Only Yesterday

Based on the manga of the same name, Isao Takahata’s second feature for Studio Ghibli is a serene memory piece featuring 27-year-old Taeko reminiscing about her 1960s childhood, travelling from Tokyo to the sleepy country town of Yamagata and rediscovering herself in the process. Takahata renders these flashbacks in a style different from the present-day scenes—corners slightly fade into white, edges blur—lending these moments a sense of impermanence. Though most Japanese anime projects record dialogue after animation is finished, this film reversed much of that process, allowing the visual artists to create more realistic facial expressions. A surprise smash hit in Japan, the film attracted a largely adult audience with its poignant look at the cost of growing up.