About From Up on Poppy Hill

"From Up on Poppy Hill" is a Japanese animated film directed by Goro Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The plot revolves around a group of Yokohama teenagers living in the year 1963 looking to save their school's clubhouse from the wrecking ball in preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. At the heart of the tale are Umi and Shun, two young people who develop feelings for one another, only to discover they may be related by blood.

Making / Production

The film was adapted from a 1980 serialized Japanese comic of the same name, with planning for the film beginning in December 2008. Screenplay was written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa. Production of From Up on Poppy Hill was notably environmentally-friendly with seventy percent of Ghibli artists abstaining from using their cars during production.

Actors

• Masami Nagasawa as Umi Matsuzaki, who brings a mature and emotional performance as the female protagonist.
• Junichi Okada as Shun Kazama, whose voice acting showcases a range of emotions that match Shun’s conflicted feelings.
• Keiko Takeshita playing the role of Hana Matsuzaki, Umi’s grandmother, provides a nuanced and grounding presence.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This was the first Studio Ghibli film released after founder director Hayao Miyazaki's retirement.
• The film is set in the period just before the Tokyo Olympics, a time of great economic growth for Japan.
• The film includes a soundtrack by Satoshi Takebe, featuring performances by popular Japanese singers of the era, notably Aoi Teshima.

Awards

The movie was critically acclaimed and won several awards including the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year in 2012.

Quotes

• "I feel like I can forgive anyone for anything when I see this beautiful sea."- Umi Matsuzaki
• "If we all work together, we can do anything."- Shun Kazama

Music, Soundtrack

• "Summertime"- Performed by Aoi Teshima as the iconic theme song of the movie.
• "From Up On Poppy Hill (Choir Version)" – Chorus directed by Satoshi Takebe, an evocative piece that encapsulates the spirit of the movie.