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Gekkan shôjo Nozaki-kun (2014)
The Surrealism, It's Intoxicating
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun just makes you want to press the 'Next Episode' button time after time as it just nails it in pretty much every area throughout its 12 episode run. At first, it might take people a little while to adapt to its down-to-earth nature in overall tone and atmosphere (like myself), however, once acclimated, you'll probably not regret your decision. Everything is done to such a comfortable extent, it's as if you're truly being submersed into a Shoujo-normalized world.
Beginning first with the story, which is just so beautifully authentic, with no massive plot building going on, neither on the surface nor in the background, but is rather just a beautifully 'simplistic' Shoujo Anime of a love-sick girl and her relations with the boy of her dreams, which is both honest and comforting. With the development of the entire show being so relaxingly well-paced (never rushing the storyline, never falling short of what it aims to deliver, and consistently delivering something so refreshingly unexpected at just the right time), it just seems to get people into thinking "Maybe just one more", snagging you into pressing that 'Next Episode' button "just one more time" and, if it doesn't, then it should.
Then there are the all-too-real and loveable characters (my gosh, the characters), which distinctly drive this show and make it such a memorable experience. Yes, there are many gag moments found throughout the show where you might hope something big is going to happen only to be hit with something so stupidly hilarious (sometimes irritating), then only to realize that it might just be making you love them even more. With the overall chemistry and interactions between characters being so intoxicating, you cannot help but love watching how things will pan out as they try to deal with the situations ahead.
With all its relatable and conventionally honest direction and storytelling (which simultaneously tug at the heartstrings while making you want to laugh at the top of my lungs), its loveable and relatable characters, the addictive yet simple score, and just overall aesthetic and production, Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun is something truly unique and memorable that you honestly wish there were much more of. Though it encapsulates the general Shoujo anime genre clichés, every element is uniquely down-to-earth and special, which might as well give it the right to be a stand-alone example of what a romance/ Shoujo anime could/ ought to be.
Karigurashi no Arietti (2010)
Transported
The Secret World of Arrietty is exactly what you want from a movie. Where you are transported into another world full of magic, wonder and stacks of delight you never wish to be taken away from. However, that is the sad reality for this only 90-minute masterpiece.
Not once did my attention want to go elsewhere, not once did any introduction/ build-up/ conclusion of a storyline fall short or feel out of place, not once did I feel that I was watching a movie, not once. The honest sincerity and frankly astounding beauty in this story is all to thank and can be considered a massive achievement from the Studio Ghibli House. There is no major storyline with complex twists and turns to try and keep up with, no arch villain/ous twisting their moustache to enact despair wherever they can, no surreal take on an underlying life lesson, or two, trying to be delivered. The 'only' thing you'll get out of this movie is a fictitious tale, which feels all too real, of a young little girl trying to live her life to the absolute fullest, as could probably be said about some other Studio Ghibli movies that just hit every note all too well in this case (I'm looking at you "Kiki's Delivery Service").
I had fortunately watched this with the British audio track, and I do not need, or wish really, to watch any other rendition of the story to know that this is, at least, one of the top voice directions for the movie, and just Studio Ghibli movies overall (However, this is just me getting overly attached).
Lastly, why would you not want to talk about the score? The score for this movie, like the overall direction of it all, is something to truly appreciate and to give an almost standing ovation towards Corbel, Cecil-san, Kimura, Eriko-san & Kasamatsu, Kouji-san who truly embraced the idea of beauty being found in its simplicity when delivering the score as it is honestly one of my utmost favourites from Studio Ghibli, next to some other very noticeable scores (Princess Mononoke, Whisper from the Heart, Howl's Moving Castle, etc. Etc.)
I went into this film completely unknowing of what I was in store for, as I have with all Studio Ghibli films watched thus far, and I'm telling you it is one of the best decisions I have made with series and movies alike. If I haven't mentioned it enough, The Secret World of Arrietty is a sight to behold and would stand by the idea when saying that it deserves to be given one's full and undivided attention.
So, Thank You, Studio Ghibli, for this story. From direction and scripting (Norton, Mary-san & Yonebayashi, Hiromasa-san & Miyazaki, Hayao-san etc. Etc.) to overall development (Suzuki, Toshio-san & Inamura, Takeshi-san Oga, Kazuo-san etc. Etc.), this was an honest pleasure to behold.
Mimi wo sumaseba (1995)
Perfect Slice of Reality & Fantasy
Ow, how one dreams of finding themselves by embarking on the storybook-worthy adventure of a lifetime: filled with numerous encounters of trial over tribulation to conquer, and being dealt with moments of joy & fulfilment, desperation & anxiety, love & meaning, disappointment & loss and then, on the way, discovering the fairy-tale love story one can only read/ dream about. The story of a lifetime just waiting to be acted upon, yet, life comes creeping in to make one believe that their hopes and dreams are never to come into existence. However, life is beautiful and ever-expanding, providing one with a sense of seemingly impossible possibilities and occurrences, only requiring of the person to grab a hold of these and just try a little harder to gain some perspective of the bigger picture in front of them.
If you are looking for something along these lines, look no further. From beginning to end, you feel as if you are being told the unlikely true-life story of a single young girl for a story-book worthy set of occurrences to pave the way for her life, only for life to come crashing in, slapping her across the face and leaving her realizing that life is not all perfect but yet can seem just as good if not better.
From the amazing story and all too likeably-relatable characters, the beautifully detailed artwork of characters and their surroundings, to the beautifully scored soundtrack that stands on its own to possibly be one of Studio Ghibli's best, Whisper of the Heart was an absolute visionary masterpiece to experience and deserves far more appreciation and attention.
I went into this film completely unknowing of what I was in store for, as I have with all Studio Ghibli films watched so far, and I'm telling you it is one of the best things I decided on doing with series and movies alike. If I haven't mentioned it enough, Whisper of the Heart is a sight to behold and would say that it deserves to be given one's full and undivided attention.
Majo no takkyûbin (1989)
Inspired
I went into this film completely unknowing of what I was in for, as I have with all Studio Ghibli films watched so far, and I'm telling you it is one of the best things I decided on doing, with series and movies alike. With that said, Kiki's Delivery Service truly is an understated work of art by Hayao Miyazaki, yet again.
The story told is understated in the sense that it does not rely on big-budget special-effects, award-winning score and deep sessions of soul searching afterwards to make it a memorable experience. Rather, it takes a step back and allows for a more general and realistic approach of a young witch and her optimistic approach on finding herself in the world, by herself, later realizing that other people can play a big part in how you view the world and what part you can actually play in it.
However, what I truly appreciated most about the film was the outline on how creativity and inspiration are not these consistent, unfailing, and ever-present factors found in their beholders. That, out-of-the-blue, one's love and devotion towards their skills and abilities can fall short, leaving the beholder scared and worried, feeling useless and daunted at what to do next. But then again, at the same time, can come back just as fortuitously, out-of-the-blue. This, in turn, then helping one feel inspired and having the nostalgic reinforcement, encouraging newfound respect and determination to dive further into the aspirations, goals and ambitions once felt since the days of a 'gifts' first arrival.
This film definitely is a sight to behold.
Mononoke-hime (1997)
A Lesson Well Appreciated
I went into this film completely unknowing of what I was in for, as I have with all Studio Ghibli films watched so far, and I'm telling you it is one of the best things I decided on doing with series and movies alike.
With this said, I found Princess Mononoke to be nothing short of an absolute masterpiece. Every element surrounding this film was wholesomely and remarkably captured, from the beautiful artwork, which falls nothing short of artistically visionary, to the variance of realistic characters, which leave you appreciating and/or regretting your choices of them throughout. Along with the overall musical score, environmental atmosphere, and masterfully structured consistency throughout, the film leaves you contemplating as to how selfish and severe our impact towards nature truly is.
Princess Mononoke never fell short once and encouraged me to exercise my entire emotional vocabulary in only a 2 hour time period, leaving me in awe as to how surreal a story can be. Hayao Miyazaki's direction, together with Joe Hisaishi's scoring + all staff involved, did everything justice when telling this story and truly hit home once the overall message was realized.
Yahari ore no seishun rabukome wa machigatteiru. (2013)
A Perfect Slow Burn
SNAFU is truly a sentiment to mature storytelling, to an authentic perspective, beautifully building on its characters and overall plot development.
It is an impeccable Slice Of Life Romance Anime that many people, mostly of those falling into the introverted spectrum, will truly enjoy and relate significantly towards. However, near the ending of season 1, becomes something so much more than that.
We start off following the lives of our 3 delightful protagonists (Hachiman, Yukino and Yui). They form a Service Club providing services to students across campus seeking help in various tasks. As the story plays out, you can expect to be introduced to some of the funniest, most relatable, most enjoyable, and overall beautifully crafted characters I personally have ever had the pleasure of viewing and seeing develop, both individually and as a whole.
Fortunately, it does not end there though. As said earlier, the show becomes far more than a simple run-of-the-mill Slice Of Life Anime. As the story develops, you begin to see how each characters actions affects their environment, and how that can either be a mutually agreed upon contribution, or of that towards a negative affect which, though statistically beneficial, may not correspond well with others (you'll see what I mean when you watch the show).
You can expect to grow with the three main protagonists on a truly emotional level right from the get-go, if you think about it, as they face numerous trials testing their take on life and how that may affect others and, in so doing, make them question themselves in the process. With that comes some truly emotional scenes throughout the series that may guide you towards doing some serious Soul-Searching of your own along with those characters.
With all this said, enjoy the ride because you really won't want it to end.
Billy Graham: An Extraordinary Journey (2018)
A Man Made Great By Who He Served
A beautifully summarized depiction and telling of the great Dr. Billy Graham, also known as "America's Pastor" .
The Documentary is well written and well directed, leaving you missing Billy but at the same time marveling in what God can do in and through just about anyone's life if you just believe in Him!