In a break from the frequently mythical storytelling of Studio Ghibli, studio co-founder Isao Takahata wryly tweaks the everyday activities of family life with his hilarious depiction of the irresponsible, slovenly, and lazy Yamada family and their unassuming way of life. With cartoon-like characters and visual design unlike anything else in the Studio Ghibli canon, the film is illustrated in a series of rough sketches and outlines, which are then filled with soft colors that evoke watercolor painting. My Neighbors the Yamadas consists of four vignettes that follows the daily lives of the titular family: Matsuko and Takashi (mom and dad); Shige (the grandmother); Noboru and Nonoko (son and daughter); and Pochi (the family dog).