American manga

  Screenplay by:Jesse Diaz

The movie begins with a shot in the Japanese Ghibli Museum, where we have the main character (Riktor) standing in front of a massive picture. Next, to him, a small girl walks into the shot and also stands in front of the massive picture.

 Small girl:  

It’s beautiful isn’t it? I wish that one day when I’m older I’ll be able to draw exactly like this. (she has a small blush)or at least I hope to one day.

Riktor looks over at the small girl. He digs into his pocket and shuffles around until he stops suddenly. He took out a quarter and walked close to the girl. He kneels down next to her and hands her the quarter.

Riktor

Little girl, I definitely can’t really be able to help you but I hope one day this quarter can help you draw like Hayao Miyazaki one day. It might be kinda hard, but you should use this to start saving up for a drawing tablet.

He hands her the quarter very certainly with a small smile on his face. He hears in the back two women speaking Japanese knowing exactly what they’re saying.

Japanese woman #1:

Kare wa koko de ittai nani o shite iru nodesu ka?

Japanese woman #2:

Watashi wa kare ga ikutsu ka no kuso shinsekai-shade wanai kotto o negetta imasu.

Rictor looks over at the two Japanese women. He stands up and moves away from the small girl. He grabs his bag off the floor and shoots the small girl a wink right before he walks away and leaves the museum. While walking he opens up a bag of poki and begins to start eating it while walking towards the exit. Right before he leaves through the door he’s greeted by a woman who works in the ghibli museum.

Ghibli Museum worker:

Have you enjoyed your time here at The Ghibli Museum?

Read more: American manga

Rictor:

Watashi wa koko ni kuru 5-banme no timu o tanoshinda, arigato.

The museum worker looks at him stunned, she has a surprised expression and begins to smile showing extremely white teeth. Victor stands there a little awkwardly and begins to walk out of the exit until he is interrupted by the woman.

Ghibli Museum worker:

Anata no nihongo wa totemo ryuchode jozudesu.How do you speak it so well if you don’t mind me asking?

Victor looks a little surprised by her question but doesn’t mind answering.

Victor:

Oh, I am moving to Japan next week to become a manga-ka. I got really invested when I was younger in anime and manga so I learned Japanese so I could watch and read them without the subtitles and read the original versions of manga.

Ghibli Museum worker:

Are you moving here to become a manga-ka? You’re an American, though, don’t you think that’s a little bit

weird? You don’t think you might have trouble in the Japanese industry? Ya know? Being an American and all?

Riktor:

Well…I’m a pretty big dreamer so I think I’ll be fine. Besides, around these parts, I think I might be a hell of a lot more accepted here than I am back in the states.

Ghibli Museum worker:

Really?

Riktor:

Yeah.I know tragic.

Ghibli Museum worker:

Well, good luck with your future career American.

Riktor looks a little bit weirded out

Riktor:

(under his breath)im Hispanic. (he lifts up his voice again)Thank you and my name is Victor.

Ghibli Museum worker:

Well, in that case then.Anata no shōrai no kyaria de no kōun bikutā.

Victor:

Arigatōgozaimashita.

Riktor finally leaves out of the Ghibli Museum, chowing down on his pakis. After about 2 steps, he stops to look around for any cabs or taxis to pick him up. He goes into the pocket of his jacket and pulls out cheap-looking sunglasses. He looks around for a little and walks down the block hoping to find a cab. He stops at a street corner and calls for a cab to pull up. They pull up on the street corner, and Victor hops in.

Cab Driver:

Anata wa Amerika ni mukatte imasu?

Victor:

Hanedakūkō made tsureteitte kudasai.

Cab Driver:

Kashikomarimashita.

The taxi begins to go down the street. Riktor looks out the window. Feeling extreme raw excitement.

The cab drives into the terminal gate at the airport. Riktor steps out and he notices a statue of Totoro and a smile of excitement crosses across his face. He walks to the cab driver and puts his head through the open window on the passenger side.

Victor:

Totoro to burasagatte iru shashin o totte itadakemasu ka?

The taxi driver looks a little bit confused

Taxi driver:

uhmm…Shōchishimashita(sure)

The taxi driver steps out of the cab. Victor gives him the phone. He then walks to the Totoro statue and does an aheago face. The taxi driver looks a little freaked and reluctantly takes the photo. Though it takes him a few too many seconds. The taxi driver gives him back the phone and walks back to the car. He gets inside and drives off.