Studio Ghibli's 2011 film From Up on Poppy Hill has landed on Netflix, complete with English dub and subtitle options. Directed by Goro Miyazaki and produced by his father, Hayao Miyazaki, the film offers a nostalgic look at post-war Japan through the eyes of its young protagonists.
The story centers on Umi Matsuzaki, a high school student who lives in a boarding house overlooking a port town. She finds herself drawn into a battle to save a dilapidated clubhouse, the "Latin Quarter," which serves as a meeting place for students and intellectuals, from demolition. Her budding romance with Shun Kazama, a charismatic student journalist, complicates matters as they uncover a shared past.
From Up on Poppy Hill earned significant accolades, including Animation of the Year at the 35th Japan Academy Prize and the 11th Tokyo Anime Award. Its critical success also extended internationally, winning Best Foreign Animation/Family Trailer at the 14th Golden Trailer Awards and tying for Best Animated Feature with Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises at the 12th Utah Film Critics Association Awards.
With a MAL score of 7.78 based on over 134,000 voters, the film is a well-regarded entry in the Ghibli catalog. It delves into themes of coming-of-age, first love, and the preservation of history, set against the backdrop of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics preparations. The film's gentle pacing and focus on character relationships are hallmarks of the studio's renowned storytelling.
