Oct 8, 2020
My Neighbors The Yamadas (1999)
Director: Isao Takahata
Produced By: Toshio Suzuki
Production Company: Studio Ghibli
"A film that broke Studio Ghibli", quoted by some website I founded.
This anime was released between Hayao's most beloved and acclaimed anime which is Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. This anime was not beloved like the ones I mentioned, this was considered a disappointed to many people. I don't know why, but, it's their opinion I guess.
The art style grabbed my attention and I was edgered to watch it because of it. So I opened Netflix and watched it, and if I got to be honest, its one of my top 10 favourite
...
Studio Ghibli movies.
The film is set as a vignettes, it shows the daily life of the family. Each of the vignettes covers a daily dose of the family's life, like losing someone, relationship between a member, and more. I like some of it, I think some of them I can relate, like the granny giving advices, father and son bonding. I think this anime should be TV Show, a good one, combining two or three vignettes into one episode. This feels like a TV Movie but it's mashed up with the best episodes from the show, like that Bugs Bunny movie. Each of the vingnettes are funny and are backed up with some of the humours, and it also feels like a family in real life. There were good ideas that were brought into it, very funny, funnier than other Ghibli films. My biggest letdown was the ending tho, the part when the whole town starts singing, it was so awkward to look at that I looked away from it and hoped to god it ended. The film is also too long, they should get rid off some of the vignettes. Anyways, Love the story tho.
Characters are also funny. I think Shige (the elderly) is probably the standout, such a savage. Other characters such as Noboru, Takashi and Matsuko are enjoyable, everything they do just make me laugh my ass off. But Nonoko, not really, probably because she hasn't got herself a role in some segments (except the beginning and the shopping part). Pochi, no wants talk about that dog, so let's move on lol.
I'm glad Takahata didn't use the art that is presented in the manga, but instead used watercolour style and I think it looks wonderful, better than other Ghibli films (in my opinion), and it doesn't feel like a Ghibli film. He would then use this style in his next film which is so magnificent and beautiful. That's for another review.
Overall, I like this film, probably the funniest Ghibi film I've seen so far.
My Neighbors The Yamadas is a delightful and wonderful anime that shows us a daily life of the family's situtations while the conclusion being positive; and the art style being hard to hate with those wonderful vibrant colours
Fun Fact: This anime is based on a manga Nono-Chan, looks fairly similar to Shin-Chan. Then years later, there's a show based on the manga. It's considered lost media tho, but there are in youtube, one in Jap and four in Malaysian.
Pros: Watercolour Art Style, Funny Vignettes and Characters
Cons: Too Long, and Awkward Ending
8/10
This is just my opinion you know :)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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