My Neighbors the Yamadas

Basic Info
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 making it the film after Princess Mononoke. The film is different than other Studio Ghibli films because It is done in watercolors and does not look finalized. Also instead of there being one main storyline, there are many 8 to 15 minutes "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
The soundtrack was composed by Akiko Yano and is characterized by very short piano themes. Classical peices were played by the Czech Pilharmonic Orchestra and were conducted by Mario Klemens. Released by Tokuma on July 1, 1999



Track Listing

CD 1 CD 2
 * 1) "Theme I: And so it Begins" 1:45
 * 2) "Joyous Music I: Going Forward with Reckless Abandon" 0:26
 * 3) "Cuckoo I: Not like the Main Title" 0:28
 * 4) "Extract from Chopin's "Nocturne No. 1 in B Flat Minor", Op.9" 4:13
 * 5) "Extract from Mahler's "Symphony No. 5", 1st Movement, Funeral March" 0:29
 * 6) "Extract from Mendelsson's Wedding March" 4:22
 * 7) "My Neighbors the Yamadas" Theme (Ochestra Version)" 3:34
 * 8) "Happy Bridge" 0:21
 * 9) "Evening Waltz Theme (Orchestra Version)" 1:43
 * 10) "Lively BGM" 3:21
 * 11) "The Dog's Policeman" 2:25
 * 12) "Troubles (BGM I)" 1:08
 * 13) "Troubles (BGM II)" 0:24
 * 14) "Sunset Scamper" 1:01
 * 15) "Theme II: Thank goodness" 1:11
 * 16) "Shut Up and Bring it Here!" 0:34
 * 17) "Joyous Music II: Please, Stop Pushing, Right Now!" 0:52
 * 18) "Cuckoo II: Oh, Welcome Home" 0:29
 * 19) "Happy Bridge II" 0:15
 * 20) "Takashi and Matsuko's Tango" 0:59
 * 21) "Pom Poko Tanuki Band" (Wakaya Rakudan) 1:13
 * 22) "Joyous Music III: A Happy Mouth" 0:25
 * 23) "A Father's Sorrow" 0:39
 * 24) "Paradise of Freedom" 0:23
 * 25) "Extract from Mahler's "Symphony No. 1", "Giant", 4th Movement 3:32
 * 26) "Theme III: Spring Rain" 3:32
 * 27) "Cuckoo III" 0:28
 * 28) "Cuckoo IV: The Correct Answer" 0:26
 * 29) "Cuckoo V"
 * 1) "Round Of Forgotten Things I: Morning Blessings" 1: 16
 * 2) "Round Of Forgotten Things II: Morning Blessings" 1:19
 * 3) "Cherry Cherry" 0:45
 * 4) "Extract from Albinoni's Adagio" 2:07
 * 5) ("Young People" 1:42
 * 6) "Cuckoo VI: Summer Dreams" 0:28
 * 7) "Joyous Music III: School Is Fun" 0:50
 * 8) " Exciting BGM" 0:45
 * 9) "Phone Line" 2:56
 * 10) "Bach Prelude and Fugue No. 8 in E Flat Minor" 4:14
 * 11) "Cheerful Music III: Going My Way" 1:16
 * 12) "Round of Forgotten Things: Bridge" 0:28
 * 13) "Round III of Forgotten Things: Godd Advice" 0:36
 * 14) "The Masked Moonbeam Theme Song, "Who is the Masked Moonbeam?" (Yoshiko Kondou) 3:24
 * 15) "Broken Dreams" 0:24
 * 16) "Mozart's "Toy's Symphony", Movement No. 2" 2:27
 * 17) "Que Sera Sera/Whatevery Will Be, Will Be" 3:20
 * 18) "Quit Being Alone" 3:55

Character

 * 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

Voice Cast

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

English

 * James Belushi as Takashi Yamada
 * Molly Shannon as Matsuko Yamada
 * Daryl Sabara as Noboru Yamada
 * Liliana Mummy as Nonoko Yamada
 * Tress MacNeille as Shige Yamano
 * David Ogden Stiers as Narrator

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