When GKids acquired the Studio Ghibli catalog, they released those two films. For the most part, Disney released the entire catalog except for two films. While there has been much discussion over whether or not Disney did a good job at releasing these movies, one of the few aspects of their deal that wasn’t contested by many people was the fact that the dubs Disney paid for were some of the highest quality dubs in the industry (it helps when you have Mickey Mouse money behind you). The movies of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata are frequently cited as not only some of the best animated films you could watch, but in some cases some of the best movies you could ever watch! While it took many years for Americans to be able to watch them, they finally got a chance to watch most of them when Disney made a historic deal to acquire the entire catalog and produce new English dubs of the films. Was he holding back on Rikako to protect his friend, or was he holding back because he also had feelings for Yutaka? I wish they'd have just kissed, but it wasn't meant to be.Studio Ghibli has a reputation for producing some of the greatest films of all time. It's here that Taku's infatuation for Rikako is revealed, and Yutaka says, "I know you were holding back because of me." What isn't clear is exactly how he was holding back. The pair go for a sunset stroll along the pier as romantic music plays. Taku asks him to go for a walk and Yutaka looks a bit shocked, but Taku's sweet smile is too damn cute to turn down. Taku invites Yutaka in, but he refuses, he says he'll call him. They make up and as Taku leaves the car the pair seem to dance around the idea of hanging out for a bit. As Taku watches Yutaka drive, he seems to focus on his arms and hands, a shot that both suggests a longing for their touch and a remembrance of Yutaka's punch. Plenty of friends fight and make up, but that's a lot harder to do when you're in love with someone and those feelings get in the way.Īs an older Taku lands back home, Yutaka pulls up beside him and offers to drive him home. This kind of big friendship breakup only feels believable if you believe they have feelings for each other, which I do. They don't speak to each other for the rest of school and eventually go their separate ways. Just look at the pictures in this article, there's big gay energy in these stills - they're always staring off into the pink sky together.Įventually, Taku and Yutaka have a fight and fall out. He knows that Yutaka is into her, and narrates, "I felt unreasonably irritated to know that Yutaka was interested in Rikako, I thought she'd never see his real value.” If all this doesn't scream that he's actually in love with Yutaka himself then I don't know what to tell you. For a film that barely runs over an hour, this kind of detail comprises a lot of the film and makes everything seem more alive - it highlights that although the drama of the love triangle might feel all-consuming to the kids, life still very much carries on around it.Īs older Taku narrates, he claims, "I always thought of Yutaka a bit differently than my other friends." It's clear throughout the film that he cares how Yutaka sees him, as he keeps most of his encounters with Rikako a secret. There's another chef squatting outside and smoking a cigarette on his break, who blankly stares off into the distance as Taku gets his bike. A chef prepares fish with a scowl on his face, and grumbles under his breath, "you can't rely on kids", as the fish lands on the chopping board with a heavy thud. As he rushes off, his manager calls out to him, but he ignores her. Outside of the potential queer love blossoming, I love this scene because of how real the place Taku is working seems. He clearly cares deeply about Yutaka if he's willing to blow off work so quickly just to see him. This is the kind of moment normally expected between love interests, not friends. He immediately unties his apron and rushes to meet him. At the start of the film, Taku receives a call from Yutaka while he's at work washing dishes, asking him to see him after his shift. Taku often begrudgingly gets involved in her life, but it's more out of a sense of chivalry than any particular romantic interest. Instead of a film all about two boys fawning over a girl, they appear far more interested in each other than Rikako. And even though this may not be an intentionally queer film, people recreate Ghibli films all the time, so why can't I reimagine this as a queer love story? This gives the film a wistful perspective that is lacking in some of Ghibli's child protagonists. The story is told via flashbacks, narrated by Taku - who is now in college - as he flies home for a high school reunion. Ocean Waves tells the story of a high school love triangle between teenage best friends Taku and Yutaka, and a new girl from Tokyo, Rikako.
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