* MyRealDaddy: Although the film is directed by Goro Miyazaki, in light of the negative backlash that ''Anime/EarwigAndTheWitch'' received (which sunk Goro's reputation back to his pre-''Poppy Seeds'' days), many Ghibli fans have begun to attribute this film's success to Creator/HayaoMiyazaki, who did the script for the film, rather than Goro Miyazaki.
* SoOkayItsAverage: While it is a basic movie, many agree that this movie is good enough on its own merits and it gave the fans of Studio Ghibli some hope that Goro Miyazaki can be a good director after ''Anime/TalesFromEarthsea'' was badly received.
* TearJerker: Umi's dream sequence, where she wakes up to find that her mom is home and her dad is still alive.
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