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

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

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

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