There is so much love put into the animation. Every setting is so meticulously detailed and beautifully drawn that every frame looks like a painting. And there are not mystical elements whatsoever in this movie. All of this beauty comes from the love of the mundane and the ordinary. They make the common street and the average house feel so magical to be in because of the love they put into drawing it. All of the animators pack as much detail into every facet of the screen making you realize the beauty in daily life. This is the power of Ghibli.
The music is whimsical and fun. My goodness did I love the score. It really encapsulated the energy of youth and I was smiling throughout.
Nothing is dramatized. There are so many scenes of simply getting ready in the morning, daily routines, and the actual drama is done so realistically. This all creates this connection that no other studio has been able replicate. These are all real, relatable people, who deal with the drama of life in a way that makes you feel like it's part of your own. Changes to your person and to your life are usually subtle. I moved, I started college and I barely know anyone and it feels like nothing changed. I'm still the same me. Ghibli understands that and because they don't dramatize anything, because they handle everything with maturity, I can connect to these characters and these stories in a way that feels so personal.
These movies are fun, they always have me smiling from start to finish, and I can feel the love of everyone working on it. This is the Ghibli charm. This is what makes a 7/10 story, an 8/10 movie into the 9/10 it so rightfully deserves. And this one isn't even Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata.
Damn I love Ghibli.
