by Gloria Daniels-Moss
With one of the world’s most skilled director/animators announcing his retirement late last year, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have stuck together and given us one last film - The Wind Rises. Due to land in cinemas Friday 9th May, from the trailers and posters it appears to be as magical and as beautiful as ever. Ghibli have been round for some time now and have wowed audiences across the globe with their breathtaking narratives and lavish animations. This unique studio pride itself on working without the constraints of the industry and even after their distribution deal with Disney back in 1996, they remained true to their rules of independent filmmaking. Even the company name, “Ghibli” is an Italian word based on the Arabic name for wind, evoking the idea that they would, “blow a fresh wind through the industry”... and so they did, transforming animation as we know it into something truly magical and superbly drawn. With the release of The Wind Rises, let’s take a quick look at some of Studio Ghibil’s best work.
With one of the world’s most skilled director/animators announcing his retirement late last year, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli have stuck together and given us one last film - The Wind Rises. Due to land in cinemas Friday 9th May, from the trailers and posters it appears to be as magical and as beautiful as ever. Ghibli have been round for some time now and have wowed audiences across the globe with their breathtaking narratives and lavish animations. This unique studio pride itself on working without the constraints of the industry and even after their distribution deal with Disney back in 1996, they remained true to their rules of independent filmmaking. Even the company name, “Ghibli” is an Italian word based on the Arabic name for wind, evoking the idea that they would, “blow a fresh wind through the industry”... and so they did, transforming animation as we know it into something truly magical and superbly drawn. With the release of The Wind Rises, let’s take a quick look at some of Studio Ghibil’s best work.
Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986, dir. Hayao Miyazaki)
Laputa is one of Ghibli’s earliest and arguable most accomplished features. The film's narrative is very in-depth and is easily a film both adults and children can watch and get a lot of enjoyment out of it. This film introduces us to a young boy Pazu, who saves a mysterious girl he sees floating down from the clouds. The girl, Sheeta, cannot remember where she comes from until Pazu agrees to help her retrace her steps. It is here that they begin a high-flying adventure through the sky and end up on a floating castle of a lost civilization. This film has everything. It has action, it has love and it has comedy. This fantasy sees the main characters getting chased by pirates, secret agents and the army. Laputa also gives off a great message which makes you think. The film makes you think about different societies and how the hierarchy of civilisation is completely unavoidable, even if there are magical flying machines, gigantic robots and floating lands. A colourful and beautifully sketched animation that you will make you want to explore the clouds, just in case there is a castle floating through the clouds.
Laputa is one of Ghibli’s earliest and arguable most accomplished features. The film's narrative is very in-depth and is easily a film both adults and children can watch and get a lot of enjoyment out of it. This film introduces us to a young boy Pazu, who saves a mysterious girl he sees floating down from the clouds. The girl, Sheeta, cannot remember where she comes from until Pazu agrees to help her retrace her steps. It is here that they begin a high-flying adventure through the sky and end up on a floating castle of a lost civilization. This film has everything. It has action, it has love and it has comedy. This fantasy sees the main characters getting chased by pirates, secret agents and the army. Laputa also gives off a great message which makes you think. The film makes you think about different societies and how the hierarchy of civilisation is completely unavoidable, even if there are magical flying machines, gigantic robots and floating lands. A colourful and beautifully sketched animation that you will make you want to explore the clouds, just in case there is a castle floating through the clouds.
My Neighbour Totoro (1988, dir. Hayao Miyazaki)
Miyazaki once said that his consciousness starts with Totoro and also ends with it. Which is probably why this loveable creature gets the honour of being Studio Ghibli’s mascot. Whenever anyone mentions Ghibli, Totoro is the first thing that springs to mind. This film is one of the most beautiful and touching children’s films of all time, full of magic and adventure that any child would dream of. However, the film has a deeper meeting and connection to Miyazaki’s childhood and his constantly sick mother. Two young girls, Satuki and her younger sister Mei move to the country with their father to be closer to their hospitalised mother. As the girls explore the surrounding areas, they stumble upon a forest that is inhabited by magical cuddly creatures called Totoros. The film then follows the girls on all sorts of adventures and heart-warming encounters, all down to Totoro and his friend, Catbus. This film is all about dealing with problems, even if dealing with them is running away into the trees with big fluffy forest folk. Certainly a film that one will want to watch over and over again.
Miyazaki once said that his consciousness starts with Totoro and also ends with it. Which is probably why this loveable creature gets the honour of being Studio Ghibli’s mascot. Whenever anyone mentions Ghibli, Totoro is the first thing that springs to mind. This film is one of the most beautiful and touching children’s films of all time, full of magic and adventure that any child would dream of. However, the film has a deeper meeting and connection to Miyazaki’s childhood and his constantly sick mother. Two young girls, Satuki and her younger sister Mei move to the country with their father to be closer to their hospitalised mother. As the girls explore the surrounding areas, they stumble upon a forest that is inhabited by magical cuddly creatures called Totoros. The film then follows the girls on all sorts of adventures and heart-warming encounters, all down to Totoro and his friend, Catbus. This film is all about dealing with problems, even if dealing with them is running away into the trees with big fluffy forest folk. Certainly a film that one will want to watch over and over again.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988, dir. Isao Takahata)
If releasing one film in a year isn’t hard enough, Studio Ghibli were very ambitious and went with two in 1988. As well as Totoro, director Isao Takahata brings us something rather spectacular with Grave of the Fireflies. Set in wartime Japan, brother Setuko and younger sister Seita set off on their own after they argue with their aunt. After their mother is killed in an air raid and their father is off fighting the war, they find a place to stay in an abandoned shelter. With no one to take care of them, it is down to big brother Setuko to put a roof over their heads and food in their growling bellies. As the two fight through various stages of hunger, the only thing that puts a smile back on their faces is the glowing light from the local fireflies. Whilst Totoro is a happy and enchanting tale, Grave of the Fireflies is a melancholy and powerful one. If there is a film that will bring a tear to your eye, it’s this one. Takahata captures the beautiful relationship these siblings have despite the loss of everything they once found comfort in. There simply could not be a list of Ghibli’s essential films without this being on it, especially because the studio had double the amount of work with two films on the production line, but boy did it pay off. Probably not a film you will want to watch time after time, but one that will stay with you years are viewing it. Just in case, it might be an idea to have Totoro on standby for afterwards!
If releasing one film in a year isn’t hard enough, Studio Ghibli were very ambitious and went with two in 1988. As well as Totoro, director Isao Takahata brings us something rather spectacular with Grave of the Fireflies. Set in wartime Japan, brother Setuko and younger sister Seita set off on their own after they argue with their aunt. After their mother is killed in an air raid and their father is off fighting the war, they find a place to stay in an abandoned shelter. With no one to take care of them, it is down to big brother Setuko to put a roof over their heads and food in their growling bellies. As the two fight through various stages of hunger, the only thing that puts a smile back on their faces is the glowing light from the local fireflies. Whilst Totoro is a happy and enchanting tale, Grave of the Fireflies is a melancholy and powerful one. If there is a film that will bring a tear to your eye, it’s this one. Takahata captures the beautiful relationship these siblings have despite the loss of everything they once found comfort in. There simply could not be a list of Ghibli’s essential films without this being on it, especially because the studio had double the amount of work with two films on the production line, but boy did it pay off. Probably not a film you will want to watch time after time, but one that will stay with you years are viewing it. Just in case, it might be an idea to have Totoro on standby for afterwards!
Porco Rosso (1992, dir. Hayao Miyazaki)
A pig flying a plane? Yes, you got it, up next is Ghibli’s fantastic narrative Porco Rosso. Porco Rosso tells the story of a veteran World War I pilot in 1930s Italy, who has been cursed to look like an anthropomorphic pig. Despite this being an animation, this film almost feel too real to brand a cartoon. The film's subject matter, along with the more adult themes, gives a much different feel to their work, but by no means is this not worthy as any other Ghiblis. As always, Porco Rosso is a visual splendour, but also quite unique. Whilst the majority of Ghibli films on this list are geared towards children, Porco Rosso has a lot more adult-like comedy elements that are sure to fly over youngsters' heads. Not to say that kiddies won’t get anything out of it, after all it is a Miyazaki Ghibli. We fly side-by-side with this heroic pilot, through challenging romances and trying fights against air pirates. With a fantastic score embodying 30s Italy, Porco Rosso is certainly one of this collection’s best.
A pig flying a plane? Yes, you got it, up next is Ghibli’s fantastic narrative Porco Rosso. Porco Rosso tells the story of a veteran World War I pilot in 1930s Italy, who has been cursed to look like an anthropomorphic pig. Despite this being an animation, this film almost feel too real to brand a cartoon. The film's subject matter, along with the more adult themes, gives a much different feel to their work, but by no means is this not worthy as any other Ghiblis. As always, Porco Rosso is a visual splendour, but also quite unique. Whilst the majority of Ghibli films on this list are geared towards children, Porco Rosso has a lot more adult-like comedy elements that are sure to fly over youngsters' heads. Not to say that kiddies won’t get anything out of it, after all it is a Miyazaki Ghibli. We fly side-by-side with this heroic pilot, through challenging romances and trying fights against air pirates. With a fantastic score embodying 30s Italy, Porco Rosso is certainly one of this collection’s best.
Spirited Away (2001, dir. Hayao Miyazaki)
Many have compared Ghibli’s Sprited Away to Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Albeit, as fabulous as Alice’s story is, Chihiro’s tale has a lot more to offer the children of today. The sheer grandeur of Spirited Away is a sight to behold. The animation alone will blow your mind, alongside a killer of a narrative that will have you thinking about it for days. The plot follows Chihiro and her parents who are re-locating to the Japanese countryside. Naturally, Chihiro isn’t too keen on changing schools and making new friends, yet this becomes the least of her worries when they make a wrong turn. Upon finding an abandoned theme park, a boy named Haku tells her that her parents are in danger and warns her to leave this town. When she finds that her parents have been turned into pigs, she has to earn her way in order to save them and return back to her normal life. Whilst working at a bathhouse, she encounters demons, spirits and shape-shifting dragons. Quite simply, Spirited Away is the animation of all animations. Not just because of the way it is drawn and edited, but the pacing of the narrative grabs your attention from start to finish. In many ways, this is very much an adult’s film. Some themes are dark and will even make you jump, whilst others give you a warm and fuzzy feeling that everything will rectify itself in the end. If you know someone who is unlucky enough never to have come across this delightful style of animation, introduce them to Spirited Away, they are sure to thank you after they have witnessed it in all its glory.
And there we have it. Studio Ghibli have given us some amazing pieces of animation, and indeed cinema. Films like Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle and the recent Ponyo amongst others are all worth a mention, but the five mentioned above really give a sense of what this production studio are all about and are after all: great feature films.
Catch the latest Ghibli, and sadly Miyazaki’s final flight, The Wind Rises in UK cinemas from 9th May.
Many have compared Ghibli’s Sprited Away to Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Albeit, as fabulous as Alice’s story is, Chihiro’s tale has a lot more to offer the children of today. The sheer grandeur of Spirited Away is a sight to behold. The animation alone will blow your mind, alongside a killer of a narrative that will have you thinking about it for days. The plot follows Chihiro and her parents who are re-locating to the Japanese countryside. Naturally, Chihiro isn’t too keen on changing schools and making new friends, yet this becomes the least of her worries when they make a wrong turn. Upon finding an abandoned theme park, a boy named Haku tells her that her parents are in danger and warns her to leave this town. When she finds that her parents have been turned into pigs, she has to earn her way in order to save them and return back to her normal life. Whilst working at a bathhouse, she encounters demons, spirits and shape-shifting dragons. Quite simply, Spirited Away is the animation of all animations. Not just because of the way it is drawn and edited, but the pacing of the narrative grabs your attention from start to finish. In many ways, this is very much an adult’s film. Some themes are dark and will even make you jump, whilst others give you a warm and fuzzy feeling that everything will rectify itself in the end. If you know someone who is unlucky enough never to have come across this delightful style of animation, introduce them to Spirited Away, they are sure to thank you after they have witnessed it in all its glory.
And there we have it. Studio Ghibli have given us some amazing pieces of animation, and indeed cinema. Films like Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle and the recent Ponyo amongst others are all worth a mention, but the five mentioned above really give a sense of what this production studio are all about and are after all: great feature films.
Catch the latest Ghibli, and sadly Miyazaki’s final flight, The Wind Rises in UK cinemas from 9th May.
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