“High schooler Taku navigates love triangle with new transfer student Rikako and best friend Matsuno in Kouchi.”
The Ocean Waves
海がきこえる
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AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
High schooler Taku navigates love triangle with new transfer student Rikako and best friend Matsuno in Kouchi.
In the city of Kouchi, high school student Taku Morisaki is going about his work when his friend Yutaka Matsuno calls and asks him to get to their school as soon as possible. Taku arrives, and Matsuno introduces him to Rikako Muto, a beautiful girl from Tokyo who recently transferred to their school. Although Rikako is academically and athletically gifted, her generally unpleasant attitude leaves her with virtually no friends outside of Matsuno and another girl from her class. After a chance encounter during their class trip, Taku suddenly finds himself more involved in Rikako's personal life, much to Matsuno's dismay. Struggling to balance his friendship with Matsuno and his own budding infatuation for Rikako, Taku must come to terms with his feelings and understand how a girl with a troubled past is having such a massive effect on his life.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 108 sampled reviews
What 108 viewers settled on.
Polarized
σ 2.11 · split reception
4.6 pts
Recommenders 8.1 · others 3.5
↑ 0.18
Running avg · Apr 2008 → Jun 2026
- 9 “This movie was released in 1993 and the quality looks fine for the time it was released other thing i have to mention is the almost perfect slice of life animation in the movie i really enjoy the...”
- 7 “This honestly wasn’t a movie that completely won me over. The story felt a bit slow and I never fully connected with the characters the way I hoped I would. Still, even though it didn’t really...”
- 7 “The film’s charm lies in its refreshing simplicity and its ability to authentically capture the awkwardness of adolescent love without relying on forced emotional cues or dramatic spectacle. While...”
Watch Order & Related
A self-contained story.
No sequels, spin-offs or alternate tellings — The Ocean Waves begins and ends here.
Cast
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A Tv special Production
Studio Ghibli.Tokuma Shoten · Nippon Television Network
- Format 1 × 72′ eps × min
- Total runtime 1h 12m all episodes
- Aired May 1993 – ongoing
- Source Tv special media type
- Rated PG 13 - Teens 13 or older
- Ref. BS-0680 catalog
Produced by
- Tokuma Shoten Producer
- Nippon Television Network Producer
Licensed by
- GKIDS Licensor