My Neighbors the Yamadas

My Neighbors the Yamadas
Directed by	Isao Takahata
Produced by	Seiichiro Ujiie Takashi Shouji Toshio Suzuki
Written by	Isao Takahata
Starring	Hayato Isobata Masako Araki Naomi Uno Touru Masuoka
Music by	Akiko Yano
Studio(s)	Tokuma Shoten Studio Ghibli Nippon Television Network Hakuhodo Buena Vista Japan/Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Distributor	Shochiku
Released	July 17, 1999 (Japan)
Running time	104 minutes
Language	Japanese
Budget	¥2 billion ($20.5 million)
Preceded by	Princess Mononoke
Followed by	Spirited Away
External links
IMDb page

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 Isao Takahata and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film stars Hayato Isobata, Masako Araki, Naomi Uno, Touru Masuoka, Yuikiji Asaoka, Akiko Yano, and Kosanji Yanagiya. 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.

Plot

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 that crosses cultural boundaries. The relationships between Matsuko, Takashi and Shige are particularly well-observed, with Shige giving advice and proverbs to all the family members, and having a great strength of character which far outweighs Matsuko's. Takashi and Matsuko's relationship is often the focus of the episodes, their rivalries, such as arguing about who has control of the television, their frustrations and their difficulties, but the overriding theme is their love for one another despite their flaws, and their desire to be the best parents possible for their children.

Voice cast

Character	Original	English
Noboru Yamada	Hayato Isobata	Daryl Sabara
Shige Yamano	Masako Araki	Tress MacNeille
Nonoko Yamada	Naomi Uno	Liliana Mumy
Takashi Yamada	Touru Masuoka	James Belushi
Matsuko Yamada	Yukji Asaoka	Molly Shannon
Fujihara-Sensei	Akiko Yano	Unknown
Haiku Reader/Narrator	Kosanji Yanagiya	David Ogden Stiers

Production

Based on the yonkoma manga Nono-chan by Hisaichi Ishii, it is the first completely digital Studio Ghibli film. Takahata wanted Yamada-Kun to have the art style of watercolor pictures rather than cel pictures. To achieve that, the traditional paint-on-cel techniques were replaced with digital technology, making Yamada-Kun the first Ghibli film to have animation drawings painted entirely on computers.

Soundtrack

My Neighbors the Yamadas O.S.T.

The soundtrack was composed by Akiko Yano and it is characterized by very short piano themes. Classical pieces played by Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra conducted by Mario Klemens. Released by Tokuma on 1 July 1999.

CD 1

1. "Theme I: And So It Begins" 1:45
2. "Joyous Music I: Going Forward with Reckless Abandon" 0:26
3. "Cuckoo I: Not Like the Main Title" 0:28
4. "Extract from Chopin's "Nocturne No. 1 in B Flat Minor", Op. 9" 4:13
5. "Extract from Mahler's "Symphony No. 5", 1st Movement, Funeral March" 0:29
6. "Extract from Mendelsson's Wedding March" 4:22
7. "My Neighbors the Yamadas" Theme (Orchestra Version)" 3:34
8. "Happy Bridge" 0:21
9. "Evening Waltz Theme (Orchestra Version)" 1:43
10. "Lively BGM" 3:21
11. "The Dog's Policeman" 2:25
12. "Troubles (BGM I)" 1:08
13. "Troubles (BGM II)" 0:24
14. "Sunset Scamper" (1:01)
15. "Theme II: Thank Goodness" 1:11
16. "Shut Up and Bring It Here!" 0:34
17. "Joyous Music II: Please, Stop Pushing, Right Now!" 0:52
18. "Cuckoo II: Oh, Welcome Home" 0:29
19. "Happy Bridge II" 0:15
20. "Takashi and Matsuko's Tango" 0:59
21. "Pom Poko Tanuki Band" (Wakaya Rakudan) 1:13
22. "Joyous Music III: A Happy Mouth" 0:25
23. "A Father's Sorrow" 0:39
24. "Paradise of Freedom" 0:23
25. "Extract from Mahler's "Symphony No. 1", "Giant", 4th Movement 3:32
26. "Theme III: Spring Rain" 3:32
27. "Cuckoo III" 0:28
28. "Cuckoo IV: The Correct Answer" 0:26
29. "Cuckoo V"

CD 2

1. "Round Of Forgotten Things I: Morning Blessings" 1:16
2. "Round Of Forgotten Things II: Morning Blessings" 1:19
3. "Cherry Cherry" 0:45
4. "Extract from Albinoni's Adagio" 2:07
5. "Young People" 1:42
6. "Cuckoo VI: Summer Dreams" 0:28
7. "Joyous Music III: School is Fun" 0:50
8. "Exciting BGM" 0:45
9. "Phone Line" 2:56
10. "Bach: Prelude and Fugue No. 8 in E Flat Minor" 4:14
11. "Cheerful Music III: Going My Way" 1:16
12. "Round of Forgotten Things: Bridge" 0:28
13. "Round III of Forgotten Things: Good Advice" 0:36
14. "The Masked Moonbeam Theme Song, "Who is the Masked Moonbeam?" (Yoshiko Kondou) 3:24
15. "Broken Dreams" 0:24
16. "Mozart's "Toy's Symphony", Movement No. 2" 2:27
17. "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" 3:20
18. "Quit Being Alone" 3:55

Release

Despite decent reviews, the film did not fare as well at the box office in Japan as other Ghibli films.

Home media

My Neighbors the Yamadas was released on DVD in America on August 2005, alongside another Takahata film Pom Poko. Even though the UK and Japan got Blu-Ray releases of the movie in 2011, the US never saw a Blu-Ray release from Disney. The movie will finally get its North American Blu-ray debut and a re-release of the DVD by GKIDS in 2018.

Accolades

My Neighbors the Yamadas received an Excellence Award for animation at the 1999 Japan Media Arts Festival.

External links

• My Neighbors the Yamadas (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Hôhokekyo Tonari No Yamadâkun (My Neighbors the Yamadas) at the Big Cartoon DataBase
• My Neighbors the Yamadas at Nausicaa.net (detailed information on a fan site)

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia page My Neighbors the Yamadas. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.

v - e - d

Films Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind • Castle in the Sky • My Neighbor Totoro • Kiki's Delivery Service • Porco Rosso • Pom Poko • Whisper of the Heart • Princess Mononoke • My Neighbors the Yamadas • Spirited Away • The Cat Returns • Howl's Moving Castle • Tales from Earthsea • Ponyo • The Secret World of Arrietty • From Up On Poppy Hill • The Wind Rises • The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Shorts Zen - Grogu and Dust Bunnies Characters Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: Nausicaä Castle in the Sky: Pazu • Sheeta • Colonel Muska • Captain Dola • Dola Gang My Neighbor Totoro: Totoro • Mei Kusakabe • Satsuki Kusakabe • Catbus Kiki's Delivery Service: Kiki • Jiji • Osono • Fukuo • Ursula • Tombo Porco Rosso: Porco Rosso • Madame Gina • Fio Piccolo Princess Mononoke: San • Yakul • Ashitaka • Lady Eboshi • Kiyo • Jigo Spirited Away: Chihiro Ogino • Haku • Yubaba • Zeniba • Lin The Cat Returns: Haru Yoshioka • Baron Humbert von Gikkingen • Toto Howl's Moving Castle: Sophie Hatter • Howl Jenkins • Madam Suliman • Prince Justin • Markl Tales from Earthsea: Arren • Therru • Ged Ponyo: Ponyo • Sosuke • Fujimoto • Granmamare • Lisa • Ponyo's Sisters The Secret World of Arrietty: Arrietty • Shō The Wind Rises: Jiro Horikoshi • Naoko Satomi • Giovanni Battista Caproni Zen: Grogu and Dust Bunnies: Grogu Locations Toxic Jungle • Bathhouse Vehicles Mehve • Porco's Plane Songs I'm Gonna Fly • Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea • Teeru no uta (Kashuu Baajon) See Also Ghibli ga Ippai Collection