The Best Images from Ghibli
Fans of animation went into mourning when news of Studio Ghibli closing down became known all over. But Toshio Suzuki, Ghibli producer, pointed out during a recent interview that the company would consider reorganization.
The closure became imminent after Hayao Miyazaki's announcement that “The Wind Rises” (2013) would be his final work. He was synonymous with the company, winning the Academy Award (for Best Animated Feature) in 2003 for “Spirited Away”. There were other features not helmed by Miyazaki, all reflecting Japan's Shintoist beliefs and environmental stance.
Whether or not Ghibli will produce another animated film remains to be seen, but fans won't forget the captivating stories, surreal characters, and technical brilliance. Let us remember the best images, all of which were directed by Miyazaki:
Castle in the Sky (1986) refers to a lost kingdom drifting aimlessly thousands of feet above the ground. How it end up there is anyone's guess. Sheeta and Pazu, two youngsters brought together by unforeseen circumstances, manage to make it up despite the obstacles. They discover ruins covered in vegetation, where a secret lies within. The human civilization once built flying cities. Imagine Mayan temples soaring.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988) brings back happy memories of childhood. It's impossible not to have one in the garden (or forest) with an imaginary friend or two. In the case of Satsuki and Mei, they must spend more time in their old house in the countryside, as their mother is recuperating from an illness. Dust creatures inhabit the place, whom they befriend. This brings them to a meeting with Totoro, a larger version of the creature, whose eyes brim with innocence and affection. It's a close encounter of the unnatural kind until the girls meet Nekobasu, who can turn into a cat bus.
Porco Rosso (1992) is about Marco Pagot, a cursed bounty hunter during the interwar period Pagot looks like a pig, his cynicism masking his heroic nature and idealism. One unassuming lady will get to know. Only true love can bring him back to human form, but this isn't an update on "Beauty and the Beast", Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont's classic fairy tale. It's the joy of flying, with Dalmatia and the Adriatic Sea as lovely backdrop.
Princess Mononoke (1997) is an environmental epic, where a warrior is sworn to protect the forest who brought her up. The woods are inhabited by spirits, who call on the animals when danger is imminent. What is about to unfold is the stuff of legends.
Spirited Away (2001) takes Chichiro to a new town. The ten-year old is sullen, not looking forward to make new friends or explore her (new) hometown. But a time tunnel leads her to a vast rice field, where a bathhouse appears after dusk. It's a place where weary spirits rest and rejunevate. The young girl befriends the strange characters working there, even taking her to destinations she never imagine. A train passing through the middle of the sea? Only here.
Tell us about your favorite Ghibli film.
