| My Neighbors the Yamadas | |
|---|---|
 Cover of the American DVD |
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| ホーホケキョとなりの山田くん (Hōhokekyo Tonari no Yamada-kun) |
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| Genre | Comedy |
| Anime film | |
| Director | Isao Takahata |
| Studio | Studio Ghibli |
| Released | July 17, 1999 |
| Runtime | 104 Min |
My Neighbors the Yamadas (ホーホケキョとなりの山田くん Hōhokekyo Tonari no Yamada-kun) is an anime film directed by Isao Takahata and released by Studio Ghibli on July 17, 1999. The movie is a family comedy that is presented in a comic strip style which is unusual since all the other Studio Ghibli movies are presented in the anime style. Based on the yonkoma manga Nono-chan by Hisaichi Ishii, it was the first completely digital Studio Ghibli movie. Takahata wanted Yamada-kun to have the art style of watercolor pictures rather than cel pictures. To achieve that, the traditional paint-on-cel techniques were replaced with digital technology, making Yamada-kun the first Ghibli movie to be painted and animated entirely on computers. Despite decent reviews, the movie did not fare well at the box office in Japan. It was released on DVD in America in August 2005. Produced by Toshio Suzuki.
The story featured the lives of a Japanese family and their crazy life happenings. The movie is humorous but possesses a tone of sincerity like many movies by Isao Takahata.
My Neighbors the Yamadas received an Excellence Award for animation at the 1999 Japan Media Arts Festival.
Contents |
This film is about the daily lives of the Yamada family: Takashi and Matsuko (the father and mother), Shige (Matsuko's mother), Noboru (aged approximately 13, the son), Nonoko (aged approximately 5, the daughter), and Pochi (the family dog). It has a significantly different "feel" to it than the other Studio Ghibli films, not only because of its different style of animation, but also because it is not a contiguous plot, but rather a series of animated shorts, each preceded by a title such as "Father as Role Model", "A Family Torn Apart" or "Patriarchal Supremacy Restored".
These 'episodes' or 'shorts' cover such issues as losing a child in a department store, the relationships between father and son, or husband and wife, the wisdom of age, getting ones first girlfriend and many more. Each is presented with understanding and humour and shows a very believable picture of family life, which anyone from any culture can relate to. The relationships between Matsuko, Takashi and Shige are particularly well observed, with Shige giving advice and proverbs to all the family members, and having a great strength of character which far outweighs Matsuko's. Takashi and Matsuko's relationship is often the focus of the episodes, their rivalries, such as arguing about who has control of the television, their frustrations and their difficulties, but the overriding theme is their love for one-another despite their flaws, and their desire to be the best parents possible for their children.
For a much more detailed plot synopsis, covering every episode in detail see: plot synopsis.
The soundtrack was composed by Akiko Yano and it is characterised by very short piano themes. Classical pieces played by Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra conducted by Mario Klemens. Released by Tokuma on July 1, 1999.
Track listing
CD 1
CD 2
Additional Voices by Jeff Bennett, A.J. Buckley, Alex Buck, Corey Burton, Dixie Carter, Marlee Cheatham, Melissa Disney, Amber Hood, Edie McClurg, Jim Meskimen, Jon Miller, Ashley Rose Orr, Jordan Orr, Flo Rida, Trenton Rogers, Jeremy Shada, Matthew Underwood, and Billy West
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   | My Neighbors the Yamadas on Nausicaa.net - My Neighbors the Yamadas // Nausicaa.net |
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