Only Yesterday

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Only Yesterday

2016

1h 58m

Drama

Anime

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Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

A put-upon 27-year-old Japanese office worker travels to the countryside and reminisces about her childhood in Tokyo and what life could have been.

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Critics Consensus

Only Yesterday's long-delayed U.S. debut fills a frustrating gap for American Ghibli fans while offering further proof of the studio's incredibly consistent commitment to quality.

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Roxana Hadadi

Chesapeake Family Magazine

08/02/2016

3.5/5

Only Yesterday is one of Studio Ghibli's films aimed primarily at female viewers ... an intentional story that is emotionally honest.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

06/02/2016

5/5

There is real artistry here: it is a must.

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David Jenkins

Little White Lies

06/01/2016

4/5

A(nother) animated marvel from one of cinema's unsung maestros.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Jul 4

3.5/4

... gently, but profoundly, explores questions of memory, identity, and purpose.

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Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

08/12/2024

4.5/5

Only Yesterday is a beautiful, bitter-sweet animation which touches upon such...topics as the “grip” of persistent childhood memories...the benefit of re-discovering oneself in a different setting...and the imperative of letting go.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

08/02/2024

A-

Only Yesterday is absolutely beautiful and further showcases the prowess of Studio Ghibli.

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Hunter A.

@Fatal_Error_Music Nov 18

It was okay, I understand what it was going for and I think that it did well, I just couldn't invest myself into it and I just couldn't get into it

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Waniya S

Aug 28

It was a realistic display of childhood, parents and life but i still think it lacked a plot!

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Ryan H

@RyGuy Jul 31

Taeko becomes reminiscent with old stories of her 5th grade year when she visits her grandma in an old countryside town. I enjoyed how the animation switches to a watercolor-style when she thinks back to her childhood.

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Jim D

@ilovedollssomuch Jun 17

An absolutely fantastic movie, albeit niche. This movie explores feelings and situations first with plot being secondary. If you pay attention, stick with it, and try to understand the complexities of what's happening, you will be blown away by its strange beauty.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 May 14

1 hour and 58 minutes of anime drama!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Lucas O

May 8

Rating: 49%. Let me start by saying that the animation was beautiful and the music and voice acting were top-tier. However, I was not a fan of the story. I did like the ending and the fact that it invokes a since of nostalgia, but I don't think I'm not the target audience for this one (I'm a Male). I kept waiting for something interesting to happen but it was just a boring slice of life movie that was not interesting to me. (I should say I'm not big on slice of life shows/movies). Some reactions of the main character were also a bit silly and unrealistic. Overall, not one I'd recommend.

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Isao Takahata

Director

Daisy Ridley

Taeko Okajima

Dev Patel

Toshio

Ashley Eckstein

Yaeko

Alison Fernandez

Taeko Okajima (5th Grade)

Isao Takahata

Screenwriter

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Synopsis

A put-upon 27-year-old Japanese office worker travels to the countryside and reminisces about her childhood in Tokyo and what life could have been.

Director: Isao Takahata
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Screenwriter: Isao Takahata
Distributor: GKIDS
Genre: Drama, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 2016, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Feb 26, 2016
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 17, 2019
Runtime: 1h 58m

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