The Magically Immersive World of Studio Ghibli
Stephanie Murillo, December 2021
If the words "Studio Ghibli" mean something to you, then you are probably familiar with their work. There's no arguing that Studio Ghibli's commitment to artistry and empathetic storytelling has transformed modern filmmaking. They make films that appeal to a wide demographic of viewers by refusing to talk down to children and allowing adults to explore their own feelings in unexpected ways. In just under four decades, Studio Ghibli has arguably made a dozen films that could legitimately be called masterpieces. There is certain magic that goes to the making of these films, that which few animated productions can create.
Hayao Miyazaki is the master storyteller, script writer, and director of most of his movies. He is the reason why Studio Ghibli is such a legendary animation film studio. The common themes of his films include environmentalism, friendship, love, family, culture, Japanese history, war, and others of all sorts. Whether the stories have been adopted from Manga comics or written from scratch, they all connect with the audience on a human level. Studio Ghibli movies are mostly hand drawn using rich water and acrylic colors. In fact, the creators use less than 10% of modern technology while making the movies. Even today, with the advanced technology used for movie making, the studio still believes in using the old and traditional method of making animated movies. All of Studio Ghibli's movies are rich in color; vivid greens and attention to details are one of the key features of the movies. The main focus of these movies is on emotions, character strength, and character flaws as they go through hundreds of emotions. Each emotion is wonderfully shown in subtle strokes of the brush that painted it. These masterful human strokes cannot be recreated with computer technology. The stories of the Studio Ghibli movies usually focus on the life of the youth, especially school children. Whether it's the Whisper of the Heart or My Neighbor Totoro, the characters are young, restless, and filled with spirit. The stories told through animation beautifully show the ups and downs of the characters' lives, and the human emotions that come into play when dealing with problems of life are wonderfully displayed.
My Neighbor Totoro is a film that invites the audience to step back into their own respective childhoods and see the world anew. Two little girls named Satsuki and Mei, along with their father, move to the country so that they can stay close to their mother, who is being treated for tuberculosis in the hospital nearby. The movie outlines everyday life openly, bringing alive rural Japan. Plus, there is the mystical Totoro, which exists as a metaphor to explain some of the mysteries of the world through a child's eyes, and makes for a fascinating storyline.
As for Spirited Away, it's not only one of the highest earning animated movies in the world; it's arguably one of the best Studio Ghibli movies. When ten-year-old Chihiro is on her way to her new home with her parents, she stumbles upon an alternative world where her parents are turned into pigs. Even in this terrifying situation, Chihiro learns the importance of hard work and grows into a mature young girl, as opposed to the beginning of the movie, where she was visibly dependent and attached to her parents and old home. By leaving her comfort zone, Chihiro blossoms into another person in the process. Other than the storyline, the colors, music, and rich vivid settings just take your breath away.
Princess Mononoke is a movie with lush greenery, beautiful landscape, and a vivid play of colors. However, this movie takes a darker look at the conflict between nature and humans, in comparison with the other films produced. Like many other Studio Ghibli movies, this movie delves deep into nature and how people can be hell bent on destroying it. The protagonist is caught between two sides: those who want to destroy the beautiful forest and those who will do anything to save it. The hero eventually succeeds in preventing a bloody war.
Kiki's Delivery Service is another great coming of age film with a strong female protagonist. You get to see the magnificent hand painted scenery and characters that come alive. The film masterfully handles a lot of traditional topics around growing up and finding your path in the world. But it also touches on the facet of growing up that society tends to overlook: it's a lonely process. Finding your way, separating from your family, and making your way into a new place is lonely. But she doesn't come from loneliness; she comes from a place of love and connection. She's excited for the journey ahead, for a chance to grow up. This is all a part of growing up, and it helps us appreciate the deep bonds we have.
​Howl's Moving Castle is a movie that drifts from the usual protocol. Here you have a young woman instead of a child. The story follows the journey of Sophie, who has been cursed but manages to find happiness in her new form. The movie also explores the theme of war, which wasn't included in the novel from which the story originally came from.
Studio Ghibli has been gently revolutionizing the animation world since 1986, combining an endearing and empathetic worldview with rousing adventure, whimsical characters, and deep motifs. Miyazaki does not shy away from including adult themes to his movies, despite them being primarily for children. Studio Ghibli's work feels incredibly universal and richly textured. Their movies offer a layer of consistency and maturity, combined with the most stunning hand-drawn animation ever created, that simply can't be matched. I would definitely recommend these films to anyone who is interested in the art of animation.
STEPHANIE MURILLO