The 1993 Studio Ghibli-produced Ocean Waves anime special has received a new poster visual and a trailer ahead of its upcoming theatrical debut in Japan.
The visual features shots of the main characters Taku and Rikako.
It was announced in March that the anime will premiere in theaters nationwide on July 4 JST and will have a three-week run.
Ocean Waves (Umi ga Kikoeru) is based on the 1993 Tokuma Shoten-published novel by the late Saeko Himuro, which was originally serialized in Animage. Set primarily in Kochi, it depicts protagonist Taku’s past meeting with Rikaku, a transfer student from Tokyo, during his high school days and the ensuing events. The anime’s character designer, Katsuya Kondo (Kiki’s Delivery Service, From Up on Poppy Hill), also contributed to the book’s illustrations.
The anime was directed by Tomomi Mochizuki (Kimagure Orange Road: Ano Hi ni Kaeritai, Ranma 1/2 series director, Mysterious Disappearances) and written by Keiko Niwa (From Up on Poppy Hill and When Marnie Was There co-scriptwriter) under the Kaori Nakamura pseudonym. Shigeru Nagata composed the music.
The cast includes Nobuo Tobita, Yoko Sakamoto, and Toshihiko Seki.
The Ocean Waves novel inspired a 1999 sequel titled Ocean Waves II: Ai ga Aru kara (Umi ga Kikoeru II Ai ga Aru kara), which was adapted into a live-action TV special. Both volumes received a shinsouban release in 2022 and 2023.
October 2024 saw the release of a visual collection book, titled Umi ga Kikoeru The Visual Collection, for the anime.
Correction: The article originally stated that the first Ocean Waves novel, instead of its sequel, was adapted as a live-action TV special. This has been amended.
Source: Press release (via Comic Natalie)
