DISNEY VS. STUDIO GHIBLI RORY PATTON COM 329

“I LOVE MICKEY MOUSE MORE THAN ANY WOMAN I HAVE EVER KNOWN” -WALT DISNEY  Walter Disney ( )  American animator and businessman  Attended the Kansas City Art Institute  Created Mickey Mouse on a train ride home  Mickey’s popularity rose with the animation Steamboat Willy (1928)  Earned critical acclaim with the animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)  In 1955 he opened the theme park Disneyland

 Walt Disney Studios  Founded in 1923 by Walt Disney  Initially known for animated features, Disney has expanded into America’s largest media conglomerate

“I’M NOT GOING TO MAKE MOVIES THAT TELL CHILDREN, YOU SHOULD DESPAIR AND RUN AWAY” -HAYAO MIYAZAKI Hayao Miyazaki Co founder of Studio Ghibli Born in Tokyo, Japan in 1941 Started as an animator at Toei Douga Studio in 1963 Prefers to do 2-D animation Known for making strong female protagonists Referred to as the “Walt Disney of Japan”

STUDIO GHIBLI  Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata following the success of Nausicaa of the Valley Wind  Known for being the top animation company in Japan  In 1996 it was agreed that Disney would be in charge of distributing Studio Ghibli films internationally  Studio Ghibli has a strict ‘no-editing’ policy for films distributed internationally

DISNEY VS. GHIBLI FEMALE CHARACTERS Studio Ghibli Strong female characters The female leads usually have to fight for what they want When they face trouble they are the ones that must find a solution, usually on their own Their attire is simple Disney Weak female characters When the female protagonists finds herself in danger, a male character usually saves her Their body proportions are unrealistic Their attire is form-fitting

KIKI VS. SNOW WHITE 13 year old that leaves home to train as a witch She is excited to have independence Has many positive relations with other women Kiki’s appearance is humble Seeks comfort in the company of other strong women Kiki saves her male friend from disaster and finds herself along the way 12 year old princess that is forced to leave home Is afraid to be away from home Has negative relations with other women Beauty plays a key role in Snow White’s self-esteem Seeks comfort in the company of unknown men Snow White is saved numerous times by male characters and never grows as a person because of it

“ ” MAGIC MIRROR ON THE WALL, WHO IS THE FAIREST ONE OF ALL The Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)

“ ” WITHOUT EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT, I USED TO BE ABLE TO FLY. NOW I’M TRYING TO LOOK INSIDE MYSELF AND FIND OUT HOW I DID IT Kiki (Kiki’s Delivery Service)

THE END

RESOURCES Imdb.com Nausicaa.net WaltDisneyStudios.com ADDITIONAL READING Lipmag.com/arts/film-arts/the-ladies-of-studio-ghibli/ The guardian.com/film/2011/14/studio-ghibli-arrietty-heroines Powderroom.jezebel.com/women-in-Japanese-cinema-ghibli

ADDITIONAL LINKS