My Neighbors the Yamadas

My Neighbors the Yamadas is a Studio Ghibli film written and directed by Isao Takahata. The film was realesed in Japan on July 17, 1999. The film is different than other Studio Ghibli films due to its completion in watercolors, resulting in an "unfinished" appearance. The film does not possess one main storyline, but 8-15 minute "sketches".

Synopsis
This film is about the daily lives of the Yamada family: Takashi and Matsuko (the father and mother), Shige (Matsuko's mother), Noboru (aged approximately 13, the son), Nonoko (aged approximately 5, the daughter), and Pochi (the family dog). It has a significantly different "feel" to it than other Studio Ghibli films, not only because of its different style of animation, but also because it is not a contiguous plot, but rather a series of vignettes, each preceded by a title such as "Father as Role Model", "A Family Torn Apart" or "Patriarchal Supremacy Restored". These vignettes cover such issues as losing a child in a department store, the relationships between father and son, or husband and wife, the wisdom of age, getting one's first girlfriend and many more. Each is presented with humour, presenting a very believable picture of family life which crosses cultural boundaries. The relationships between Matsuko, Takashi and Shige are particutlarly well observed, with Shige giving advice and proverbs to all the family members and having a great strength of character which far outweighs Matsuko's. Takashi and Matsuko's the focus of the episodes, their rivalries, such as arguing about who has control of the television, their frustrations and their difficulties, but the overriding theme is their love for one-another despite their flaws, and their desire to be the best parents possible for their children.

Soundtrack
please see My Neighbors the Yamadas/Soundtrack

Characters

 * Takashi Yamada (Yamada Takashi) - Father
 * Matsuko Yamada (Yamada Matsuko) - Mother
 * Noboru Yamada (Yamada Noboru) - Son
 * Nonoko Yamada (Yamada Nonoko) - Daughter
 * Shige Yamano (Yamano Shige) - Grandmother/Matsuko's Mother
 * Pochi - Family Dog

Japanese cast

 * Toru Masuoka as Takashi Yamada
 * Yukiji Asaoka as Matsuko Yamada
 * Hayato Isobata as Noboru Yamada
 * Naomi Uno as Nonoko Yamada
 * Masako Araki as Shige Yamano
 * Akiko Yano as Fujihara
 * Kosanji Yanagiya as Haiku Reader

English cast

 * James Belushi - Takashi Yamada
 * Molly Shannon as Matsuko Yamada
 * Daryl Sabara as Noboru Yamada
 * Liliana Mumy as Nonoko Yamada
 * Tress MacNeille as Shige Yamano
 * David Ogden Stiers as Narrator
 * Erin Chambers - Department Store Clerk

Additional Voices

 * Jeff Bennett
 * Alex Buck
 * A.J. Buckley
 * Corey Burton
 * Dixie Carter
 * Erin Chambers
 * Marlee Cheatham
 * Flo Di Re
 * Melissa Disney
 * Amber Hood
 * Edie McClurg
 * Jim Meskimen
 * Jon Miller
 * Jordan Orr
 * Trenton Rogers
 * Jeremy Shada
 * Matthew Underwood
 * Billy West

Release

 * 27 July 1999 - Movie theater in Japan
 * January 2000 - VHS release
 * 2005 - Dubbing by Disney
 * 2007 - DVD release in Japan
 * 7 March 2012 - DVD release by Pan Vision