It’s safe to say that Studio Ghibli produced some of the most beloved animated movies in our childhood. They bewitched us with “Howl’s Moving Castle.” They made us ugly-cry with “Grave of the Fireflies.” Studio Ghibli has enraptured many generations with its fantastic storytelling and picturesque animation. There is no doubt about that. Sadly, not all movies were welcomed with as much love and praise as “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro.” That’s why we’re giving you some new perspectives! With these, you’ll surely appreciate these three underrated Studio Ghibli movies!
Only Yesterday
“Only Yesterday” centers on 27-year old Taeko Okajima. During her holiday on a farm, she reminisces and reflects on her experiences as a fifth-grader. This animated film is a down-to-earth story that shifts between flashbacks of Taeko’s childhood and her current life. Some of her experiences are actually something that many of us have gone through. That’s why most of the reviews of this movie focus on Taeko’s coming-of-age experiences. Critics will mention relatable moments like first crushes, puberty talk, and familial relationships. What most fail to recognize is how beautifully this movie talked about the life of a farmer. They definitely won’t say how the movie highlights our relationship with nature, that’s for sure.
Taeko has a love for the countryside and respect for farming. These were recurring points throughout the movie. Yet, many seem to gloss over this aspect. They would rather bask in nostalgia over their own coming-of-age experiences. But, try absorbing the message of Taeko’s dialogues with Toshio – a farmer with an open mind. You would see how brilliantly they commented on society’s current outlook on farming.
It might have been set in Japan, but the lessons in this movie are relevant to us Filipinos too. The film tells us that contrary to what most Filipinos say, farmers are highly intelligent. They have always had a hand in shaping our economy, culture, and geography. When you rewatch “Only Yesterday,” pay attention to the scenes of grown-up Taeko. If you do, you’ll realize how important this movie actually is.
From Up on Poppy Hill
Do you believe that people should listen to the strong voices of the youth? If you do, then “From Up on Poppy Hill” should be at the top of your “favorite Studio Ghibli movies” list. This film shows us the life of Umi Matsuzaki during 1960s Japan. Umi is a high schooler and the eldest child. She is someone who had to mature too fast to take care of her siblings and the boarding house her family manages. (If you relate to that, then give yourself a hug because you deserve one.) Now, all Studio Ghibli movies have strong-willed young protagonists like Umi. But, “From Up on Poppy Hill” is one of the few that you can actually imagine happening in real life.
The majority of the movie’s reviews would focus on the budding relationship of Umi and her schoolmate Shun Kazama. They would talk about how this innocent romance was nearly jeopardized due to the background of their fathers. However, the driving factor of the movie isn’t their relationship. It was actually the impending demolition of an old clubhouse called the “Latin Quarter”.
Many of the scenes in the movie show the students and alumni of Umi’s school unite to prevent the demolition. One of the movie’s most iconic scenes is the debate the students held about the Latin Quarter. Here, the students spoke of the importance of protecting history and culture in modern society. This scene is where the audience sees how passionate the youth can be about something they believe in.
With the main opposition coming from a seemingly uncaring school board deaf to their pleas, many Filipino youths will relate to the challenges the students faced to save the Latin Quarter. In the end, this movie tells us the impact of speaking up and maintaining our tenacity and strength. Doing so gives us the results and future that we want. So go and rewatch “From Up on Poppy Hill” and be motivated to fight against the injustices you perceive.
Ocean Waves
The last on this list is the movie that consistently scored low in articles ranking Studio Ghibli movies. “Ocean Waves” tells the story of high schooler boys Taku Morisaki and Yutaka Matsuno. It shows us how the arrival of a female transfer student affected their friendship.
Some critics called the movie “uncompelling” and “dragging”. But, they only paid attention to the love triangle that formed. Yet, if you watch closely, you’ll see a more compelling angle than the one most people focused on.
The truth is, “Ocean Waves” is telling us how platonic love can actually run as deep as and be as complicated as romantic love. You can see how the main protagonist, Taku, fought to keep his friendship with Yutaka unaffected throughout the whole movie. There was even a scene where Taku was angry on Yutaka’s behalf. He found out that the heroine rejected Yutaka and confronted her. In the beginning, he even thought that the heroine was undeserving of his friend’s affection. When Taku and the heroine start to spend more time together, you would still see him consistently prioritize the romantic feelings of his friend. All those scenes show the audience how much Taku values Yutaka. Sadly, Yutaka fights with Taku over the heroine in the movie’s climax. After that, it seemed as though their friendship was over.
Thankfully, the movie’s message on male friendship comes full circle when the two boys meet again. As adults, they finally get their long-overdue talk. It’s in this scene that we realize the reason behind Yutaka’s anger with Taku when they were younger. We now know that his anger was born of frustration and guilt. He sensed that Taku held back his romantic feelings for the heroine to respect Yutaka’s crush. Now we get to see the whole picture of how both boys manifested their love for each other in different manners.
Currently, the majority of Filipino society still sees affection and sensitivity in male friendships as taboo. Yet, this movie sheds light on how valuable it is to have these traits to maintain lifelong friendships. So whether you are a boy, a girl, or someone who is both, you need to grab your best friend now and rewatch this movie.