Latest news with #PrincessMononoke
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Review of Hayao Miyazaki's ‘Princess Mononoke'
It was only recently, with the advent of the rising usage of AI, that the 'Ghibli Filter' trend took the internet by storm. Amidst this, arrived the release of the recently remastered 'Princess Mononoke', which reminded the world once again that no matter how much artificial intelligence may try, it can never quite understand the emotional depth and capture the true essence that lies in each perfect hand-crafted frame made by Hayao Miyazaki and the artists at Studio Ghibli. Set in the Muromachi Period of Japan, we are quickly introduced to our protagonist, Prince Ashitaka, who, after killing an evil beast to protect his village, is laid with a curse that sets him out on a journey to find the Forest Spirit that looms in the dangerous forests of the far West. He meets several people along the way and learns about them and the way they look at the world. Miyazaki's film is an adventurous journey that does not wish to reveal everything at once as much as it takes its own time to allow you to connect to the characters and narrative at hand. In doing so, he is able to deliver a powerful message about both: The need to conserve nature as well as human nature. Relevant as ever, Miyazaki's stunning film engulfs you into a world that has characters that feel like they actually exist. There is no clear-cut villain or a hero in this film, a rare sight in the animated film genre (especially for films that cater to a younger audience). In fact, the older one grows, the more they realise that the meaning of the story only deepens. There is a justified reason behind each character's actions and beliefs. Hence, our protagonist remains conflicted on which side to pick throughout the film. He wishes to understand those around him without hatred, and to do so, he observes the world he is surrounded by. Every frame is meticulous, and the image born out of imagination feels truly authentic. Aided to this is the film's sound design and score, which authentically captures the essence of Japan over six hundred years ago. Even in times that lacked concrete buildings and electricity, deforestation was present, in order to obtain minerals from under the soil. It was a banal process that brought with it a blinding greed that saw an endless thirst for power that could never be quenched. The film's third act turns especially brutal, it is a loud cry to prevent the harm of animals and nature. Miyazaki's ability to seep in the elements of fantasy with the real creates images that are not just visually stunning but also a reminder that he is an artist whose genius can never be replicated. To celebrate his art is to celebrate the very essence of life itself. For Miyazaki, life of all kinds is important, and for life to exist, we must coexist. The writer, Rudrangsh Gupta, is a freelance filmmaker and enjoys keeping a keen eye out for moving stories that are shown with a unique lens.
Time Business News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
Exploring Ghibli Characters Through the Lens of AI: A Dive into Studio Ghibli's Magic
Studio Ghibli has long been celebrated for its captivating storytelling and unforgettable characters. From the lush landscapes of My Neighbor Totoro to the whimsical adventures in Spirited Away, Ghibli characters have become iconic figures in animation. Today, with advancements in AI technology, we can explore these beloved characters in innovative ways. This article delves into how AI, particularly through platforms like Craveu AI, is transforming our interaction with Studio Ghibli's enchanting world. Studio Ghibli characters, both female and male, have enchanted audiences globally. Their rich personalities and compelling narratives make them timeless. Whether it's the courageous Chihiro from Spirited Away or the noble Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke, each character leaves a lasting impression. But how can AI deepen our connection to these characters? Craveu AI offers a revolutionary approach to engaging with Ghibli characters. By leveraging AI technology, users can participate in role play with these characters, gaining new insights into their personalities and stories. AI Ghibli characters crafted by Craveu AI merge creativity with technology, allowing fans to interact with their favorite Studio Ghibli characters in unparalleled ways. The platform not only facilitates interactive role play but also generates high-quality images of beloved characters. Imagine creating an AI-generated Totoro or a digitally enhanced version of Howl. Craveu AI's Ghibli character AI art exemplifies the potential of blending animation with cutting-edge technology, offering fans a new method to engage with these cherished figures. AI generators, such as those from Craveu AI, utilize sophisticated algorithms to produce detailed and lifelike representations of Studio Ghibli characters. By analyzing key traits and characteristics, these generators develop personalities that echo the essence of the original characters. This technology paves the way for novel storytelling and interaction opportunities, enabling fans to explore questions like 'which Studio Ghibli character are you?' in a more interactive format. The nuances of each character are preserved and enhanced through Ghibli character personality AI. This technology captures the quirks and charm of characters like Kiki and Nausicaä, allowing fans to engage with their favorite characters on a deeper level. Imagine conversing with an AI rendition of Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle, understanding her motivations and dreams through AI-driven dialogue. Studio Ghibli is renowned for its strong female characters. From the valiant Nausicaä to the adventurous San, these characters embody strength, resilience, and compassion. With AI, fans can further explore these characters' personalities, understanding their motivations and engaging with them in a personalized manner. Similarly, male characters such as Ashitaka, Haku, and Howl can be reimagined using AI. Known for their complexity and growth, these characters can now be explored in new ways. Craveu AI allows fans to interact with these characters, gaining insights into their journeys and development. AI technology is reshaping how we perceive and engage with art. Ghibli character AI art presents a fusion of traditional animation styles with modern technology, offering fans a chance to view their favorite characters in new artistic forms. This blend of innovation and tradition keeps the magic of Studio Ghibli alive, inviting new generations to discover its wonders. With the vast array of characters created by Studio Ghibli, AI provides a platform to discover and engage with them all. Whether you're a fan of the iconic Catbus or the mysterious Yubaba, AI platforms like Craveu AI allow you to explore these characters' worlds, offering fresh perspectives and interactions. The integration of AI with the enchanting world of Studio Ghibli characters opens a new realm of possibilities. Through platforms like Craveu AI, fans can explore the personalities and stories of their favorite characters in innovative and interactive ways. The blend of AI technology with the timeless magic of Studio Ghibli ensures that these beloved characters continue to inspire and captivate audiences for generations to come. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Veteran actor Keith David breaks down over Hollywood milestone
Keith David, the legendary screen and voice actor with over four decades of celebrated work, was visibly overcome with emotion after learning he will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. -X The surprise was delivered during his 70th birthday celebrations, orchestrated by his wife Dionne Lea Williams, in a heartfelt moment that quickly resonated across social media. Known for his powerful voice and commanding presence in films like Platoon, The Thing, and They Live, as well as acclaimed voice roles in Gargoyles and Princess Mononoke, David has built a prolific career across genres and generations. His selection is part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame's 2026 class, which includes major names like Emily Blunt, Timothée Chalamet, Miley Cyrus, Rami Malek, and Demi Moore. In a message following the announcement, David expressed deep gratitude, calling the honor 'the cherry on top' of an already fulfilling career. 'Being blessed to do this for a living is enough,' he said, 'but to be recognized for my contribution to the arts is humbling beyond words.' The date for his star ceremony will be scheduled sometime in 2026. Industry peers and longtime fans have praised the honor as richly deserved and long overdue.
South China Morning Post
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Spark Study Buddy (Challenger): Ghibli's timeless animated magic turns 40
Content provided by British Council [1] Studio Ghibli, Japan's Oscar-winning anime studio, celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this month. Here are the top five films from the studio that have delighted fans over the decades. [2] Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985, but this post-apocalyptic story, released in 1984, is considered its first film. It was based on a comic strip series that Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki wrote for a magazine for anime fans. [3] The movie is set 1,000 years after a war that destroyed human civilisation. The story takes place in a valley protected from toxic air coming from poisonous forests. The story centres on Nausicaä, who discovers the secrets of the forests. Nausicaä gets involved in wars between countries trying to bring back a dangerous 'giant warrior'. [4] My Neighbour Totoro: This beloved Ghibli classic is set in the 1950s Japanese countryside where two young sisters with a sick mother move from the city. They meet the cuddly yet mysterious forest spirit Totoro and Catbus. Catbus is a 12-legged smiling cat with a hollow body in the form of a bus. Both these characters have become Studio Ghibli mascots. The film was turned into a play for the first time by Britain's Royal Shakespeare Company in 2022. [5] Princess Mononoke: The tale of a girl raised by a wolf goddess in a forest threatened by humans was a smash hit in Japan. The film also made Miyazaki popular internationally. It tells the story of a young prince on a journey to find a cure for his curse. He meets San, also known as Princess Mononoke – meaning spirit or monster in Japanese. The prince seeks ways to prevent wars between harmful humans and animal gods, focusing on nature as the ultimate god. [6] Spirited Away: This is the film that won Miyazaki his first Oscar. It is about a girl who gets lost in a mystical world of gods and spirits. She tries to save her parents, who have been turned into pigs. To survive, 10-year-old Chihiro is told by a mysterious boy to get a job at a Japanese bathhouse run by a witch. In a story full of Japanese beliefs and traditions, Chihiro gains confidence through her work. [7] The Boy and the Heron: This is Miyazaki's second film to win an Oscar and is likely to be the 84-year-old's last. The story follows a boy struggling to accept his new life after his mother dies in the firebombing of Tokyo during World War II. Everything changes when he meets a talking heron. He then goes on a journey to an alternate universe, shared by the living and the dead, in search of his stepmother. Source: Agence-France Presse, June 6 Questions 1. According to paragraph 2, what was the movie Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind based on? 2. How many legs does Catbus have, according to paragraph 4? A. four B. eight C. 12 D. 20 3. What does the phrase 'smash hit' in paragraph 5 tell us about Princess Mononoke? 4. According to paragraph 6, a ... caused Chihiro's parents to turn into animals. A. Japanese witch B. mysterious boy C. Japanese bathhouse D. information not given 5. Which two films mentioned in the article won an Oscar? (2 marks) 6. Decide whether the following statements are written in the active or passive voice. (3 marks) (i) Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985. (ii) Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is considered the animation company's first film. (iii) In one of its recent films, a talking heron guides the protagonist on a journey to an alternate universe. Explore Studio Ghibli's top films, including 'My Neighbour Totoro', 'Spirited Away' and a boy's mystical journey in 'The Boy and the Heron'. Photo: Studio Ghibli Answers 1. It was based on a comic-strip series that Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki wrote for a magazine targeted at anime fans. 2. C 3. that the film was extremely successful and popular in Japan 4. D 5. Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron 6. (i) active; (ii) passive; (iii) active
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
40 years on: the wonderful world of Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli films have always had a special place in the childhoods of those who grew up watching them. Whether it was hopping on a Catbus on a rainy day (My Neighbour Totoro, 1988), soaring above the clouds on a broom to deliver freshly baked goods (Kiki's Delivery Service, 1989), or warily eyeing the pigs outside a bathhouse (Spirited Away, 2001) — these are the images that stay with you long after the screen goes dark. The animation studio, which recently turned 40, continues to be in the spotlight. Recently, Studio Ghibli's popularity has skyrocketed and, like most animated styles, it has progressed into mainstream media — with people flaunting its merchandise, available in stores and on the pavements of most Indian metros. Ghibli films are regularly screened in these cities, too. Most recently, AI can now mimic the style with unsettling accuracy. The irony — that every Studio Ghibli film takes years to bring to life, with each frame painstakingly hand-drawn, and that Hayao Miyazaki himself is famously anti-AI — seems to be lost on users as they upload their photos for a Ghibli-style render. Behind the longevity But what is it about Studio Ghibli's creations that captures public imagination? Is it the animated worlds that are simple and uncomplicated; the protagonists who are easy to empathise with; intricate depictions of sweeping mountains, mechanical castles, and lush green forests; or the unmistakable expressions of joy, sadness, anger, frustration, and disappointment etched into the expressive faces of its characters? There is no black and white in Ghibli's worlds — the villains have their reasons and are always redeemable. Maybe it's the feeling of nostalgia, the sense of familiarity, the childhood memories stored deep in the recesses of your mind, and the emotions they evoke. All of this contributes to Studio Ghibli's universal appeal. Of course, one could take a more cynical view and attribute the recent burst in popularity and interest to the aesthetic churned out by algorithms. Either way, there's something about Studio Ghibli that clings to your mind like a particularly stubborn soot sprite. Perhaps it's because beneath the deceptively simple narratives lie deeper themes that offer profound philosophical food for thought. Miyazaki and modernisation Miyazaki's disdain for technology and modernisation is evident throughout his films. He has famously stated that 'modern life is so thin and shallow and fake — I look forward to when developers go bankrupt, Japan gets poorer and wild grasses take over'. While this vision may not reflect reality, he weaves this imagery into his films, particularly in Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and My Neighbour Totoro, where forests abound and grasslands stretch endlessly. Princess Mononoke centres on environmentalism, portraying it in a way that forces the viewer to confront the inevitability of industrialisation. As much as one may not want it to happen, it must — and finding a middle ground becomes the only viable solution. Nausicaä, meanwhile, navigates a world transformed into a toxic wasteland, as she searches for a solution. Both San (Princess Mononoke) and Nausicaä inhabit worlds scarred by war. While San, the wolf princess, fights to protect her beloved home from further deforestation and industrialisation, Nausicaä takes a more peaceful approach. In Howl's Moving Castle, themes of pacifism are more explicit, set against the constant echoes of war that linger throughout the film. Despite Howl's abhorrence of war, the wizard is forced to become a tool of destruction, even at the cost of losing his humanity. The image of Sophie, the protagonist, standing in a meadow of flowers while war rages around her highlights the stark contrast between the ugliness of war and the fragile beauty of nature. Strong, fearless women Most of Ghibli's films feature female protagonists — whether children like Satsuki and Mei (My Neighbour Totoro), Kiki (Kiki's Delivery Service), and Chihiro (Spirited Away); young women like Nausicaä and San; or even Sophie (Howl's Moving Castle), who ages and then returns to youth. Unlike Disney's princesses, they are their own knights in shining armour, facing the world head on. All of them demonstrate resilience, courage, and an unyielding hope. No matter how daunting the task or how bleak the future, they either find a silver lining or create one themselves. The younger protagonists especially show wisdom beyond their years, yet paradoxically retain their innocence and wide-eyed wonder. It is not that Ghibli lacks male protagonists, but rather that they inevitably fall short in comparison. Drawing from life Miyazaki, like many artists, often draws inspiration from real-life experiences. For instance, he travelled to Alsace, France, to study European architecture and aesthetics for Howl's Moving Castle. He also sent his animators to the vet to observe how to give medicine to a dog, which they then translated into animating a dragon in Spirited Away. There's a recurring theme of chronic illness in several of Miyazaki's films. In The Wind Rises, we meet Naoko, who suffers from tuberculosis. In My Neighbour Totoro, Satsuki and Mei's mother is hospitalised while the sisters explore Totoro's forest. This mirrors Miyazaki's own childhood experience, when his mother was hospitalised due to spinal tuberculosis. Despite theories about the underlying symbolism in his films, Miyazaki's stance is clear: 'I don't have much patience for calculating and intellectualising anymore. It has to do with the times. Nobody knows everything. Nobody knows what's going to happen. So, my conclusion is, don't try to be too smart and wise. Why does anybody feel the way they do? Why is somebody depressed? Or angry? Even if you have a therapist, you're never going to figure it out. You're not going to solve it.' Contrary to rumours of his imminent retirement after The Boy and the Heron, Miyazaki, now 84, shows no sign of slowing down. Since his films are hand-drawn, it's understandable that they take years to complete. If Clint Eastwood can continue directing films at 95, then what's stopping Miyazaki? The writer and journalist is based in Mumbai.
