From Up on Poppy Hill

From Up on Poppy Hill (コクリコ坂から) an animated film that was released in Japan by Toho on July 16, 2011. It was directed by Goro Miyazaki, written by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli.

It is based on the 1980 serialized manga of the same name illustrated by Chizuru Takahashi and written by Tetsurō Sayama. Set in 1963 Yokohama, Japan, the film tells the story of Umi Matsuzaki, a high school girl living in a boarding house, 'Coquelicot Manor'. When Umi meets Shun Kazama, a member of the school's newspaper club, they decide to clean up the school's clubhouse, Quartier Latin. However, Tokumaru, the chairman of the local high school and a businessman, intends to demolish the building for redevelopment and Umi and Shun, along with Shirō Mizunuma, must persuade him to reconsider.

The theatrical poster's advertising slogan is "Let's walk upwards".

From Up on Poppy Hill premiered on July 16, 2011, in Japan. It received positive reviews from most film critics and grossed $61 million worldwide. An English version was distributed by GKIDS; it was released to theaters on March 15, 2013, in North America.

This film marks the first joint project between Goro and his father. This is also Goro's second film as the director, after his 2006 film "Tales from Earthsea" and stars the voices of Masami Nagasawa, Junichi Okada, Keiko Takeshita, Yuriko Ishida, Jun Fubuki, Takashi Naito, Shunsuke Kazama, Nao Ōmori and Teruyuki Kagawa.

"Poppy Hill - 300 Days of War Between Father and Son", a TV special documenting the film's contentious production was aired on NHK General TV on August 9, 2011.

Overview
The term "Coquelicot" is the French word for Poppies. The author of the original manga, Tetsuro Sayama, was originally a poet, is said to have taken inspiration from Akiko Yosano's tanka (Japanese form of poetry) "Oh, my beauty, May, here in France. The field is a poppy that shines in the color of fire as far as the eye can see." 「ああ皐月仏蘭西の野は火の色す君も雛罌粟（コクリコ）われも雛罌粟（コクリコ）」, taken from the songbook, "From Summer to Autumn". In addition, the cityscape backgrounds in the latter half of the film are based on Yokohama.

The original manga was serialized in "Nakayoshi" (Kodansha) from January to August 1980, totaling eight chapters. It was released in two volumes by the same publisher. In 2010, Kadokawa Shoten released a new edition, and in 2011, the company released a paperback edition.

Plot
The story is set in Japan in 1963. In preparation for the to be held in, people are destroying the old things because they believe only in the magnificence of the new.

A 16-year-old girl, Umi Matsuzaki, lives in the boarding house called "Coquelicot Manor", which is located on the hill overlooking the harbour of the Port of. Each morning, she raises a set of signal flags with the message of "I pray for safe voyages". A 17-year-old boy, Shun, always sees this flag from the sea as he rides a tugboat to school.

Meanwhile, at a Umi and Shun's high school in Yokohama, a dispute raises about the fate of old school's club house called Latin Quartier. While the school administration wants to demolish old and dilapidated building, group of students including Shun struggle to preserve it. During all these events, Umi and Shun meet for the first time. Umi starts to help him and his comrades. and she suggests a big clean up of the building to show its good parts.

Gradually Umi and Shun are drawn to each other, but a sudden obstacle appears: Shun finds out that they might be brother and sister. But Umi refuses to give up on her feelings, and she tells Shun that she loves him, and he reciprocates her feelings in spite of their situation.

Finally, Umi and Shun travel to Tokyo to meet with school's board chairman, and managed to persuade him to postpone Latin Quartier demolition until his inspection. Being amazed with building restoration by students, the chairman cancels the demolition of Latin Quartier. But during all of this, Umi and Shun get a chance to get the truth about their relation. It seems that an old sea captain, Yoshio Onodera, a friend of their fathers, currently is in Yokohama. But his ship departs soon, so Umi and Shun rush to the harbor, board the tugboat, and sail to him.

They made it in time, and the old sailor reveals a truth to them. Umi and Shun aren't related in blood in any way after all, which means that they're free to be together. Finally, Umi and Shun learn the full true story of how their parents met, loved and lived. With everything resolved, Umi returns to Coquelicot Manor. She resumes her daily routine of raising the flags, but now, it's not just for her father.

Historical basis
In the film, Umi's father was killed when his supply ship was sunk by mines in the Korean War, and Shun's biological father died aboard a repatriation vessel after the end of the Second World War.

Following Japan's defeat in the Second World War, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) assumed control over the Japanese merchant marine to return repatriates to their homelands. At the start of the Korean War, those ships, together with their Japanese crews, were pressed into service by the US military to carry forces and supplies to Korea. Japanese vessels played a significant role at the Incheon and Wonsan landings. The shipping firm Tozai Kisen was among the most prominent firms involved, concluding "an agreement with the US military’s Japan Logistical Command (JLC) to provide 122 small vessels and around 1,300 crew for transport and landing work".

According to estimates, 56 Japanese sailors and laborer's were killed in the Korean War zone in the first six months of the war alone; 23 of the deaths occurred when Japanese-crewed ships were sunk by mines. Official estimates of the total number of Japanese killed in the Korean War have never been published, nor have the U.S. or Japanese governments officially recognized the role of Japanese non-combatants in the Korean War.

The 1960s saw an escalating increase in student activism and campus revolts in Japan as well as in other parts of the world.

Origins
Decades before the film's production announcement, Hayao Miyazaki's niece and nephew visited the Miyazaki family mountain cabin and brought along a shojo manga magazine. Miyazaki enjoyed reading through the magazine and considered adapting the manga of "From Up on Poppy Hill" by Chizuru Takahashi and Tetsurō Sayama. Directors Mamoru Oshii and Hideaki Anno, who were with Miyazaki at the cabin, then began a heated debate on whether the shojo genre would be a good starting point to adapt films.

Gorô Miyazaki would later discover the manga of "From Up on Poppy Hill" in his grandfather's cabin's chalet, while he was a schoolboy. For many years, this project was put on standby, because everyone assumed that the manga was unsuitable for animation. Finally, in 1995, studio Ghibli produced "Whisper of the Heart" and proved that it was possible to adapt these types of stories.

The idea of adapting "From Up on Poppy Hill" would later be revisited during the production of "The Secret World of Arrietty". Hayao Miyazaki explains the choice to adapt this manga, "The hill of poppies cares about the hearts of people. The girls and boys of the work are pure and upright. They do not forget their dreams and do not disrespect the opposite sex. Whatever their situation when they are born, they live with their strengths and thanks to themselves. This is the kind of film I wanted to make."

The notable difference between the manga and the film is that the action in the manga takes place in the 1980's; The film takes place in 1963, just before the student revolution. One of the stated wishes of the adaptation would therefore be to play the card of nostalgia and to accurately depict the Japan of the 1960s, that is to say in full economic growth and on the verge of hosting the first Olympic Games in Tokyo. This notable change is undoubtedly more the choice of the father than that of the son, too young to have known this time.

In December 2010, to cut short the persistent rumors of a sequel to "Porco Rosso", producer Toshio Suzuki released the “Ghibli Five-year Plan” where they planned to produce three films containing themes from the Shôwa era (1926 - 1989). The first is "The Secret World of Arrietty", (despite it being set in the 2000s), then second is "From Up on Poppy Hill" and the third would eventually be known as "The Wind Rises".

Planning
""Having him as my father pressured me. People would always say, "Oh, you're Mr. Miyazaki's son." It was like they looked past me to my father. I really hated that.""

- Goro Miyazaki

Much like with other Ghibli films, the film is a co-production with Studio Ghibli, Nippon Television Network, Dentsū, Hakuhōdō DY Media Partners, Walt Disney Japan, Mitsubishi Corporation and Tōhō.

Production began in July 2010, less than a year until the film's scheduled theatrical release. The collaborative work between Hayao and Gorô is often tense. Thus at the end of July, the father worries about the characterization of the character of Umi Matsuzaki, which he finds too dark, dull and soulless. During one meeting, the elder Miyazaki asks one of Goro's staff to take down some early character sketches of the main cast. After confronting Goro about it he says, "I won't suggest changing storyboards, so... Those pictures I had taken down were really worrying. What's the use of drawings with no spirit?". When pressed about it by the accompanying NHK documentarian, Hayao adds, "(Goro) hasn't firmed up his vision yet. Drawing lifeless pictures won't do."

Hayao works with character designer Katsuya Kondō and with Toshio Suzuki so that they persuade Gorô to alter her personality. Worried about his father's growing influence on the film, Goro states, "Even if he tells me what to do. If I just do as he says... Well... That's one way to do it. But I don't want to do it that way."

Suzuki is given the early storyboards of the film's opening. His early thoughts were that of worry, "Will this work as a movie? That's what concerns me. Does the heroine seem like a heroine? Does the protagonist seem like one? I look at they key points and wonder if it will work." Finally, the son accepts the various remarks thanks to the regular intervention of the producer Suzuki, a real mediator between the two men. "It was a shock, being told so bluntly. But he's right. And I knew it, too. It's good that he told me now. The truth is, I'm not enjoying this. There've been lots of struggles. I'm fine. I can switch gears quickly," Goro remarks.

In the aftermath, Hayao ponders, "I think... Goro doesn't get it. It's OK for him to stop directing. I think he should. He isn't cut out for it. 'Wanting to' do something doesn't mean 'able to'. Directing isn't an easy job. You must push yourself until your nose starts bleeding. And see what you create. Most people can't do it." Despite these setbacks, Goro would not give up. He holds meetings and decides on taking his father's suggestions to heart. Hayao later says, "I don't mean to interfere. I just want him to tap into my wisdom. If he has changed, I'm happy. It's all good."

Indeed, in order to add a note of realism in the way the characters express themselves, he explains having watched Showa-era media such as "Blue Mountain Range" (青い山脈, Aoi sanmyaku), "Disappearing in the Rain" (の雨の中に消え , No Ame no Naka ni Kie, starring Chieko Matsubara and Kazuo Funaki). In these films, the characters speak to each other frankly, quickly and above all express their feelings directly. This is how Umi behaves, as she does not run away from her feelings, even negative ones.

Likewise, Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki suggests a little later, in August, that elements depicting daily life at Umi's home be added to the film's opening scene. Miyazaki asks, "Why not change, fold, and also neatly place her pajamas?" Suzuki calls a meeting and suggest these elements to Goro. "Please add that scene. Where she wakes up, and folds her futon." to which Goro replies, "She doesn't fold it. Her sister's asleep.". Suzuki then says, "As it is, she just comes downstairs. It needs something more. That scene in the beginning would be effective." Goro silently considers this idea.

Several days later, Goro presents his revised storyboards to Katsuya Kondō and the other staff. The changes are startling. "She's lively now. When she comes downstairs, her steps aren't dull. She steps briskly.

Following a test screening of "Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess" (2010), Hayao Miyazaki ponders, "These days, fantasy films face difficult times. I think they do. When people are in high spirits and not aware the end is near... That's a good time to make fantasies. "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind", for instance. The question is, what should we make in bad times? One era is over. We're in the next stage, I guess. It's hard to categorize it. But what should we make now?

Inspiration
Gorō Miyazaki initially researched Yokohama, intending to be faithful to the city's historical details. This attention to detail could be seen in the recreated backgrounds of Yamashita Park or Hikawa-Maru station. However, after realizing that "simply re-enacting something of the time may seem real enough but may not necessarily be beautiful". Miyazaki decided to show the location as "shimmering and bustling with life" from the viewpoint of the characters. The first is the 'Coquelicot Manor' where Umi lives, at the top of the hill overlooking the city and the sea. A traditional Japanese house, it houses the bedrooms upstairs and the common rooms on the ground floor. Its particularity lies above all in the mast which stands in the middle of the garden, where Umi hoists the maritime pavilions every morning in homage to his father.

In designing the Quartier Latin, Miyazaki worked with the art directors who added ideas about the "amalgamation of clutter in the house's many rooms" and attempted to "look at the architecture of the building, but to also remember back to my college years and the clutter and filthiness that [Miyazaki] lived through". Another nod from Hayao Miyazaki can be seen in the picture painted by one of the film's residents - is actually a tribute to the futurist painter and sculptor Umberto Boccioni. Indeed, the painting is very clearly inspired by "The City Rises" (1910).

Production
""The storyboards are almost done for "From Up on Poppy Hill." I think Goro has grown. Everyone says so. All the key players think so. They say he's totally different now when explaining the characters. They say, 'Goro has a clear vision.'""

- Toshio Suzuki According to Buta Connection, about a hundred animators then began the work of animation. 70,000 drawings were needed for the film (120,000 cells were needed for "Spirited Away"). Gorô Miyazaki transmits his ideas on the basis of the new e-konte validated by Toshio Suzuki. At the same time, he controlled the sets. In the meantime, the animation directors include Akihiko Yamashita, Atsushi Yamagata, Kitarō Kōsaka, Takeshi Inamura, and Shunsuke Hirota.

At the beginning of March 2011, Gorô completely finished the e-konte. His team was preparing for the home stretch before the film's release which would take place in four months. The schedule is tight and everyone works every day until midnight. Production was halfway done when on March 11, 2011, an earthquake struck and the resulting tsunami devastated the Pacific coast of Tôhoku.

During a staff meeting headed by Toshio Suzuki, he said, "Production - that's critical. Seems critical. I'm not even sure we can work. From now, we need computers. If the power's not stable." One staff worried, "Work will have to stop." while another worried the blackouts would result in the data getting damaged. Goro worries, "The schedule is really tight. It's going to be tough. We might lose momentum." The only person against the work stoppage was Hayao Miyazaki. "Why all the commotion? We've got to keep working. Have another meeting! Whoever can come should. Just leaving the production site is wrong! I can't accept that at all," he says.

During the impromptu meeting, Hayao confronts the staff and lays out new orders that staff who could come in should so as not to delay production. A senior staff questioned Hayao that giving conflicting orders would confuse some staffers. "Confusing, Tell me! Who said that? What will be confusing? Time off is more confusing! We can't change the release date. We're working hard to meet it. We must go on, even if it's hard! We shouldn't abandon the production site. That's where we make our films. It's precisely in times like this that we must spin a myth. To show that we kept drawing despite any aftershocks." Soon, the decision to halt production is reversed. Miyazaki wonders to himself, "We're being tested. Can we make a film that speaks to post-quake Japan?"

In a press interview given after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, it was announced the film's production was affected by the rolling blackouts imposed after this disaster. In particular, the animation process was forced to proceed in the night to minimize disruptions. When pressed about the progress, it was revealed that the animation was "about 50% completed", though it was added that the "animation would have otherwise been over 70% completed without the disaster".

However, Hayao Miyazaki assured the public that the film would still be released on July 16, 2011, as previously announced, saying that it was their responsibility to do so. "Hundreds of thousands of people are shaking from cold and hunger. Rescue workers and defense forces are on the front line of radiation. I'm grateful for their sacrifices. I'm proud of them. If this film offers some kind of support to many people... in this difficult time. I'd be grateful." Goro then followed with a statement, "All we can do now is keep making movies. On that,, I think my father and I are on the same page." He also stated that while most of the staff was not affected by the disaster, there were several "who did go through a period of mental affectedness because of what happened and that took some time to recover from."

"He must lead the pack and give his all. He should be willing to die for it. He needs to finish it, no matter what. He has to do it, for his own sake. Because he chose this path," Hayao determines.

In June 23, 2011, the production was completed. Following the premiere, Goro is told by an interviewer, "Your father said, 'Threaten me.'" to which he responds, "Oh yeah? Don't die."

Dubbing
The main voice cast members were officially unveiled on May 13, 2011. It was announced that actress Masami Nagasawa would voice Matsuzaki, the main character. This was Nagasawa's first voice acting role in a Studio Ghibli film. In addition, Jun'ichi Okada, a member of the Japanese band V6, would be voicing Shun Kazama, a member of the school newspaper publishing team. Additionally, Jun Fubuki, Keiko Takeshita, Takashi Naitō, Teruyuki Kagawa, Yuriko Ishida, Nao Ōmori and Shunsuke Kazama would voice other minor characters.

In June 2012, it was announced that a North American dub would be recorded and that it was being executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, written by Karey Kirkpatrick and directed by Gary Rydstrom. The cast members of the dub include Sarah Bolger, Anton Yelchin, Ron Howard, Jeff Dunham, Gillian Anderson, Chris Noth, Ronan Farrow, Isabelle Fuhrman, Emily Osment, Charlie Saxton, Alex Wolff, Beau Bridges, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bruce Dern, Christina Hendricks, Elisa Gabrielli and Aubrey Plaza.

Release
→ See From Up on Poppy Hill/Release

"From Up on Poppy Hill" was released in Japanese cinemas on July 16, 2011. It debuted at third placing in the Japanese box office, behind "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2" and the dual-release Pokémon anime film Victini and the "Black Hero: Zekrom" and "Victini and the White Hero: Reshiram". It managed to gross approximately 587 million yen and attracted around 450,000 viewers. Furthermore, an exhibition, "THE ART OF From Up On Poppy Hill" was held to coincide with the film's release. This exhibition featured more than 130 art and storyboards used in the making of this film. It was held from July 23 to 28, 2011 in the Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store in Tokyo. The exhibition was later moved to Sogo's Yokohama Branch Store from August 10 to 15, 2011.

The movie was released in France on January 11, 2012, as "La Colline aux coquelicots" by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures France. It gathered over 287,281 viewers in its four weeks of exhibition far more than "Tales from Earthsea" (in 2007, with 143,641 viewers).

On August 17, 2011, it was announced that "From Up on Poppy Hill" would be one of the Japanese films being showcased at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, which was held from September 8 to 18, 2011. It was also revealed that the film would be showcased in the "Japan International Premiere" section, which is part of the "Contemporary World Cinema" event in the festival.

The film received a limited theatrical release in North America on March 15, 2013. An English dub was recorded for this release directed by Gary Rydstrom and produced by The Kennedy/Marshall Company, who oversaw the English dubs for "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" and "The Secret World of Arrietty". The release was licensed by Studio Ghibli to GKIDS. This marked the first time a Studio Ghibli film was not distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in North America since the 1999 North American release of "Princess Mononoke" by then-Disney owned Miramax Films. A Blu-ray edition in North America was released September 3, 2013. On September 23, 2013, a Blu-ray edition was released in the United Kingdom by StudioCanal.

Box office
During the survey period between July 16 and 18, 2011, Bunkatsushin.com reported "From Up on Poppy Hill" had grossed 587,337,400 yen at the box office, placing third. During these three days, over 445,000 people watched this film.

In a survey which was done online and on mobile platforms, it was revealed the ratio of female audience to male audience was 57% to 43%. By age, 34.8% of the audience were in their twenties, 18.9% of them were ages between 16 and 19 years old, and people who were aged over 30 made up 32.6% of the audience. This film crossed the 3 billion yen gross mark during the weekend of August 21–22, 2011.

"From Up on Poppy Hill" earned $1,002,895 in North America and $60,456,530 in other territories for a worldwide total of $61,459,425. It is the 14th highest-grossing anime film. Between "Grave of the Fireflies", "Only Yesterday", "Ocean Waves", "Whisper of the Heart" and "My Neighbors the Yamadas, "From Up on Poppy Hill" is the highest grossing Ghibli film about specializing in Japanese local customs, behind "The Wind Rises", and its 7th best grossing one of the Ghibli films in United States.

In France, the film was well received by the public. It gathered over 287,281 viewers in its four weeks of exhibition far more than "Tales from Earthsea" (in 2007, with 143,641 viewers).

Music
From Up on Poppy Hill (Song Collection) (コクリコ坂から～歌集, Kokurikozaka kara~Kashuu) is a compilation of vocal versions of songs from the soundtrack sung by Aoi Teshima. It was released by Yamaha Music Communications on July 6, 2011.

From Up on Poppy Hill (Official Soundtrack) (コクリコ坂から サウンドトラック, Kokurikozaka kara Saundotorakku) was released by Tokuma Japan Communications on July 13, 2011. The score of "From Up on Poppy Hill" was composed by Satoshi Takebe. In December 2010, it was announced that singer Aoi Teshima would sing the film's theme song, "Summer of Farewells — From Up on Poppy Hill" (「さよならの夏～コクリコ坂から～」, "Sayonara no Natsu ~Kokuriko-zaka kara~").

The music, with very pop and jazz accents, was entrusted to Satoshi Takebe (Hana no Ato). She gives the film a note of optimism and hope. The composer, who is participating for the first time in an animated film soundtrack, explained that his music here resembles that of music classes in schools, without grand orchestration, with an amateur aspect, without pretension. It's fresh music, with mainly piano, harmonium or melodica, typical instruments of a high school club. Gorô Miyazaki has chosen to accompany the serious scenes with this joyful melody in order to help the spectator to take a step back.

What also makes the originality of this feature film is the presence of many songs from the 60s. Ue wo Muite Arukô (Let's walk while looking at the sky) was sung by Kyû Sakamoto. First on the hit parade under the alternative title of "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking countries, especially in the United States, and sold more than 10 million copies, we hear it in the film when it is on television. It was Toshio Suzuki who had the idea of ​​integrating it into the film, because he himself was a fan of Sakamoto's songs when he was only a young college student: “The lyrics evoke the torments or hurts that all teenagers feel. [...] He gave us courage. When I think back to that time, I realize that we were in a society that stifled everything we did and did. Children were prevented from being independent [...]"

The main theme, "Sayonara no Natsu" (The Summer of Farewells), a cover of the credits of a drama dating from 1976, is performed by Aoi Teshima (Tales of Earthsea). It was adapted for the film, the lyricist Yukiko Marimura having changed the lyrics of the second verse. The breakfast song and when the first love is born are also performed by Aoi Teshima, with lyrics by Gorô Miyazaki and Hiroko Taniyama, who also composed the melody.

"Deep Blue Waves" is a choral song inspired by a poem by Kenji Miyazawa To my students. The first verse was written by Hayao Miyazaki and the second by Gorô, a beautiful symbol of this collaboration. The words, advocating solidarity, courage and self-sacrifice, also have a particular echo after the tsunami of March 11.

Easter Eggs
Shun asks his father about his biological father. At that moment a ship, named Kogenai Line, drives past Akio's boat. Line means maru in Japanese. Kogenai Maru is the ship in the film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. On Yoshio Onodera's ship Koyo Maru Yokohama, there is a cabine "Ghibli" is written on it.

Goofs
At the first minutes of the film, Shun drives to school and he stops at crossroads. Across from him there is a store with the Coke sign on it. Although the movie takes place in the early 1960s, the "Coke" sign over the store has a swoosh. That didn't become part of the Coca-Cola logo until 1969.

Main changes from the original

 * While the setting and characters are faithful to the original manga, the plotting and narrative structure was completely reorganized.
 * The "Quartier Latin" is a completely original addition to the film. Shun and Mizunuma struggle to protect the Latin Quarter, which is scheduled to be demolished. The film's story greatly focuses on the conservation of the past in the face of modernity.
 * The manga is set during the 1980's while the film is set between May to June 1963. Due to the protracted time period, Shun remains in 3rd year of high school, Umi in 2nd.
 * The uniform was changed from a standard school blazer to sailor suits.
 * The surname of the main character was changed from "Komatsuzaki" to "Matsuzaki"  .
 * The name of the boarder "Kitami Hokuto" was changed to "Hokuto Miki", the gender was changed from male to female, and the occupation was changed from veterinarian to doctor.
 * The main character's mother's name "Komatsuzaki Nijie" was changed to "Ryoko Matsuzaki", and her occupation was changed from "photographer" to "University Assistant Professor (English and American Literary Scholar)".
 * The scenes involving betting mahjong was cut.
 * The mystery surrounding the character's birth is discovered after Umi is shown a photo that is similar to Shun father's photo.
 * Grandfather Shimataro passed away in the film.

Accolades
See also:
 * Wikipedia​ on Wikipedia
 * Awards on Imdb

Voice cast
→ See also English cast

Japanese Cast: