Not all great anime movies need giant robots, cyberpunk settings, or sweeping ecological themes. Sometimes they just need to elicit the right emotions, perishable though they may be. Ocean Waves (a.k.a. I Can Hear the Ocean) is a notable Studio Ghibli production for a few reasons, among them the fact that it's not included in the Disney-Tokuma licensing deal that gave Miramax the North American rights to the Ghibli catalog. Somehow, the powers-that-be over at Disney didn't think a sweet tale of gestating high school romance would be as big a hit as, say, Princess Mononoke. Judgement from the Mouse aside, fans of Ghibli may find plenty to enjoy in Ocean Waves. Even though it possesses none of the flights of fancy associated with Ghibli's more famous works, its emotions still soar.

Based on a popular novel, Ocean Waves tells the tale of Taku, a college student returning home to the rural prefecture of Kochi for a high school reunion. Before arriving, he reminisces about his final years in high school, when he was introduced to Rikako, a pretty city girl whose good looks charmed many. However, Rikako was also willful and troubled, and Taku entered into a fiery acquaintance with her, punctuated by arguments and an accidental familiarity with her personal life and circumstances. Rikako and Taku never truly got along, and her presence ultimately caused Taku to became estranged from his best buddy Matsuno, who carried a torch for Rikako. Time heals all, and Taku's return to Kochi allows him the chance to renew and repair old acquaintances. That is, if others are willing.

Despite the egregious-sounding soap opera setup of Ocean Waves, the film is told in a breezy and relatively low-key manner, utilizing well-drawn characters and incidents to accurately portray both the perishable and precious aspects of high school life and romance. Director Tomimi Mochizuki also handled Here is Greenwood, and shows the same generous affection for his youngcharacters that he did in Ocean Waves - albeit without the tongue-in-cheek gender bending asides of the ultra-popular Greenwood. Ocean Waves possesses whimsical music, lightly staged drama, and a nostalgic feel that make it very agreeable, such that it feels - in its own small way - like a member of the Ghibli family. As gentle as its title implies, Ocean Waves shouldn't win any major awards, but its mundane aspirations and determination not to oversell its subject matter make it a winning, low-key charmer, and a film deserving of the Ghibli name.