Ocean Waves THE VISUAL COLLECTION (Japanese Language Book)

The Definitive Edition of Studio Ghibli's "Ocean Waves" — A Timeless, Deeply Loved "Another Masterpiece" — Finally Published!

Studio Ghibli's feature-length animated film "Ocean Waves" (original story by Saeko Himuro) was produced as a TV special in 1993. Set in Kochi and Tokyo, the film depicts the irreplaceable daily lives of high school students, primarily Rikako Muto and Taku Morisaki. Created under the moniker "Studio Ghibli's Young Production Group," the film was a labor of love and passion by young staff members poised to lead the future of Japanese animation, including Director Tomomi Mochizuki, Animation Director Katsuya Kondo, and Art Director Naoya Tanaka.

Since its initial broadcast on Nippon TV on May 5, 1993, the film has been legendary. In recent years, younger audiences have "rediscovered" it, leading to a phenomenon. Its re-release at Bunkamura Le Cinéma Shibuya Miyashita in Tokyo in March 2024 achieved a long-running, sold-out success, becoming a symbol of the Reiwa "revival" phenomenon.

Published 31 years after its original release, this book generously includes an extensive collection of visuals currently available. It features a film story woven from Director Mochizuki's self-selected best 30 cuts, beautiful high-quality color illustrations, character designs, and art boards. Additionally, 140 stunning illustrations by Katsuya Kondo, drawn for the original serialization in the monthly magazine Animage, are included in full color for the first time, even previously unreleased ones.

Furthermore, previously unpublished character drafts and valuable materials from Kondo's personal sketchbooks, drawn before the serialization, are featured for the first time. The final gallery section showcases various visuals from the time, including posters, promotional materials, and past merchandise. The book also includes new interviews with Director Mochizuki, Animation Director Kondo, and Producer Nozomu Takahashi, covering both the production period and insights specifically for this publication.

This luxurious visual book aims to comprehensively convey the charm of Ghibli's "phantom masterpiece," "Ocean Waves," to both Generation Z, who have found new value in the work, and the real-time fans from 1993. (In commemoration of this book's release, a special screening at Bunkamura Le Cinéma Shibuya Miyashita is also planned for this autumn.)

Book size, 160 pages (128 pages in color)
Illustrations
Film 30 self-selected cuts by Director Tomomi Mochizuki
Animation Director Katsuya Illustrations from original serialization + unreleased illustrations + selections from personal sketchbooks
Character Designs
Art Boards
Comparison of Mochizuki Storyboards and Kondo Storyboards Gallery (Book visuals, selected title pages from original serialization, posters, theater-related materials, software, merchandise, and various subsequent illustrations)
New interviews with Director Mochizuki, Animation Director Kondo, and Producer Nozomu Takahashi
And more!