My Neighbors the Yamadas

My Neighbors the Yamadas Japanese , Hepburn Hhokekyo Tonari no Yamadakun? 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, Yukiji 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 studios other works.

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 ones first girlfriend and many more. Each is presented with humour, presenting a very believable picture of family life which 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 Matsukos. Takashi and Matsukos 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.Based on the yonkoma manga Nonochan by Hisaichi Ishii, it is the first completely digital Studio Ghibli film. Takahata wanted Yamadakun to have the art style of watercolor pictures rather than cel pictures. To achieve that, the traditional paintoncel techniques were replaced with digital technology, making Yamadakun the first Ghibli film to have animation drawings painted entirely on computers. ........

Source: Wikipedia