When Marnie Was There

"Based on the 1967 homonymous novel written by Joan G. Robinson, this is the second feature film directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi for Studio Ghibli, following the success of 'My Neighbor Totoro'. Nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Film, 'Omoide no Mânî' tells a more intimate and modest story compared to other productions from the studio, diving into a plot about the melancholy of loss and the feeling of not fitting in, as well as the desire to connect with other people and belong somewhere. The film was also a watershed moment for Studio Ghibli for various reasons: it was the last work of the legendary artist Makiko Futaki (main animator in almost all of Hayao Miyazaki's films and other classics like 'Akira') before her death; it was Yonebayashi's last film at the studio before resigning and founding a rival company, Studio Ponoc; and lastly, it was the studio's last film after announcing a pause in its productions following the death of its co-founder, Isao Takahata, and Miyazaki's retirement after 'The Wind Rises'."