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Studio
Ghibli
Ghibli? Well,
apparently it means 'hot wind blowing through the Sahara
Desert'. Its application? Let's blow a sensational wind
into the world of Japanese animation.
Studio Ghibli
needs absolutely no introduction for its fans-of whom
there are many. It produces exquisite films renowned
not only for their breathtaking animation but also for
the complexity of their characterisation and narrative.
Nearly 20 years
of filmmaking now lies behind the directing duo Takahata
Isao and Miyazaki Hayao. Ghibli is rare, if not unique,
in being an animation studio that works solely on feature-film
productions that are themselves based only on original
material. Unlike other Japanese anime studios, Ghibli
does not produce work for television or produce feature
re-makes of television-based animations. And it has
survived for 20 years on this policy.
Released from
the budgetary and time constraints of television, Ghibli
has focused on quality work that aims to 'probe into
the depths of the human mind and that illustrates the
joys and sorrows of life'.
Kiki's Delivery
Service (1989) was Ghibli's first real box-office
hit and was the number one Japanese film that year.
My Neighbour Totoro (1988) was released internationally
by Twentieth Century Fox, and Pom Poko (1994)
was a Japanese Oscar nominee. But the epic Princess
Mononoke (1997) is their best-known film-until
the release of Spirited Away (2001), directed
by Miyazaki Hayao, it was the highest-grossing domestic
film in Japan's history and, thanks to Miramax, who
bought it and gave it a new soundtrack, it is also well
known outside Japan. However, being 'international'
is not a driving force for Ghibli. Takahata and Miyazaki
claim that, although they are grateful for international
acclaim, their films are made for home audiences first
and foremost. BIFF is fortunate to be able to present
two Takahata films-Pom Poko and My Neighbours
the Yamadas (1999). Both films have had only a
limited international release and are somewhat 'outside
the norm' for Ghibli.
Anne
Démy-Geroe
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