In the world of feature animation, Pixar aside, there are few brands as beloved and treasured as Studio Ghibli. Co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki, it’s his films that best represent the output that has gained the shingle worldwide attention, thanks to movies like “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Princess Mononoke” and “Spirited Away.” But at 72 years old, Miyazaki is passing the torch to his son Goro Miyazaki who directs the upcoming “From Up On Poppy Hill.”
Co-written by his father with Keiko Niwa (“Tales From Earthsea,” “The Secret World Of Arriety“), and based on the Japanese comic, ‘Poppy Hill’ tells the coming-of-age tale of Umi and Shun, two teenagers in the ’60s as Japan recovers from World War II and prepares to host the 1964 Olympics. In this wistful, exclusive clip, we see Umi share a story of how her father taught her to communicate and send messages with flags, with the tone evoking a cherished past and uncertain future.
Featuring the voices Anton Yelchin, Sarah Bolger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christina Hendricks, Ron Howard, Aubrey Plaza and many more, “From Up On Poppy Hill” opens on Friday, March 15th (tomorrow). Watch below.