While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."
Film Ghibli yang tetap punya magis tersendiri walaupun tidak seindah Totoro. Ceritanya agak sedikit...
Secara teknis, visual yang menyenangkan mata ala Ghibli tidak diragukan lagi. Tapi untuk cerita belu...