Studio Ghibli: My Neighbors the Yamadas (ホーホケキョとなりの山田くん)

My Neighbors the Yamadas(ホーホケキョとなりの山田くん, Hōhokekyo Tonari no Yamada-kun) is a 1999 Japanese animated comedy film written and directed by  Takahata Isao (高畑 勲) and produced by Studio Ghibli. Unlike the other films of Studio Ghibli, the film is presented in a stylized comic strip aesthetic, a departure from the traditional anime style of the studio’s other works.

The film is a series of vignettes following 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).Each of the vignettes is preceded by a title such as “Father as Role Model”, “A Family Torn Apart” or “Patriarchal Supremacy Restored”. These vignettes 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 one’s first girlfriend and many more. Each is presented with humour, presenting a very believable picture of family life which crosses cultural boundaries.

It’s a really fun and light anime film to watch, so if you want to get in a good mood, I really recommend you to watch it!