The Way We Were
As Taku returns home for a school reunion he reflects on how things were back in those days. He thinks about his friendships, loves and a school trip which all got a little messy... That I know is not much of a synopsis but sometimes I feel that the best thing you can do is just watch the movie to learn what it is about rather than for me to try and summarise it in a few lines. It is especially better than telling you everything which happens and unfortunately if you look for information on "Ocean Waves" online you are likely to come across.
Now "Ocean Waves" is curious because whilst it is a Studio Ghibli production Hayao Miyazaki did not have a hand in it, instead this was a product of those who learned from Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. It is also a TV Movie which makes me smile as so many people point blankly refuse to watch anything labelled as a TV Movie despite there being some hidden gems with in the genre. And "Ocean Waves" is a hidden gem a shortish movie at just 72 minutes which not only features the beautiful animation which you expect from a Studio Ghibli movie but also a beautiful but simple story.
As for that storyline, well I will say it isn't going to be for everyone as it isn't a quirky fantasy fully of action. Nope instead this is reflections on the past as Taku remembers all about his time at school with his friend Yutaka and the arrival of Rikako to the school who was a bit of an outsider but who he was secretly sweet on. "Ocean Waves" is in many ways a movie which leads you to think about your school days and first loves and so on. But that is actually it because it doesn't have anything major going on, just pleasant recollections on the past
What this all boils down to is that "Ocean Waves" is in many ways a movie for those who are already fans of Studio Ghibli but at the same time fans should not expect a fantasy adventure but a sweet drama about being young.
