Started binge watching films that've been on my PTW list for 5+ years. Been missing out on a lot of great stuff
I hope the rest of the Macross franchise is as good as Do You Remember Love. I like how singing is literally weaponized to fight a war that seems to only exist for the sake of setting up a love triangle. It's a silly premise, but it works so well because the characters are genuine in their expressions towards one another and the mech battles are well animated enough to make it feel like an actual war with stakes on the line. In isolation the music isn't special, but in the context of the war and the characters the lyrics describe it takes on powerful meaning. Probably my favorite mecha anime ever, between this and 08th MS Team, and I would prefer Macross to the over the top destruction of Gundam if there are other seasons like this.
Whisper of the Heart was true to Ghibli's theme of empowered young female leads, and I liked it up until the rushed ending where Shizuku undermines all of her talent and hard work by making a serious commitment way too soon for a 14 year old kid. But It did check that box for me in that a good romance has to have partners who enable each other to progress in life, and both became a more fulfilled person than they were to start.