From up on Poppy Hill (2011)

Director: Gorô Miyazaki

A group of Yokohama teens look to save their school’s clubhouse from the wrecking ball in preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

‘From up on Poppy Hill’ doesn’t really have much flesh to the bone – not until the film’s final moments. The film is essentially about a bunch of kids trying to save their beloved clubhouse from being demolished.

Our hero is Shun, who protests by doing a daring act and publishing it in the local newspaper, thus raising awareness in their efforts to save the clubhouse. The heroin is Umi, who helps Shun in his attempts and, off course, they fall in love. In the process they learn a lot about themselves and each other, that will change their lives.

It is not until the film’s last act that you see the deeper meaning, and realize the sad events of their past, that brought them together. It is indeed a very special ending. The film has great animation, as is the norm with Anime, and I loved the score.

‘From up on Poppy Hill’ won a number of awards including Best Animated Film.

In Japanese.

Would I watch it again? Probably not.