Let’s Complete Studio Ghibli XII

Good Morning Everyone!

Coming to you live from the Oceanside. Things do not always go according to plan. So I choose to do one of two things: (1) do not plan anything or (2) plan accordingly, meticulously, almost paranoialy. In the end, either the plan did not work or there is a small sense of regret for not planning the affair. True, a good time was had or at least attempted to be had, but the other truth is that the original activity/event/notion/guise did not proceed as prospected, which may lead to an aura of disappointment. How could said aura be avoided? Two ways: (1) go with the ebb and flow and forget the results or (2) do not expect too much, be content with everything and forget the results.

Content with just going with it, let’s continue our journey through the Complete Studio Ghibli Hayao Miyazaki Collection 32.

Disc 12: Ocean Waves, I Can Hear the Sea, Umi ga Kikoeru, 海がきこえる
Director: Tomomi Mochizuki
Release Date: May 5, 1993

I have a question. How would you talk about something if that something did not fit your fancy? You don’t…so you avoid it like the plague.

It’s like choosing a seat on the train. It takes a rare person to sit next to a stranger. How about a stranger that does not know when to shut up? The kind of stranger that keeps on talking even though you do not show any signs of interest in paying attention, as all of your currency is invested in sleeping on the train. The same sleep which, instead of dreaming, you are slouched over covering half your face with one hand, pretending to be listening to the stranger’s perpetual ramblings, and all you see are flashbacks of the days when you worked at a restaurant while in high school.

I never meant to cause you any pain.
I only wanted to one time see you laughing.
I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain.

Purple rain, Purple rain
Purple rain, Purple rain
Purple rain, Purple rain

I only wanted to see you bathing in the purple rain.

No? That was never you? Okay, how about the times when you believed at love-at-first-sight? You remember the times when you would look out the window and ogle the new student: alone, lost, confused and attractive. At first sight, infatuation. Your infatuation leads to you to the first encounter. The awkward type of encounter where you really do not know what to say, and then s/he does not know how to respond, so the encounter ends up in an awkward silence: only to be kindled by a second encounter when a conversation is had. With this conversation you find that the new student has family problems and is now trying to resettle in this new environment.

I never wanted to be your weekend lover.
I only wanted to be some kind of friend.
Baby I could never steal you from another.
It’s such a shame our friendship had to end.

Purple rain, Purple rain
Purple rain, Purple rain
Purple rain, Purple rain

I only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain.

Not one for meeting new people? Do you remember the time when your high school days were drawing nigh and you had to borrow money from a friend so that you can go on the senior trip? You borrow the money, telling your friend that it will take awhile for you to repay them. But a third finds out about the borrowing and tension begins to build between the lot.

Honey I know, I know, I know times are changing.
It’s time we all reach out for something new,
That means you too.
You say you want a leader,
But you can’t seem to make up your mind.
I think you better close it,
And let me guide you to the purple rain.

Not in to borrowing money? Fine…you definitely remember that time when you tricked the girl or boy that you like to come on a trip with you? The trip that was planned to be a sweet getaway for two: only to have your plans crushed by having your company rendezvous with an past love leaving you stewing in your own hotel room.

Purple rain, Purple rain
Purple rain, Purple rain

If you know what I’m singing about up here.

C’mon raise your hand.

Purple rain, Purple rain

I only want to see you, only want to see you.

Still no? Well, you must have had a friend who fell in love with the same person that you fell in love with, no? The same love that causes so much tension between you and your friend that your friend was left in peril during the last days of the friendship: a friendship no longer had.

Okay. There you are on the train, feigning interest in the stranger’s rambling, hand feeling warm on your face and out of the window you see a person that reminds you of someone that you once knew. The same person that you recall as the person that brightened up your past days, the one you thought about in your sleep, the one that you realize were in love with your entire life. You have to remember that.

General Comments: I honestly did not like Ocean Waves. I’ve tried several times for the movie to capture my attention, but unfortunately it failed to do so. I will say that the movie attempted to bring a glimpse of “real-life” to the animated realm: featuring notions of friendship, love and the development and destruction of both simultaneously.

Until next time (hopefully not as long)! Keep on watching!