8 Amazing 2016 Films You've Already Missed
5. Only Yesterday
Studio Ghibli's Only Yesterday is a bit of a unique case. Even though the film was released in Japan in 1991 (and since then several territories around the world have also seen it) it didn't receive a Western release until 2016, coupled with its first English dub. Whatever the reason for the two and a half decade long delay in release, fans got to witness the typically excellent tale voiced by the likes of Daisy Ridley, Dev Patel and Ashley Eckstein.
Directed by Isao Takahata (the man behind Grave Of The Fireflies, Pom Poko and My Neighbors The Yamadas) Only Yesterday is based on a manga of the same name and centres on Taeko, a twenty-seven year old unmarried woman who has lived in Tokyo her whole life. While travelling out to Yamagata to visit her brother and escape the city for a while, Taeko begins to reminisce about her time at school, and the jealously that spawned from her classmate's holidays abroad.
When it comes to anime, Only Yesterday is regarded as incredibly unique, choosing to explore a realistic drama written for adult women. Yet the film was an immense box-office success and Japan, and was wildly critically acclaimed. It is truly an anime like no other.