One of several Studio Ghibli films directed not by Hayao Miyazaki but rather Isao Takahata. He has a different style than the ultimately optimistic Miyazaki. I feel as though Takahata lost something in his childhood and is trying to tell us about his loss (Only Yesterday is a more direct example of this), while Miyazaki has retained the best of his youth and convinces audiences to keep a part of themselves young as well.

Both filmmakers are talented and I'm so glad they both have had the change to tell us their stories.