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Studio Ghibli marks 40 years, but future looks uncertain

Studio Ghibli marks 40 years, but future looks uncertain

Japan Today11 hours ago

Studio Ghibli, the name behind the Oscar-winning 'Spirited Away', has become a cultural phenomenon
By Natsuko FUKUE
Japan's Studio Ghibli turns 40 this month with two Oscars and legions of fans young and old won over by its complex plots and fantastical hand-drawn animation.
But the future is uncertain, with latest hit "The Boy and the Heron" likely -- but not certainly -- the final feature from celebrated co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, now 84.
The studio behind the Oscar-winning "Spirited Away" has become a cultural phenomenon since Miyazaki and the late Isao Takahata established it in 1985.
Its popularity has been fuelled of late by a second Academy Award in 2024 for "The Boy and the Heron", starring Robert Pattinson, and by Netflix streaming Ghibli movies around the world.
In March, the internet was flooded with pictures in its distinctively nostalgic style after the release of OpenAI's newest image generator -- raising questions over copyright.
The newly opened Ghibli Park has also become a major tourist draw for Aichi Prefecture.
Julia Santilli, a 26-year-old from Britain living in northern Japan, "fell in love with Ghibli" after watching the 2001 classic "Spirited Away" as a child.
"I started collecting all the DVDs," she told AFP.
Ghibli stories are "very engaging and the artwork is stunning", said another fan, Margot Divall, 26. "I probably watch 'Spirited Away' about 10 times a year still."
Before Ghibli, most cartoons in Japan -- known as anime -- were made for children.
But Miyazaki and Takahata, both from "the generation that knew war", included darker elements that appeal to adults, Miyazaki's son Goro told AFP.
"It's not all sweet -- there's also a bitterness and things like that which are beautifully intertwined in the work," he said, describing a "whiff of death" in the films.
For younger people who grew up in peacetime, "it is impossible to create something with the same sense, approach and attitude", Goro said.
Even "My Neighbor Totoro", with its cuddly forest creatures, is in some ways a "scary" movie that explores the fear of losing a sick mother, he explained.
Susan Napier, a professor at Tufts University in the United States and author of "Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art", agrees.
"In Ghibli, you have ambiguity, complexity and also a willingness to see that the darkness and light often go together" unlike good-versus-evil U.S. cartoons, she said.
The post-apocalyptic "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" -- considered the first Ghibli film despite its release in 1984 -- has no obvious villain, for example.
The movie featuring an independent princess curious about giant insects and a poisonous forest felt "so fresh" and a change from "a passive woman... having to be rescued", Napier said.
Natural world
Studio Ghibli films also depict a universe where humans connect deeply with nature and the spirit world.
A case in point was 1997's "Princess Mononoke", distributed internationally by Disney.
The tale of a girl raised by a wolf goddess in a forest threatened by humans is "a masterpiece -- but a hard movie", Napier said.
It's a "serious, dark and violent" film appreciated more by adults, which "was not what U.S. audiences had anticipated with a movie about a princess".
Ghibli films "have an environmentalist and animistic side, which I think is very appropriate for the contemporary world with climate change", she added.
Miyuki Yonemura, a professor at Japan's Senshu University who studies cultural theories on animation, said watching Ghibli movies is like reading literature.
"That's why some children watch Totoro 40 times," she said, adding that audiences "discover something new every time".
Miyazaki and Takahata -- who died in 2018 -- could create imaginative worlds because of their openness to other cultures, Yonemura said.
Foreign influences included writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery and animator Paul Grimault, both French, and Canadian artist Frederic Back, who won an Oscar for his animation "The Man Who Planted Trees".
Takahata studying French literature at university "was a big factor", Yonemura said.
"Both Miyazaki and Takahata read a lot," she said. "That's a big reason why they excel at writing scripts and creating stories."
Miyazaki has said he was inspired by several books for "Nausicaa", including the 12th-century Japanese tale "The Lady who Loved Insects", and Greek mythology.
Studio Ghibli will not be the same after Miyazaki stops creating animation, "unless similar talent emerges", Yonemura said.
Miyazaki is "a fantastic artist with such a visual imagination" while both he and Takahata were "politically progressive", Napier said. "The more I study, the more I realize this was a unique cultural moment."
"It's so widely loved that I think it will carry on," said Ghibli fan Divall. "As long as it doesn't lose its beauty, as long as it carries on the amount of effort, care and love."
© 2025 AFP

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Studio Ghibli marks 40 years, but future looks uncertain
Studio Ghibli marks 40 years, but future looks uncertain

Japan Today

time11 hours ago

  • Japan Today

Studio Ghibli marks 40 years, but future looks uncertain

Studio Ghibli, the name behind the Oscar-winning 'Spirited Away', has become a cultural phenomenon By Natsuko FUKUE Japan's Studio Ghibli turns 40 this month with two Oscars and legions of fans young and old won over by its complex plots and fantastical hand-drawn animation. But the future is uncertain, with latest hit "The Boy and the Heron" likely -- but not certainly -- the final feature from celebrated co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, now 84. The studio behind the Oscar-winning "Spirited Away" has become a cultural phenomenon since Miyazaki and the late Isao Takahata established it in 1985. Its popularity has been fuelled of late by a second Academy Award in 2024 for "The Boy and the Heron", starring Robert Pattinson, and by Netflix streaming Ghibli movies around the world. In March, the internet was flooded with pictures in its distinctively nostalgic style after the release of OpenAI's newest image generator -- raising questions over copyright. The newly opened Ghibli Park has also become a major tourist draw for Aichi Prefecture. Julia Santilli, a 26-year-old from Britain living in northern Japan, "fell in love with Ghibli" after watching the 2001 classic "Spirited Away" as a child. "I started collecting all the DVDs," she told AFP. Ghibli stories are "very engaging and the artwork is stunning", said another fan, Margot Divall, 26. "I probably watch 'Spirited Away' about 10 times a year still." Before Ghibli, most cartoons in Japan -- known as anime -- were made for children. But Miyazaki and Takahata, both from "the generation that knew war", included darker elements that appeal to adults, Miyazaki's son Goro told AFP. "It's not all sweet -- there's also a bitterness and things like that which are beautifully intertwined in the work," he said, describing a "whiff of death" in the films. For younger people who grew up in peacetime, "it is impossible to create something with the same sense, approach and attitude", Goro said. Even "My Neighbor Totoro", with its cuddly forest creatures, is in some ways a "scary" movie that explores the fear of losing a sick mother, he explained. Susan Napier, a professor at Tufts University in the United States and author of "Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art", agrees. "In Ghibli, you have ambiguity, complexity and also a willingness to see that the darkness and light often go together" unlike good-versus-evil U.S. cartoons, she said. The post-apocalyptic "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" -- considered the first Ghibli film despite its release in 1984 -- has no obvious villain, for example. The movie featuring an independent princess curious about giant insects and a poisonous forest felt "so fresh" and a change from "a passive woman... having to be rescued", Napier said. Natural world Studio Ghibli films also depict a universe where humans connect deeply with nature and the spirit world. A case in point was 1997's "Princess Mononoke", distributed internationally by Disney. The tale of a girl raised by a wolf goddess in a forest threatened by humans is "a masterpiece -- but a hard movie", Napier said. It's a "serious, dark and violent" film appreciated more by adults, which "was not what U.S. audiences had anticipated with a movie about a princess". Ghibli films "have an environmentalist and animistic side, which I think is very appropriate for the contemporary world with climate change", she added. Miyuki Yonemura, a professor at Japan's Senshu University who studies cultural theories on animation, said watching Ghibli movies is like reading literature. "That's why some children watch Totoro 40 times," she said, adding that audiences "discover something new every time". Miyazaki and Takahata -- who died in 2018 -- could create imaginative worlds because of their openness to other cultures, Yonemura said. Foreign influences included writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery and animator Paul Grimault, both French, and Canadian artist Frederic Back, who won an Oscar for his animation "The Man Who Planted Trees". Takahata studying French literature at university "was a big factor", Yonemura said. "Both Miyazaki and Takahata read a lot," she said. "That's a big reason why they excel at writing scripts and creating stories." Miyazaki has said he was inspired by several books for "Nausicaa", including the 12th-century Japanese tale "The Lady who Loved Insects", and Greek mythology. Studio Ghibli will not be the same after Miyazaki stops creating animation, "unless similar talent emerges", Yonemura said. Miyazaki is "a fantastic artist with such a visual imagination" while both he and Takahata were "politically progressive", Napier said. "The more I study, the more I realize this was a unique cultural moment." "It's so widely loved that I think it will carry on," said Ghibli fan Divall. "As long as it doesn't lose its beauty, as long as it carries on the amount of effort, care and love." © 2025 AFP

Support Japan's real-world Totoro Forest with special Studio Ghibli collection
Support Japan's real-world Totoro Forest with special Studio Ghibli collection

SoraNews24

time20 hours ago

  • SoraNews24

Support Japan's real-world Totoro Forest with special Studio Ghibli collection

Huge range of clothing, bags, accessories and stationery help to save the place where Totoro was born. Not many fans may be aware of it, but the character of Totoro from My Neighbour Totoro was born in a forest area in Sayama Hills in Tokyo's neighbouring prefecture of Saitama, which now goes by the name 'Totoro's Forest'. Ghibli director and co-founder Hayao Miyazaki came up with the idea for Totoro during one of his daily walks in the forested area, leading it to become known as 'the place where Totoro was born', and prompting him to set up the Totoro no Furusato Foundation, which conserves the natural habitat through initiatives such as the 'Totoro Fund'. Part of the way the foundation raises funds is through sales of Totoro Fund goods, which feature illustrations by Miyazaki that you won't find anywhere else. Right now is the perfect time to stock up and support the cause, as a huge number of goods has been restocked at the studio's Donguri Kyowakoku retail chain, giving you a wide variety of products to choose from, at various price points. The first set of goods is a range of clothing, with hoodies and long and short-sleeved T-shirts vying for our attention. ▼ The long-sleeved T-shirts have 'National Trust Totoro Fund' written on the front… ▼ … a couple of cute Soot Sprites on the left sleeve… ▼ … and a trio of Totoros on the back. This design is called 'Furoshiki Totoro', with furoshiki referring to the cloth sacks being carried by the Totoros. The Furoshiki Totoro long-sleeved shirts retail for 4,510 yen (US$31.27) each and can be purchased in white or black. ▼ Next up, we have a couple of 'Furoshiki Totoro' hoodies, priced at 6,600 yen. Like the shirts, the hoodie is made from 100-percent cotton and features adorable images drawn by Miyazaki. ▼ The hoodie is available in grey… ▼… and black. Now we move on to the T-shirts, with the 'Konnichi wa Totoro' ('Hello Totoro') design featuring the big guy popping out from a corner to say hello. The shirts can be left untucked for an oversized, casual look, or tucked in for a neat but relaxed style. The Konnichi wa Totoro is available in three colourways, priced at 3,960 yen each. ▼ Navy ▼Black ▼ … and White. ▼ Meadow Totoro has a duo of Soot Sprites on the front… ▼…and a beautifully whimsical image of Totoro on the back. ▼ The shirt is available in white or black and is priced at 3,960 yen each. Now we move on to some bags and accessories, starting with the Furoshiki Totoro Neck Strap (1,430 yen), which can be used for ID cards, smartphones, pens, name tags, keys — anything that's small and easy to lose. The Furoshiki Totoros will take care of your valuable items, with different designs on the front and back of the strap. There are three bags to choose from. ▼ The Vertical Catbus Tote Bag (2,750 yen), which measures 36-37 centimetres (14.2-14.6 inches). The bag is as cute as it is functional, with an inner pocket helping to keep things easily accessible. ▼ The Sendangusa Foldable Eco Bag (1,540 yen) Light yet durable, this handy bag measures about 38 x 42 centimetres and can carry half a dozen two-litre plastic bottles. 'Sendangusa', a genus of annual plants in the daisy family, features in the adorable design, with Totoro seen relaxing in the leaves. As the name suggests, this bag folds up into a neat little square so you can keep it in your handbag without it taking up too much space. ▼ The Matcha Foldable Eco Bag (1,870 yen) Measuring around 27 x 56 centimetres, this bag is slightly shorter and wider than the previous one, making it a good fit for bento lunch boxes. It also comes in handy for supermarket runs, where everyone in the store will be silently admiring the adorable design. This sweet design embodies the charm , beauty and magic of the place where Totoro was born. This one folds up neatly as well so you can have it ready to go in your bag whenever you need to use it. Now it's time to check out the stickers, which are an affordable way to contribute to the fund while getting some very cute hand-drawn images in return. ▼ Soot Sprites and Furoshiki Totoro Set ▼ 'Mei' and 'Totoro Family' ▼ 'Catbus' and 'Large Totoro' ▼ 'Round Large Totoro' ▼ 'Round Furoshiki Totoro' Both the two-piece sticker sets and larger single stickers retail for 660 yen, and whichever ones you choose, they're sure to grab attention. ▼ The remaining goods will be highly sought after by stationery lovers. First up, there are two postcards sets, with the 'Flowers' collection containing five watercolour designs… ▼ … and the 'Totoro' set containing six. ▼ The 'Totoro Letter' Letter Set (660 yen) contains a total of nine sheets of paper, in three designs… ▼ … and three translucent envelopes, so you can see the artwork without even having to open it. ▼ The Totoro Letter Set (660 yen) is adorned in illustrations drawn by Miyazaki. There are a total of 12 sheets in this set, in three designs. ▼ Mei is shown in a forest setting with the Catbus and the baby Catbus. ▼ The Furoshiki Totoros can be seen walking in line amongst Soot Sprites and their beloved acorns. ▼ And the Soot Sprites loom large over the rural Kusakabe family home, as if having escaped from its confines. ▼ The set is complete with five envelopes. Next up, we have several 'ippitsu-sen' (一筆せん), which are note pads or letter pads that are ideal for writing short messages. ▼ This seven-sheet pad has three illustrations by Miyazaki. Because Japanese is traditionally written from top to bottom, there's also a vertical ippitsu-sen , with three original illustrations by Miyazaki. Then we have some loose-sheet ippitsu-sen , with seven in total featuring three Miyazaki-drawn illustrations. ▼ All the ippitsu-sen retail for 660 yen. Now we come to the final product in the lineup — the Soot Sprite Sticky Notes (660 yen). This adorable set will have you wanting to bookmark everything you can with a sticky note. With 26 products to choose from, Totoro will be receiving a lot of for his real-world forest from supportive fans this summer. As always, stocks are limited, so you'll want to get in quick to show your support, although you can always make the trip to Sayama to experience the forest and purchase the goods in person. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Cloudy skies can't dim joy as thousands fill Washington for World Pride parade
Cloudy skies can't dim joy as thousands fill Washington for World Pride parade

Japan Today

timea day ago

  • Japan Today

Cloudy skies can't dim joy as thousands fill Washington for World Pride parade

By CHRISTINE FERNANDO, JACQUELYN MARTIN and GARY FIELDS Gray skies and drizzle gave way to sunshine, multicolored flags and celebrations as the nation's capital held the World Pride parade Saturday. Tens of thousands of people participated in parades and other festivities, in defiance of what activists say is an unprecedented assault on the LGBTQ+ community that challenges the rights many have fought for over the years. A rainbow flag the length of three football fields flowed through the streets, carried by 500 members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C., to kick off the parade. Behind them, people waved Pride flags and flags representing the transgender, asexual and bisexual communities from atop a bus. Singer-songwriter and actor Reneé Rapp laughed and blew kisses from the back of a pickup truck draped with a transgender flag while Laverne Cox, a transgender actress and activist known for her role in Netflix's 'Orange is the New Black,' waved from an open convertible. 'Pride means us looking out for each other no matter what,' she declared to the crowd as the convertible rolled to a stop. 'We know how to be there for each other.' Many LGBTQ+ travelers have expressed concerns or decided to skip World Pride due to anxieties about safety, border policies and a hostile political climate that they say hearkens back to another time. But that did not keep international travelers and other participants away, with groups visible from Iran, Namibia, Kenya and Russia. Along the parade route, hundreds gathered outside the National City Christian Church as rainbow flags and balloons lined its steps and columns. A child with rainbow face paint blew bubbles at the base of the steps while Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' blared from loudspeakers. 'D.C. is already one of the biggest cities in the country for celebrating Pride,' said Cheo White, 33, from Annapolis, Maryland. 'But we are all collectively more united and turning out more because of what's happening in the White House.' Many have said the gathering has taken on a new meaning amid the Trump administration's aggressive policies against protections for transgender Americans and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. White's partner, Nick Kerver, 26, who was visiting from Toledo, Ohio, said Pride has 'always been a political tool' but has taken on more importance this year amid mounting threats to the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender and nonbinary Americans.' 'It feels more important than ever,' Kerver said while wearing a rainbow hat, sunglasses and a T-shirt. 'But we also have to get involved in our local communities, too.' David Begler, a 58-year-old gay man from Philadelphia, expressed disappointment that many international travelers felt unsafe visiting the District of Columbia for World Pride but said he appreciates its presence in the city during this political climate. 'It's the perfect time to have World Pride in D.C.,' Begler said. 'We need it right now. I want us to send a message to the White House to focus on uplifting each other instead of dividing.' Stay DeRoux, 36, usually plans a day trip to D.C. Pride from her home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. But this year, she and her wife, Deenie DeRoux, planned a full weekend. 'This is a really big year,' Stay DeRoux said. 'There's been a lot of turmoil. So it's an amazing thing to be among allies, among people who love because we've experienced so much hate on a daily basis.' For the day, the idea of threats and opposition took a backseat to the celebration. Streets were closed, but filled with floats, and impromptu parties broke out with music and food in streets adjoining the parade route. Johnny Cervantes Jr., dressed in a black suit and top hat, headed to a grandstand at a church themed float to marry his partner of 28 years, Freddie Lutz, owner of Freddie's Beach Bar and Restaurant in Arlington, Virginia. Events culminate Sunday with a rally and protest march and a giant street party and concert covering a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue. 'This is World Pride in the best city in the world,' D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared as she walked the parade hand-in-hand with her daughter, Miranda. Late Saturday, the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department reported on its X site, formerly Twitter, that two men were stabbed and another was shot near Dupont Circle, one of the areas of celebration during Pride. A police spokeswoman said it was two incidents. The conditions of the victims were unknown, and there were no other details available. It was not known if the incidents were related to the celebration or to one another. Michael Williams, security at the Madhatter Restaurant, said he heard a loud pop that sounded like a gun shot then saw dozens of people running away from Dupont Circle along Connecticut Avenue, one of the city's main north-to-south thoroughfares. He said police were following behind. 'I just stepped out of people's way. And it looked like police had it under control.' Despite the police presence in the area afterwards, revelers continued flooding nightspots. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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