Hello everybody,
Today, I'd like to give you a brief description of Studio Ghibli and the top 5 movies I invite you to
watch.
So, Studio Ghibli pretty much began somewhere in the mid 1980s, after they had their first hit film called Nausicaa of the valley of wind (I'll explain about the movie later on). The founders of Studio Ghibli are Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. They are all directors as well as producers. I guess Hayao Miyazaki is more well-known in countries other than Japan because they tend to capture larger audiences.
Ghibli comes from the heated dry winds of the Sahara Desert. It also derives from the Italian Caproni Bomber of the World War 2 called CAPRONI Ca309 GHIBLI. I can understand why Hayao Miyaaki would find the word Ghibli appealing. He has a deep fascination with aircrafts and that becomes rather apparent in some of his films.
The current logo mark for Ghibli comes from the 1988 film known as My neighbour Totoro. Studio Ghibli is best known for producing anime feature films.
When watching Ghibli films, the first thing you will notice is the abundance of nature and the minor details embedded in them. So, for example, if there was a scene of a lake, you can clearly see the reflection of the sun and clouds, the ripples in the water and other small details you would expect to view when you go to a genuine lake. The second aspect I would like to point out is the emotion that is attached with each scene and the movements as well.
For example, a scene of a girl looking through a window at the rising sun at dawn. What's going on there? What emotions are spilling in her face? What's she thinking? There are so many times you will get to see and understand, if not immediately then later, the contexts in these seemingly non-action scenes. The third aspect to notice are the heroine and female protagonist characters that are portrayed. I believe this is because Hayao Miyazaki believes that it shows more meaning and significance when a woman is portrayed as such. I feel that it shows equality since a majority of movies and anime films portray male characters as the protagonists and heroes.
Now, on to my top 5 Ghibli films. It's very difficult to put one above the other because they are all brilliant in their own unique way. So, you know what, I won't put any order on them.
Just the 5 films you should watch to know what Ghibli is all about.
Spirited Away(2001 film, directed by Hayao Miyazaki)
Alright, we start of with Spirited Away; this is a great way to open one's mind and immerse oneself in a mysterious and unique world where frogs talk, dragons fly in the sky and monster-spirits take a bath in the hot springs. This film invites you to get a taste of Japanese culture and its relations to the spiritual world. The plot is about a human girl getting lost in the "other world" and trying to get back to the world she came from.
More info and reviews can be found here.
My Neighbour Totoro(1998 film directed by Hayao Miyazaki)
I cannot tell you how many times I've watched this though out my childhood. This is probably one of the many films most kids would watch when they are at home. It never fails to put a smile on my face. Personally, I think it allows you to open your mind, be creative, and dream of the unimaginable. I recommend this to any age group. I promise you will be thrilled by it's simple yet complex meaning and depth. I think this person gives a good review; he also mentions the plot to some detail.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988 film, directed by Isao Takahata)
This is another film produced in 1988. But this is far from giving you a smile. This is one film you should only watch ONCE in my opinion, but I'm going to watch it again. I guess that's an oxymoron but nonetheless. This is a story about a 14-year-old boy and his 4-year-old sister struggling to live life during the World War 2. We don't often see many films about the victims of war, more so when it comes to animated films. This gives you a taste of what life can be for people during war. It makes you never want to think of war again. It is truly inspiring in many ways. Here is a link to a review I think explains this in detail.
The Wind Rises (2013 film, directed by Hayao Miyazaki)
What is love? Well, this film might answer that for you. In the last film directed by Hayao Moyazaki( He has allegedly retired, but I doubt it), he puts all of his passion, emotion and experience to create a masterpiece. One strong message I received from this is that love should no be taken for granted; cherish the moment that you spend with your loved one because it can never last forever. Please check this review if you want to know more about this film.
Nausicaa of the valley of the Wind ( 1984 film directed by Hayao Miyazaki * Although this was created before Studio Ghibli was founded, it is considered to be part of the Ghibli films *)
So, we come to Nausicaa of the valley of the Wind. This is a warning to all of humanity. Although we don't really know what our planet would look like after a nuclear war, this film suggests what we might see. This is staged a thousand years after a post apocalyptic world where jungles are toxic, gigantic mutant insects roam, and the air is lethal to humans. Although this might be a fantasy world, I think it gives you a chance to look at the devastation we humans can cause. Take a look at this review
Princess Mononoke ( 1997 film directed by Hayao Miyazaki)
So, I know that this is the 6th film I am inviting you to watch. But, this is probably THE film that I want you to watch. It does not get better than this. This captures what Ghibli is all about with the picturesque backgrounds, scenes of the forests, spiritual beings and the love for nature. Here, we can see the selfishness of us humans and how we affect the environment. This is pretty much a lesson you might learn in school or University, but 10 times, no, 50 times more impactful. This is one of the greatest films Studio Ghibli has produced and the meaning it presents you cannot be any clearer. I would definitely recommend you to watch this ahead of the others I have invited you to watch. Review from rottentomatoes
Share your opinions and thoughts, I'll see you next time.
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