t describe with words. The CG (Computer Graphics) looks really good. In many CG movies the character movements and facial expressions tend to look unnatural and very doll like, though in Advent Children this is not a problem. Movements and facial expressions are very well done which make its look much more alive.

The music is mainly composed by Nobuo Uematsu with support from various other composers from Square Enix. The soundtrack consists mostly of re-arranged scores from the original Final Fantasy VII. Hearing some of the finest gaming musical pieces re-arranged and even perfected will make any fan and not yet fan happy. The new scores exclusively for the movie are really good. Pieces like Cloud smiles and divinity II shows clearly what Uematsu does best.

There are a lot of memorable scenes in the movie, the meetings with Aerith and the battle scenes and all the scenes where the character supports our hero. The main theme of the movie is obviously “No man is an island”. This has been done before but I can’t recall seeing it as beautiful done as in Advent Children. Cloud is depressed and just want to shut everyone out, carrying all the burdens for himself. He doesn’t want to be alone but, can’t face his friends because he’s ashamed of himself and feel guilty. He blames the death of important friends on himself, because he couldn’t save them. As the movie progress our main character slowly comes to realize he’s not alone. His friends are watching him and supporting him (even from death) and they don’t blame him as long as he does his best.

The story doesn’t have any deep plot and much is clearly fan service which is not a bad thing. The battles are enough to make you forget about the plot and there are many of them. Anyone one with a playful mind and a love for high paced acrobatic action with super powers will enjoy the battles. The characters do crazy jumps, cut through amazingly large objects disobeying physical laws like nothing. This is only done by our heroes of course since they are not normal people and have years of battle experiences. Some people who lack imagination will be disrupted by the action, they seem to forget that it’s fantasy. The essence of fantasy is to go beyond the boundaries of reality and Advent Children does this very well.

Character design is done by Tetsuya Nomura the man behind the original character design of FFVII. Not only has the music gotten a proper facelift also the characters. They look better than ever. A lot of the characters have a very bishoujo and bishounen look. Everyone looks excessively handsome. Even though a lot looks very realistic Square has managed to keep an anime style to the characters mostly because of the haircuts and eyes.

To sum it up, fans of Nobuo's music and Tetsuya's design won't be disappointed. Anyone with a playful mind and love for epicness will love the battles. You like handsome characters? We got them. You don’t mind fan service and don’t feel like there’s a need for a bigger cause for something to exist? Then you won’t mind the story. Advent Children is mostly about eye and ear candy. Remember being a fan of FFVII doesn't necessarily determine how much you will enjoy this movie. A lot of fans have been very disappointed by the movie and a lot of non fans have enjoyed the movie and vice versa.

If I would have scored the movie the day I watched it I would have given it a nine out of ten but since then I’ve grown to like and appreciate to movie even more. Because this movie is really one of a kind.

This one of the most under-rated animes i've seen. Some people might not notice the charm in this anime,thus why i will tell you. And this is a review of the series as a whole(seasons 1&2).

Story:
I wont give a synopsis because you have probably already read it.
I think it's a really charming story. I cant stop feeling bad for Yukinari(the protonagist). He lives all alone at home. He barely have any friends and is bullied by both boys and girls. Also is he small for a boy, which leads to having even more complexes. But the most noticable is his symptom. He has had bad ... experiences with girls. Ever since he was a child he has been bullied. This seem to be the origin of his sympton. Every time a girl touches him he breakes out in hives.
When he meets Miharu things change. Not only is she the only girls he isn't allergic to. He meets someone that cares for him. And not his she only cute, she has some amazing talents. Shes an amazing cook and a caring person. Also a bit of a loli. It makes you really happy that he meets someone like her. Because Yukinari really deserves it. Miharu tend to unconciosly get Yukinari in trouble and make him worried. Which often leads to funny situations. Since she's not used to earth she's very lost.
The love between Yukinari and Miharu progress slowly. It is obvious that he care a lot about her. If it had progressed any faster I don't think the harem story had worked.

Serien(the planet Miharu is from) is a dream harem. A beautiful planet filled with beutiful women that crave for men, which is kind of ironic when you compare Seiren to earth. ^^


Art:
The character animations has a really distinct style, i dont think i've seen anything like it. If we're talking about skill it's average. But i really like the use of colors and the female characters are drawn very well.

Sound:
The OP and ED are both great. Especially the OP called "Going My Way". The lyrics are great and charming. The artist's voice is beautiful. The sound consist of many different instruments blended with digital sounds. The BGM is also really good. It's really difficult to explain why. You have to hear it yourself.
The series has some really great voice actors from various animes as Kanon(2006), Clannad, Nodame Cantabile and Baccano!

Character:
The characteres are really great. Instead of using a typcial male protoganist(A normal guy with brown hair and average height) we get something different for change. And Fukuyama is simply amazing, he does the job of being an idiot exellently. He's a filthy rich perv with dreams of having his dream harem(and the girls of Girls Bravo is a part of that). He treats women as sexobjects. Kirie always make sure to punish him. Fukuyama tend to show at any time, simply showing he has too much free time. lol

Enjoyment:
The show is really hilarious. The humor is really crazy, some people may find it just odd, well they're boring people then. There's a lot of exageration which is hilarious. There a few lolis more than most shows. Lolis are always funny and cute.