Jay W
"My Neighbors the Yamadas" is what happens when you faithfully adapt a daily newspaper comic strip that has no overarching story. The whole movie is just a series of short veinlets of various lengths. The only connecting tissue between these stories are the characters, the Yamada family. The conflicts they go through are all simple, grounded realistic problems. The characters are endearing and likable enough. We just don't get to know them very well through these stories, they just seem like your typical family going through their normal everyday issues.
The animation is very different from Studio Ghibli's usual style. Apparently, it was the first film that the studio did entirely through digital animation. They wanted it to appear like watercolors, and it is a visually striking style. The character designs faithfully recreate the author's original, which helps give the movie its own unique charm.
The movie does not capitalize on the medium in which it is being presented in. These stories may work fine as a comic strip, but as a feature length movie, it leaves much to be desired. The scenes could be arranged in just about any order and would make just as much sense. The audience does not gain a feeling of character progression through the events in the film. If the movie was presented as a series of shorts it would be a solid purchase, but as a feature not so much.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
11/26/24
Full Review
Alejandro E
Elaborado en un formato de tira cómica, pintado con acuarela, el relato episódico de una típica familia japonesa tiene de alguna manera su carisma propio, fiel al del sello casero de Studio Ghibli. Para matar 101 minutos sin dolor.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/14/24
Full Review
Chase C
Pretty cute and funny, but a bit bland. To be honest, I don't think I'll ever have an urge to watch it again.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/27/24
Full Review
Robson C
O filme mostra em pequenos sketches a vida da família Yamada: Takashi, o pai, Matsuko, a mãe, Noboru, o filho mais velho e adolescente, Nonoko, a filha mais nova, e Shinge, a avó. É a representação de uma típica família japonesa, de classe média, com suas alegrias, tristezas e discussões, como na verdade, qualquer família no mundo. Construído na forma de sketches, isso mostra as qualidades e os defeitos do filme. Há contos engraçados e emocionantes, como a briga entre o pai e a mãe pelo controle da televisão, que parece uma luta de filmes de artes marciais ou a visita da avó a uma colega no hospital. Porém, na maioria dos contos, não desperta nada. Não sei se é pelo tipo do humor usado, mas o filme me perdia aos poucos. Outra coisa foi o tipo de animação utilizada. Se no início havia um certo detalhamento quanto os personagens são apresentados e mostra o casamento de Takashi e Matsuko como uma grande aventura, no decorrer do filme, foram cada vez mais parecidos como rabiscos, uma coisa mal ou não finalizada.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
01/21/24
Full Review
Tristan R
My Neighbors the Yamadas is a 1999 animated film directed by Isao Takahata and produced by Studio Ghibli. Unlike many of Studio Ghibli's other films, My Neighbors the Yamadas is a series of interconnected vignettes, rather than a single, linear story. The film follows the daily lives of the Yamada family, a quirky and lovable group living in suburban Japan.
The animation style of My Neighbors the Yamadas is unique, with a simplistic and almost childlike look that complements the film's slice-of-life storytelling. The use of watercolor-style backgrounds adds to the film's charm, creating a cozy and warm atmosphere.
The characters in My Neighbors the Yamadas are a delight, with each member of the family having their own distinct personality and quirks. The film's humor is often derived from the interactions between the family members, particularly the bickering between the parents and the sibling rivalry between the children.
The film also features a beautiful score by Akiko Yano, with a mix of lighthearted and emotional pieces that perfectly capture the film's tone.
While My Neighbors the Yamadas may not have a traditional plot or narrative structure, the film's vignettes are engaging and entertaining, and offer a unique and heartwarming glimpse into the lives of an ordinary family. It is a film that celebrates the beauty and joy of everyday moments, and is sure to leave viewers with a smile on their faces.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
04/10/23
Full Review
jordan m
I was impressed enough by the artistic style that I paid attention the whole way through what ended up being a pretty weak story. I'm not a big fan of the anthology subgenre in the first place but the problem here was that I was really into the initial plot of losing their kid at the mall and would happily have watched a whole movie on that. As far as slice-of-life movies go though, this is a good one, and there are certainly worse Ghibli movies.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
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