1. Japan’s unique anime studio
Studio Ghibli
Japan’s unique anime studio

2. Japanese anime in general
“Anime” to Americans means Japanese animation, with certain stylistics noted; “anime” to Japanese means any type of worldwide animation
Anime bears a close relationship to Japanese manga, i.e., comic books…which, by the way, embrace all genres and are not just for children!
Anime is viewed in Japan as a part of their art heritage, drawing on Japanese art forms over many centuries
Japanese anime artists are held in high regard; some are quite famous in Japan
Common thematic motifs are post-apocalyptic worlds, robots that blur the distinction between human and machine, and the great heroes and epic tales from Japanese history
The drawing style tends to emphasize certain body features—e.g., large eyes, slender builds
Studio Ghibli is unique among anime studios—a “kinder, gentler” approach

3. Studio ghibli
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma, with funding from the publishing company by Tokuma Shoten.
Co-principals Miyazaki and Takahata already had well-established careers in film and television animation
“Ghibli” is Italian for the sirocco, Mediterranean wind; it was also the nickname of an Italian WWII fighter plane that Miyazaki admired
NOTE that airplanes, and flying in general, have been a motif of Ghibli films, notably Miyazaki’s films
The studio still relies primarily on hand-drawn animation, but began to incorporate some computer-generated elements with Princess Mononoke (1997)
The studio itself is quite small…a “boutique” studio
The Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, which opened in 2001, is a popular tourist destination

4. Hayao miyazaki
Born in 1941, Tokyo; obviously, he grew up in a troubled post-war Japan
He attended Gakushuin University, graduating with degrees in political science and economics; but he pursued manga art starting in high school
Worked for a number of studios, including Toei Animation, before founding Ghibli
He is the most famous and beloved animator in Japan
When compared to Walt Disney, he objects, indicating that Disney was a (big) businessman, whereas he is a (humble) artist
Indeed, Miyazaki is intimately involved in all his films—writing, directing, drawing…they are all his personal vision
He has announced his retirement several times, but always comes back to work

5. Perhaps Miyazaki’s most iconic image…from My Neighbor Totoro

6. Motifs of hayao miyazaki
Flying – airplanes, witched, human, castles, you name it
Female protagonists – When asked why nearly all his films feature core, often powerful female protagonists, Miyazaki has said it’s because this is not the norm…it would not be “very interesting” to have adult male protagonists, because that has been done so often. Miyazaki is an intuitive feminist.
The delicate balance between nature and technology
The environmentalist message of Princess Mononoke
In Spirited Away, even the spirit world has complex machinery
Howl’s Moving Castle creates a mechanical world that transcends the real
“Magical Unrealism”?? – Fantasy is used broadly, but metaphorically, with real- world implications
Kiki’s Delivery Service – a witch in a realist European city
Spirited Away – just beyond the edge of a realistic family outing lies an alternate reality filled with monsters and spirits

7. Isao takahata “I am so glad I can make so many people happy.”
Born in 1935; had some memories of WWII, which would color his works
He graduates from the University of Tokyo with a degree in French literature
Inspired by French animation, he sought employment as a director of anime, and landed at Toei Animation
He is not an artist, unusual among anime directors
Influenced by Italian Neorealism and French New Wave, his films are not based in fantasy, but rather are set in realistic environments (exception—Pom Poko)
“I am so glad I can make so many people happy.”

8. Isao takahata
Grave of the Fireflies – The saddest movie Dr. N. has ever seen.

9. Studio ghibli
The studio has released 17 feature anime films since 1985:

10. Film
Release date
Director
Screenwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Music
Feature films
Castle in the Sky
August 2, 1986
Hayao Miyazaki
Isao Takahata
Joe Hisaishi
Grave of the Fireflies
April 16, 1988
Toru Hara
Michio Mamiya
My Neighbor Totoro
Kiki's Delivery Service
July 29, 1989
Only Yesterday
July 20, 1991
Toshio Suzuki
Katz Hoshi
Porco Rosso
July 28, 1992
Pom Poko
July 16, 1994
Kōryū, Manto Watanabe, Yōko Ino, Masaru Gotō, Ryōjirō Furusawa
Whisper of the Heart
July 15, 1995
Yoshifumi Kondō
Yuji Nomi
Princess Mononoke
July 12, 1997
My Neighbors the Yamadas
July 17, 1999
Akiko Yano
Spirited Away
July 27, 2001
The Cat Returns
July 19, 2002
Hiroyuki Morita
Reiko Yoshida
Toshio Suzuki and Nozomu Takahashi
Howl's Moving Castle
November 20, 2004
Tales from Earthsea
July 29, 2006
Gorō Miyazaki
Gorō Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa
Tamiya Terashima
Ponyo
July 19, 2008
Arrietty
July 17, 2010
Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa
Cécile Corbel
From Up on Poppy Hill
July 16, 2011
Satoshi Takebe
Television films
Ocean Waves
May 5, 1993
Tomomi Mochizuki
Kaori Nakamura
Nozomu Takahashi
Shigeru Nagata
In production
The Wind Is Rising[11]
2013 (Summer)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya[11]
2013 (Fall)
Isao Takahata and Riko Sakaguchi
Seiichiro Ujiie

11. More on miyazaki:
Click for an interview with Hayao Miyazaki for BBC television
Also see: Spirited Away DVD extra on making of...includes behind-the-scenes footage of Miyazaki at work animating,, cooking, ADRing, Foley, and music recording

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