The Beauty of Studio Ghibli
- ejorigin
- Aug 24, 2023
- 6 min read
Written by: Sophie Ho (23-E3)
Designed by: Teong Chee Kai (23-O4)
“Just follow your heart and keep smiling.” This is a quote that I live by, and perhaps it is almost funny that it was a quote taken from an animated movie titled “Kiki’s Delivery Service”, but Studio Ghibli has a special place in my heart, and I hope that after reading this, it will have one in yours too.
To start off, what even is Studio Ghibli? Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio widely known for their filmmaking and artistry. Many of their works have won awards, such as Spirited Away (2001), which won the 2003 Academy Awards for “Best Animated Feature”. In this article, I will be delving into what makes Studio Ghibli films so appealing to audiences of all ages - its realism, characters, and plots.
So what makes Studio Ghibli that much better than other animation studios? Firstly, it would be the realism that each film captures. The Studio Ghibli team is extremely talented in all aspects, with the art, themes, and actions of the characters being extremely true to reality. That being said, Studio Ghibli is an animation studio after all, so do not expect the characters to look fully 3-dimensional. However, Studio Ghibli does specialise in depicting the beauty of nature and objects particularly well. Whether it be the garden in Howl’s Moving Castle bearing a striking resemblance to the fields of nature in Switzerland, or the train in Spirited Away making viewers feel as though they were sitting on the train together with the characters, each scene in their films truly captivates viewers, making it hard to look away. Therefore the sense of practically experiencing the events together with the characters makes viewers truly absorbed in the movies.
Empty spaces are an aspect of Studio Ghibli filmmaking that often go unnoticed while watching the films, but actually play a huge role in making the movies so captivating. Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, claims that “if you just have non-stop action with no breathing space at all, it's just busyness. But if you take a moment, then the tension building in the film can grow into a wider dimension.” These idle moments of silence, such as sitting in a car as it drives along, standing in the rain waiting for a bus, as well as admiring the beauty of the countryside, give a lot to the movie. These pauses in action allow a moment for viewers to take in the world that the story is set in, and really feel the emotions in the story. This thus allows audiences to connect emotionally with the movies, as compared to Western action films, where it is just fight scene after fight scene that does not allow the characters to take a break. While I admit that these action shows are exciting, they are not the type of movies that you watch once and then think about for the rest of your life. In comparison, Studio Ghibli films do give a lot of opportunities to ponder, and they often have slightly ambiguous endings where certain moments are not explained. The thinking that viewers do about these unexplained moments, both during and after the show, allows for an immersive experience that stays on their mind even after the movie has ended.
Themes in film are another aspect that Studio Ghibli is widely known for. Even in films set in fantasy, there are many parallels between the world within movies and real life. ‘Princess Mononoke’ is a particularly good example of this - even in a film full of characters from Japanese mythology, such as forest gods, the themes of human versus nature and development versus preservation are extremely prominent. These are of course dilemmas that we face even in real life, where we debate between sacrificing the environment in ways such as depletion of resources and pollution, in order to aid the development of humankind, and preserving the natural environment. This ethical dilemma makes ‘Princess Mononoke’ particularly intriguing as the motives behind both sides are shown, and even the “antagonist” who destroys nature does have a valid reason to. The movie also ends on an ambiguous note, where there is no true triumph of either side, much like real life, where we continue to hover between both development and preservation. The use of themes that are already prominent in today’s society lets the audience empathise with the characters, and think about the issues in today’s context.
Additionally, Studio Ghibli releases films suitable for audiences of all ages. Many people view Japanese animation as kiddish, and I cannot deny that Studio Ghibli does have films directed at younger children. However, I feel that they do it in a way superior to others. In movies such as ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ and ‘Ponyo’, the young main characters give young viewers someone to relate to. In ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ for example, we follow the characters along for a journey with the spirit known as Totoro, a big bear-like creature who helps the characters through the movie. While this film has a simplistic storyline, it is a warm and lighthearted watch that remains enjoyable even as I aged. ‘Ponyo’ also does very well in portraying the excitement that young children face even in the face of difficulties. It also shows the two young characters overcoming challenges all by themselves. The youthful innocence of these characters, as well as the sometimes silly actions they take, are things that younger audiences can relate to, and the display of capabilities of these characters make for a thrilling yet nonviolent watch suitable for children. Yet, even as I say these films are directed at children, I still greatly love these films at my current age as they give me the opportunity to re-live my own childhood and return back to my childish ways of thinking, which is something I normally cannot do due to responsibilities and expectations of real life.
Now that I have covered the films that are directed towards children, I shall now move towards films for teenagers. In this day and age, most movies directed at teenagers tend to be about love, giving teenagers the wrong impression that we cannot live, or are less worthy, if we do not have love. Studio Ghibli tends to explore this differently, with coming-of-age films that do not necessarily involve relationships. My personal favourites of these are ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ and ‘Whisper of the Heart’. ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ explores the story of young witch Kiki who moves out at the age of thirteen and has to find a way to make money and settle down alone. While she starts off excited, she eventually hits a slump. However, she eventually overcomes it, and makes new friends who both help, and seek her help. The film also establishes how girls and boys can be close friends without any romantic feelings being involved, a perception that has been warped by love stories in Western films. This story is lighthearted and inspiring, yet never becoming boring no matter how many times you watch it. ‘Whisper of the Heart’ is yet another coming-of-age story, but this time with a romantic hint to it. The two main characters inspire and encourage each other, but are also able to develop their own abilities independently. This love actually helps them to grow as individuals, without relying too much on each other. This portrayal of a healthy relationship is one that sets it apart from other typical love stories.
Characters play a big role in the enjoyment of a movie, that is something we all know. However, besides well written characters, one notable trait of Ghibli films is that most main characters are actually female, with many of them being on the younger side. In addition, they are not depicted as weak and needing protection like in typical movies. These girls are strong and able to handle their own problems, becoming characters that young female viewers can look up to. However they are not perfect, and do have moments of vulnerability where they require help. This is what makes them feel human, and enables viewers to truly connect with them and understand what they are going through, immersing themselves in the world within the film.
Through their artistry in filmmaking, themes, characters, as well as storylines that appeal to audiences of all ages, Studio Ghibli guarantees an enchanting watch throughout all movies. After reading this and understanding more about the beauty of Studio Ghibli, I hope that the next time you feel sad or simply drained from a long day, you will consider watching a Ghibli film and immersing yourself in the silent comfort they bring.
References:
Comments