Goshu the Cellist

First off, the graphics of this feature are rather primitive compared to most other Ghibli features. There's more blurring of colors and faces of people aren't drawn as well.

The feature opens with some very beautiful classical music perfectly matching a storm going on in the area. There is a small orchestra playing, and the conductor stops the music and says the cello is behind.

The conductor gets on other people, too, and eventually stops the music altogether. He gets on Goshu again, saying his music lacks expression; there is no anger, no joy, no emotion in his playing. Plus he just plain doesn't stay in tune with the others.

He even goes so far as to say something about their entire orchestra getting a bad reputation because of Goshu.

As he practices at home he hears a knock. The door opens and there stands a cat, bringing him some unripe tomatoes. Goshu says some rather nasty things to the cat (and doesn't question exactly how the cat is talking), but the cat ignores him and walks over to examine a picture of Beethoven on the wall.

There is a hilarious section where the cat wants him to play a particular piece but he plays something else which drives the cat nuts. That's not all he does to the cat, either. (The SCPA would REALLY hate him!)

The next day Goshu goes to a strange theater. A very strange theater. Anyhow, the orchestra is there providing background music to a silent cartoon. Which become chaotic when a real mouse terrorizes the audience.

That night a cuckoo bird appears, wanting a music lesson.

He ends up getting into argument with the bird.

The next night, after a day of being chastised by the conductor, a raccoon shows up at the door. The raccoon plays the drum and his father told him to come play along with Goshu's cello. As with the other animals he points up a flaw in Goshu's playing.

Next up are two rats, one adult, one child. Her child is severely ill and she wants Goshu to cure him.

Somehow his playing is curing the animals.

It seems that the vibrations put out by the cello is what is curing the animals.

The next day the orchestra performs very successfully and the maestro asks Goshu to go out on stage and play something by himself as an encore.