My Neighbors the Yamadas

An episodic comedy of suburban family life.

My Neighbors the Yamadas is a 1999 Japanese animated comedy film written and directed by Isao Takahata, produced by Studio Ghibli. Based on the yonkoma manga Nono-chan by Hisaichi Ishii, it departs from the studio's traditional anime style with a stylized comic strip aesthetic.

Quick Facts

Director

Isao Takahata

Based on

Nono-chan, Hisaichi Ishii

Producer

Toshio Suzuki

Starring

Yukiji Asaoka
Toru Masuoka
Masako Araki
Kosanji Yanagiya
Chocho Miyako

Editing

Takeshi Seyama

Cinematography

Atsushi Okui

Music

Akiko Yano

Studio

Studio Ghibli

Facts from the source article.

Did You Know?

The soundtrack was composed by Akiko Yano, featuring short piano themes rather than long orchestral pieces.
Classical pieces on the soundtrack were performed by the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra conducted by Mario Klemens.
The soundtrack was released by Tokuma on 1 July 1999.

Plot

The film presents a series of vignettes following the Yamada family: father Takashi, mother Matsuko, Matsuko's mother Shige, son Noboru (about 15), daughter Nonoko (about 10), and the dog Pochi. Each vignette, introduced by titles such as "Father as Role Model" or "A Family Torn Apart," covers everyday situations like losing a child in a department store, father-son dynamics, marital rivalries, and the wisdom of age. The relationships, especially between Matsuko, Takashi, and Shige, are observed with humor, highlighting their love despite flaws and their desire to be good parents.

Production

Takahata intended the film to have the art style of watercolor pictures. Traditional paper sketches were scanned into a computer and colored with digital painting, using the computer graphics department set up for Princess Mononoke. Though advertised as the studio's first fully digital film, only the coloring stage was computerized.

Release and reception

Released in Japan on 17 July 1999, it was the only Ghibli film not distributed by Toho or Toei. It received positive reviews for its unique visual style, humor, and observational look at suburban family life. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 78% approval rating from 8 reviews. Ryan Lambie of Den of Geek noted its "soothing calm," while Empire called it "witty, playful and gorgeous to look at." Despite positive critical reception, it performed less well at the Japanese box office compared to other Ghibli films.

Home media

The film was released on VHS and DVD in Japan by Buena Vista Home Entertainment Japan on 17 November 2000, the first Studio Ghibli movie on DVD in Japan. In America, a DVD arrived on 16 August 2005 alongside Pom Poko. GKIDS released the first US Blu-ray and re-issued the DVD on 16 January 2018.