Studio Ghibli fans are getting excited over the announced theatrical debut of Ocean Waves, over 30 years since the film was first released.
The studio behind Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and The Boy And The Heron originally released Ocean Waves as a made-for-tv film back in 1993, adapted from a series of novels published in the early ’90s.
It’s a coming-of-age story that’s been somewhat overlooked, with less of the fantastical elements we know from the likes of Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away. It instead focuses on the personal journey of the characters and their relationships.
According to the official description:
From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, comes a poignant and wonderfully nuanced story of adolescence and growing up.
Taku and his best friend Yutaka are headed back to school for what looks like another uneventful year. But they soon find their friendship tested by the arrival of Rikako, a beautiful new transfer student from Tokyo whose attitude shifts wildly from flirty and flippant to melancholic.
When Taku joins Rikako on a trip to Tokyo, the school erupts with rumors, and the three friends are forced to come to terms with their changing relationships. Ocean Waves is a beautifully animated adaptation of Saeko Himuro’s best-selling novel, and a true discovery.
Ocean Waves is set to be released in Japan from 4th July.
Sounds interesting, and one that will be a must for die-hard Studio Ghibli fans… assuming it’ll be released here in the UK (and I’d be surprised if it won’t be). We’ll keep you posted if we hear anything!
What do you think of Ocean Waves finally getting its debut theatrical release after over 30 years? Have you watched it before, and are you a fan? Comment below.
