My Neighbours The Yamadas Double Play (Blu-ray + DVD)

I absolutely LOVE this film! Japanese animation at its finest! I think of it as a mix of Australian TV series Bluey, Raymond Briggs stories like The Snowman and Father Christmas and Wes Anderson films like Fantastic Mr Fox, except it's all done with Japanese anime. It showcases life in Japan brilliantly through a series of short vignettes, with some absurd intervals in between such as the Yamadas flying into the air or the main couple dancing on a paper background. Definitely a recommended watch.

It's brilliant. One of the best creations of Studio Ghibli. In my list, it's right up there with "Spirited Away". I laughed out loud! And not many things can make me do that. At the moment, just the book "Bad Science". "The Yamadas" is realistic, psychologically accurate, funny, human, and, obviously Japanese! Packed with bonzai trees and Basho's haikus. Oh... Who said that animation must be elaborated? In "The Yamadas" it's schematic, but you know what, it is just enough for what it is trying to say. Perfect. Like tea ceremony - nothing excessive. It is about family and perhaps is more accessible to those actually already burdened (or blessed?) with it.

I really love this. It is a series of episodes covering life in an ordinary Japanese family. Sometimes it is amusing, sometimes outrageous but most often it is bittersweet. Mr and Mrs. Yamada hardly communicate emotionally at all, so cannot really meet each others needs, yet they do cope with the problems that would perhaps be better shared, offering each other practical support and keeping everyone's lives going. Their son is dimly aware of the fate which awaits him as a salaryman, and Mr. Yamada seems almost afraid to admit to his secret private dreams - dreams which have very little chance of being fulfilled. Episodes are linked by snatches of Japanese poetry. To my annoyance I have lent this to someone and forgotten who I lent it to. I might have to buy another copy. I like it so much that I will.

My Neighbours The Yamadas is not a "kid's film." There are no magic elements, no real plot or story line, no special events. It's just a family living their lives and learning from each other how to make it through. Parents and other adults will get a lot more out of it than kids, since most of the humour has to do with family life from the adult perspective: marriage, child rearing, midlife crises, even facing the inevitable aging process. It reminded me strongly of one of those TV sketch show specials that were so popular in the 70s; a series of gags and jokes that make us laugh because we recognise ourselves or those we know well. Many of the gags do have a point, the point being that if you stay together and accept each other, you can make it through. You don't have to watch it straight through at one sitting, which is good, because about 30 min before the end the film seems to lose rhythm. At about the point where Takashi sits in the park and dreams about being a superhero, something seems to slow the whole thing down. The end just seemed patched on. It was like they didn't know what to do to finish it. The colours are beautiful, the animation totally different to any other Ghibli film. It's not riveting, but I did find that people I watch it with want to pause the film and react, share anecdotes, and discuss life. Good conversation piece.

Great family laughs if you can laugh at yourself as points out all the embarrassing things we can do in life and some occasional nuggets

It took me a while to want to get this film. As it did not look too appealing at first but now it is my favorite out of them all so far! I find it to be very funny and can relate it to people I know! :O Too me its more of mini stories about a family so dont be put off by how it looks this is a must have!! :) I shall say no more as I do not want to give anything away for those who have not watched it.

Very interesting film, and a nice change from 'traditional' Ghibli. As a self-confessed Japanophile, the scenes portrayed (although comic and pretty fantastical) are fascinating.

I love Studio Ghibli and have all its movies as I think they are all brilliant and this one is no exception. I watched it with my sister and we both thoroughly enjoyed this. It was funny (especially the grandma) and well drawn. The style is very basic but I think that just adds to the film. I'd definitely recommend it to fans and families with kids.

最高。幸せな気持ちになれます。 ディスクの規格上、うちのレコーダー（2015年くらいの東芝REGZA）では再生できず、いつもプレステ4で視聴してます。 もちろん英語版も聴けるのでお得感。

Sono un appassionato delle opere dello Studio Ghibli e dopo aver apprezzato ogni loro singola opera vorrei soffermarmi a riflettere sulle opere del grandissimo e spesso fin troppo sottovalutato Isao Takahata, capace di trattare argomenti scomodi ( vedete una Tomba per le Lucciole!) e all'apparenza poco interessanti ,come appunto la vita di una tipica famiglia Giapponese in questo" My Neighbours the Yamadas". Questo lungometraggio animato trasuda uno stile ineccepibile, volutamente minimalista , ma non per questo scontato e poco emozionante. Di fatto resta una sorta di situation commedy con spaccati di vita e riflessioni molto stimolati sia per l'età infantile che adulta sulla figura di ogni singolo membro di una famiglia tipo Giapponese degli anni '90; molto originale e divertente, difficilmente annoia, vista la fervida immaginazione messa in piedi per gran parte della durata del film. Ve ne consiglio la visione insieme alle altre opere del magnifico regista da me menzionato, come: " Una Tomba per le Lucciole" e "Only Yesterday". Una delle opere Ghibli più atipiche e sottovalutate, da gustare con tutta la famiglia, purtroppo non è mai stato distribuito nel nostro territorio, quindi va guardato in lingua originale con sottotitoli in Inglese o con audio Inglese.

Questa opera di Takahata propone lo spaccato della vita di una normale famiglia giapponese, con i suoi alti e bassi, rendendolo visivamente con uno stile grafico inusuale ma molto ricercato. Gli spunti di riflessione sui singoli personaggi non mancano, come è nello stile di Takahata. La colonna sonora si sposa magnificamente con il particolare stile grafico dell'opera. Manca l'adattamento in italiano, ma il film è comprensibile anche in inglese. Consigliato