Introducing… Studio Ghibli

I bet if I asked you what your favourite movie was that, after some thought and deliberation, you’d be able to give me an answer. Now, what if I was to ask you what your favourite film studio is? And your top 5 movies made specifically by said film studio? That’s a different kettle of fish but I actually have an answer to those questions? Allow me, if you will, to introduce you to my favourite film studio: Studio Ghibli and my 5 favourite Studio Ghibli movies.

Now, you may or may not recognise the name as it was only mentioned in passing in our Disney Top Ten but, this time, Studio Ghibli (pronounced Jiburi in Japanese and, with a hard ‘J’, Jibli in English) is the focus of our post. This Tokyo based, Oscar winning studio is known worldwide for their animated feature films (anime) with six of Studio Ghibli’s films among the 10 highest-grossing anime films made in Japan, with Spirited Away (2001) being the highest, grossing over $360 million worldwide. Spirited Away also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003.

The studio is justifiably proud of their creations and have adopted a strict “no edits” policy when it comes to licensing their films abroad after the film ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’ was heavily edited before its release in the US under the title ‘Warriors of the Wind’. When it came time to release ‘Princess Mononoke’ and suggestions were made to edit the film to make it more marketable, rumour has it that a Studio Ghibli producer sent an authentic Japanese sword with a very simple message: “No cuts” to a Miramax co-chairman. That’s just all kinds of badass, a little bit awesome and a teensy bit very terrifying.

So let’s jump right into some of, what I believe is, the very best that Studio Ghibli has to offer and I will do my very best not to spoil the films as I go along.

My Top 5

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Sophie is an ordinary young woman working in her deceased father’s hat shop until she befriends the flighty, somewhat vain wizard Howl. Her new friendship with the wizard brings the wrath of the Witch of the Waste down upon Sophie and leaves her old woman. In order to break the curse placed upon her by the witch, Sophie leaves home in search of Howl’s Castle which, to everyone’s surprise, moves. Along the way, Sophie befriends Markl, Howl’s young apprentice, and Calcifer, a fire demon, who is the source of the castle’s magic and movement.

Fact: With strong anti-war themes throughout, Howl’s Moving Castle differs thematically from the book on which it is based but also shines a positive light on aging as a source of freedom.

Spirited Away (2001)

When 10 year old Chihiro and her parents come across a seemingly abandoned theme park on their way to their new home. Without realising it, they end up entering the world of the spirits of Japanese folklore and the witch, Yubaba, turns Chihiro’s parents into pigs. In order to return to the human world with her parents, Chihiro gets a job in Yubaba’s bathhouse but Yubaba takes Chihiro’s name and renames her Sen. After almost forgetting her real name and becoming stuck in the spirit world, Chihiro must find a way to escape with the help of fellow bathhouse workers, Haku and Lin.

Fact: Though compared to Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Hayao Miyazaki (one of the founders of Studio Ghibli and director of many of their films) has said that the film was somewhat inspired by the old Japanese ritual of villagers calling their local kami (spirit) and inviting them into their baths.

My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

Two young girls who have moved to a new house to be closer to their sick mother, who is in hospital, befriend Totoro, a giant rabbit-like creature who is a forest spirit. It is a stunningly simple story of two young girls coming to terms with their mother’s sickness with some adorable spirits thrown into the mix.

Fact: Totoro himself has also become a bit of a cultural icon, becoming one of the most popular characters in Japanese animation and also the mascot of Studio Ghibli.

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

A 13 year old witch in training, Kiki, must spend a year alone in accordance with the tradition of her village. With only her talking cat, Jiji, for company, Kiki moves to a small seaside town and sets up her own flying courier service becoming a staple in the community. But, as Kiki begins to doubt herself, her magic powers begin to fade and she must regain her confidence to get her power back.

Fact: Kiki’s story is an exploration of the journey through adolescence to adulthood, as Kiki faces all the same problems as any maturing young person such as finding acceptance and the isolation and vulnerability of being away from home for the first time.

The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)

Arrietty is tiny, so tiny in fact that she uses a pin as a sword. A tiny teenager living with her parents in the walls and small spaces of a house unbeknownst to her significantly larger hosts. Occasionally, Arrietty and her family venture out to borrow supplies from their host but, when Arrietty befriends Sho (called Shawn in the US dub), it could spell danger for her whole family.

Fact: Arrietty is based on The Borrowers by Mary Norton and the film marked the cinematic debut of Tom Holland as Sho who worked alongside Saoirse Ronan as Arrietty in the British dub while, in the American dub, Bridget Mendler and David Henrie voiced Arrietty and Shawn.

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Some of Studio Ghibli’s other notable films include Porco Rosso, From Up on Poppy Hill, Tales from Earthsea, Ponyo and Grave of the Fireflies. Though these movies are Japanese that does not mean that you must watch them in Japanese with subtitles (even though you can if you would like to). The English voiced versions of these films are well done and some feature very well known actors including Christian Bale, Josh Hutcherson, Cate Blanchett and Liam Neeson to name but a few. So if you find yourself looking for movies to enjoy in quarantine or on a rainy afternoon, look no further; Studio Ghibli movies are a must see.