Some individuals are destined to encounter a special friend. From director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, known for 'The Secret World of Arriety.' The film is based on a 1967 English novel with the same title, so certain characters were given Western names. I consider this a wonderful adaptation—a remarkable transformation from written words to a motion picture. It felt well-suited for a Japanese cultural and lifestyle per…

This animated movie from Studio Ghibli is exceptionally lovely, and it might be among the last to come from them for quite some time, or even the final one they produce. The story centers on Anna, a young girl who has asthma and experiences feelings of isolation. She’s sent to stay with family in the countryside to recover from a serious illness. Upon arrival, she encounters another young girl with blond hair a…