First of all the animation is brilliant! Super impressive for an early 90's film. It reminds you of the Japanese shows you watched in your childhood like The gutsy frog, Kochikame, etc. The story is simple and sweet and nothing complex. It's a very 'feel good' kind of a film. Just sit back and relax and enjoy it. Despite not having any story as such, It didn't bore me for a second. I was hooked from the get go and just kept enjoying the scenes as they came on. The background piano playing also works very well with the film and keeps you hooked throughout. The plot of this film reminded me of a certain phase of my life. So I enjoyed it very much. It's definitely worth watching.

I saw this anime after I had been introduced to some other, more prominent anime from Studio Ghibli. If you appreciate a fine subtle authentic slice-of-life story of high school romance, this is as good as it gets.

Its told from the point of view of a male student. A new female transfer student arrives from Tokyo and the plot moves forward in an interesting way. It never hurries, and feels very matter of fact. By the end of the film lessons are learned and the heart strings are pulled.

This movie doesn't try to do too much; it simply focuses on the main characters and tells their story honestly. You never feel manipulated as you do with many Hollywood films. The dramatic conflicts are real and interesting.

This is one movie I treasure.

TV movie or not, this was an outstanding film. Terrific direction, animation, and writing. As others have stated already, it is a film with a great deal of subtlety, so if you think great acting is Julia Roberts screaming at the top of her lungs, then you might not appreciate this film fully. It ranks among the best animated films I have watched, at least in the top 15 or 20. It's not quite in the same league as The Grave of the Fireflies, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Akira, My Neighbor Totoro, Whisper of the Heart, Only Yesterday, or a few other excellent anime I have had a chance to see, but it is easily better than 99% of the rest of the animated films out there. Highly recommended. At least an 8/10.

The knowledge that Ocean Waves is a TV movie put me off watching this 'lesser Ghibli' until I'd covered the rest of their catalogue. Whilst it may not have the wide appeal of Miyazaki masterpieces like Totoro, Porco Rosso and Spirited Away etc., it's a surprisingly successful film. The subtleties of the relationships and characters are so beautiful and rewarding that the film is elevated way beyond its TV roots.

In short, if you want a gentle meditation on teen relationships and love, this is as good as it gets. And if you like Ghibli but the subject material doesn't sound too interesting (it didn't to me), it's still worth a look as it might surprise.

What a forgotten Ghibli masterpiece! I'm glad that I accidentally stumbled upon it. Someone else beat me to it in the review section twelve years ago, but I gotta emphasize: this movie is as authentic as it gets. The characters behave very realistically, they feel much more humane than those in similar slice-of-life movies. Because of this, you can relate to all the characters, their actions, their motives, and the story will get you involved in no time. Just don't expect any out-of-the-place action or sensationalism - the movie maintains a very relaxed pace, with everything in order, every slight movement feeling natural.

This movie is a hour-and-a-quarter long contemplation, a travel into the past - just like the main character, you will catch yourself wondering about loves, friends and memories long gone. But you might just find redemption at the end of the road, and the end of the movie.

Its seldom I get the bittersweet butterfly of nostalgia growing in my stomach; last time the Miyazaki-classic "Only Yesterday" were able to achieve it. The two movies share a common feel and theme (great reunions, evaluating your roots, and a change of life), and while I think "Only Yesterday" somewhat works better, "Ocean Waves" is an otherwise unrivaled choice for gloomy Sunday afternoon homecinema.