From Up on Poppy Hill (Japanese Audio)

About From Up on Poppy Hill (Japanese Audio)

"From Up on Poppy Hill" is a Japanese animated drama film directed by Gorō Miyazaki, scripted by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa, and produced by Studio Ghibli. Released in 2011, the film is set in Yokohama in 1963, just before the Tokyo Olympics. It tells the story of Umi Matsuzaki, a high school girl who must deal with the potential demolition of her school's clubhouse, whilst also navigating feelings for Shun Kazama, a fellow student who is also fighting for the clubhouse's preservation.

Making / Production

The film was produced by Studio Ghibli, with screenplay written by Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa. The beautiful hand-drawn animation and the lush portrayal of Yokohama was brought to life by the Studio Ghibli’s expert animators. The film was directed by Goro Miyazaki, who gave emphasis to details to successfully capture the essence of the post-war Japan.

Actors

• Masami Nagasawa as Umi Matsuzaki - Nagasawa played Umi with a quiet determination, effectively capturing her character's dilemma and emotional journey.
• Junichi Okada as Shun Kazama - Okada portrayed Shun with an effective mix of youthful energy and emotional depth, making his character both relatable and engaging.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This is the second film directed by Gorō Miyazaki. His father, Hayao Miyazaki, also wrote the screenplay for the film.
• The film is based on the 1980 serialized Japanese comic of the same name, illustrated by Chizuru Takahashi and written by Tetsurō Sayama.

Awards

It won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year and was nominated for the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Animated Feature Film, among other accolades.

Quotes

• "The future is not a straight line. It is filled with many crossroads. There must be a future that we can choose for ourselves."
• "The tug at your heart is the pull of time. That's why we mustn't just weep for the past. We must also take care of the present."

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's soundtrack was composed by Satoshi Takebe, featuring performances by singer Aoi Teshima.
• The song "Summer of Farewells – From Up on Poppy Hill", performs by Aoi Teshima, serves as the film's opening theme.