Umi ga kikoeru (I Can Hear the Sea) (The Ocean Waves) (1993)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Sanjaya &

  
  I didn't get the story of this movie... I know it stories about teenagers and their problem in school, but still the story have no point... But the score was pretty good... And having a story like that into an animation movie wasn't a bad idea at all...

• Matthew Y

  
  A little known (and lesser seen) TV film by legendary animation Studio Ghibli. Ocean Waves is great for what it is and a surprisingly good film given it's reputation. I always like films that have protagonist characters that aren't 100% likeable, it just makes them seem… More
  A little known (and lesser seen) TV film by legendary animation Studio Ghibli. Ocean Waves is great for what it is and a surprisingly good film given it's reputation. I always like films that have protagonist characters that aren't 100% likeable, it just makes them seem more real. There are numerous character flaws that are present in both the male and female leads and I feel the film is strengthened by this. A bit of a High School companion piece to the Middle School themed Only Yesterday, Ocean Waves is worth the effort to hunt down and check out.

• Ivan D

  
  Studio Ghibli's realistic reflection of adolescent love, shown with smooth flashbacks and great illustrations. The film has also able to put an uncertain light of enigma to the main female character: Rikako. It is not one of those Ghibli films that stirs naive imaginations with… More
  Studio Ghibli's realistic reflection of adolescent love, shown with smooth flashbacks and great illustrations. The film has also able to put an uncertain light of enigma to the main female character: Rikako. It is not one of those Ghibli films that stirs naive imaginations with colorful images, but it portrays a knowing life, vulnerable of heartbreak and happiness, against a serene backdrop of Kochi, Japan. I do not know why I did not like this TV film that much, maybe because along its conceived mature tone, the makers has also able to insert some teenage cuteness, which I'm not fond of.

• Marcus W

  
  This is a really odd film as almost nothing happens. It's simply small-town boy meets awkward city girl, and yet it's totally captivating and reminded me of John Hughes' work in tone. If you're looking for massive robots knocking the crap out of other massive… More
  This is a really odd film as almost nothing happens. It's simply small-town boy meets awkward city girl, and yet it's totally captivating and reminded me of John Hughes' work in tone. If you're looking for massive robots knocking the crap out of other massive robots, this is not the film for you. Nor is it the next Ghost In The Machine. But, I do recommend it as it's yet another quality, character-led piece of work from Ghibli.