If you read the title The Boy and the Heron, you would assume it’s a charming romp through the Japanese countryside with a boy and his beloved pet bird. But the truth is, The Boy and the Heron is one of legendary Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki’s least whimsical productions. Now 82 years old, the filmmaker is grappling with a subject no less weighty than the idea of legacy and the future survival of the world. Its overall narrative structure is a little less tightly written than some of his other films. And young Mahito proves to be at times an emotionally impenetrable hero. However, The Boy and the Heron is nonetheless a compelling, imaginative entry into the Miyazaki canon.

Our story begins in Tokyo in the midst of World War II, after a hospital fire that claims the life of Mahito’s (Soma Santoki) mother. He is sent to a quieter estate in the countryside where he learns that his important factory owner father has remarried. His new wife is his late wife’s younger sister Natsuko and they are expecting a child together.

Mahito does his best to make this his home, but he still struggles with anger and grief over the passing of his mother. The vision of a mysterious grey heron plagues him with continual harassment. The more he learns about the strange history of the estate, the louder the heron’s cries become, eventually speaking to him. It promises Mahito that it can take him to see his mother and assures him that she’s not actually dead. But it’s only after Natsuko’s kidnapping that Mahito gives in to its requests and follows the heron into another world.

As one might expect, creative and imaginative animation defines The Boy and the Heron. The opening sequence with the fire at Mahito’s mother’s hospital is especially vivid. It creates a frenzied, blurred image that looks almost impressionistic in style. The character design lives up to Miyazaki’s reputation, ranging from the gruesome to the adorable, like the Warawara. They are sweet-looking innocent white puffs that go on to become human babies when sent up to the real world. Also, there is no reason a heron needs a full set of human teeth to gnash menacingly except to make it extra-terrifying, right?

Much of the film takes place in a different realm with a large population of the dead. However, there’s a playful sense of humor throughout. For example, the parakeets, with their unexpected homicidal tendencies and sprawling internal hierarchy, provide much of the comic relief.

The film takes quite a while to get to the action. Alice spends mere minutes in the real world before leaving on her adventures in Wonderland, after all. Meanwhile Mahito remains on the country estate for the entire first third. That’s not to say that the first act is a waste. It brims with a quiet sense of foreboding as the boy and the heron size each other up. But it really begins firing on all cylinders once they arrive in the mysterious other realm.

It’s here that Miyazaki reckons with two major sources of anxiety. There’s what he and his generation are leaving behind for the next and what kind of world the new rulers will create once they inherit it. He seemingly views the world as being on the precipice of disaster. To him, it requires careful balance from open-hearted individuals free of malice to save it from complete destruction.

This is Miyazaki at perhaps his most introspective and emotionally vulnerable, as he casts his eye inward. The original Japanese title of The Boy and the Heron is How Do You Live?. And it is indeed a question at the heart of the film. What will you do with the world once it is given to you, when you can become creator, savior, or destroyer? It shares a title with a seminal work on ethics for children by Genzaburo Yoshino. So it seems these thoughts were not far from Miyazaki’s mind when he created the film.

The Boy and the Heron attempts to blend an old man’s worries about the future with the childlike joy of discovering the world for the first time. It packs every inch of the screen with beauty tinged with a taste of the playfully macabre. Mahito is perhaps not an ideal protagonist, though. He is impassive and emotionally numb for most of the film, making it difficult to connect with him. But although the human characters are on the sparsely written side, the rich world that Miyazaki creates compensates for this. This makes The Boy and the Heron an imperfect but truly mesmerizing feat of animation.

The Boy and the Heron will release in the US on December 8.

The Boy and the Heron ⭐ (4 of 5)

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A new spell is about to be cast. In news first reported by The New York Times, we learned that Hayao Miyazaki would create a brand new Studio Ghibli movie, The Boy and the Heron. This is the last new Studio Ghibli movie, according to the publication. And one we are all excited to see take shape.

The Boy and the Heron First Look Images

The new Miyazaki movie, tentatively titled, How Do You Live released in Japan on July 14, 2023. In the US, the movie is titled “The Boy and the Heron” and it will arrive “later this year,” per its North American distributor GKids.

Although, purposefully, no trailer was released for the movie, we recently got our first good look at the animation that lies in store. All the hallmarks of a great Miyazaki movie, strange creatures, wild nature, and a tender relationship, appear to be in order.

Additionally, The Boy and the Heron released a poster in December 2022, but little more information is available yet about the film. What we do know, however, is below.

More About Miyazaki’s How Do You Live

The original article offered us a glimpse at the film, saying:

Neither Miyazaki nor Suzuki will share much about the forthcoming film, beyond the fact that it is based on a 1937 novel by Genzaburo Yoshino. The story concerns a 15-year-old boy in Tokyo, small for his age and fond of mischief, whose father has recently died. In the English translation by Bruno Navasky, published in October, the boy gazes out at the city and is overwhelmed: “The watching self, the self being watched, and furthermore the self becoming conscious of all this, the self observing itself by itself, from afar, all those various selves overlapped in his heart, and suddenly he began to feel dizzy.”

The actual content of the film could be anything — Suzuki has described it as “fantasy on a grand scale” — since Miyazaki doesn’t so much borrow stories as liberate them from their origins. (In the pseudobiographical “The Wind Rises,” he gives the real-life Jiro Horikoshi a fictional wife dying of tuberculosis.) All Suzuki will share is that he recognizes himself in one of the characters, who is not human.

Miyazaki’s works deal with many themes, popular among them coming-of-age narratives and discussions of nature vs. man. Fantasy always serves to heighten the aspects of reality that we can all understand. And, of course, incredibly intricate animation that soothes and moves us ties it all together. If this film will offer us something even grander than before, then it will truly astound.

Though the 1937 novel goes unnamed in the article, it appears Miyazaki will adapt How Do You Live? While this news appears to have released in some capacity at previous times, this feels like a formalization of intent. The book has long influenced Miyazaki, who cites it as his favorite childhood read.

But will this truly be Miyazaki’s last film? Of course, Miyazaki has famously announced retirement before, only to return. Well, only time will tell. Miyazaki’s producer and partner Suzuki has only this insight, which the article shares. “In the West, we always need to know how things end. At Ghibli, the last scene is often a mystery.”

We look forward to this next great adventure.

Originally published on November 23, 2021.

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It was way back in 2015 when we first learned that Studio Ghibli had plans for its very own theme park. That was basically a lifetime ago. Fortunately, we won’t actually have to wait that long to visit. The amusement destination that will celebrate the beloved animation studio is now open. Among other things, it features a giant recreation of the eponymous building from Howl’s Moving Castle. In addition, people who don’t live in Japan will soon be able to visit the Studio Ghibli Park, international ticket sales are just around the corner. You can check out some first-look images below.

Click To View Gallery

Ghibli Theme Park Tickets

Previously, Studio Ghibli Theme Park tickets were only available to those living in Japan. But according to its official website, the park has officially announced it will begin to sell international tickets. International tickets to the theme park will release on January 10 at 2:00 p.m. JST (9 pm PST). The current dates available for international reservations are March 15 to April 30, 2023.

A full map of the park is now available for our enjoyment and for planning purposes if we’re lucky enough to attend.

Hayao Miyazaki Theme Park Trailer

To celebrate the opening of the Ghibli world, Hayao Miyazaki himself animated a short trailer for the theme park. According to Crunchyroll, “The Ghibli Park trailer asks people to “take their time coming” and features an array of fan-favorite Ghibli characters as they ride in the Cat Train (a play on My Neighbor Totoro‘s Cat Bus) to get to the park. We are totally charmed.

Ghibli Park Features

The home of Studio Ghibli’s upcoming amusement park, Aichi Prefecture, recently shared a big update (which we first heard about at Kotaku). A giant replica of Howl’s titular moving castle from the 2004 film will be built inside the “Witch Valley” portion of the park. “Witch Valley,” which has begun construction, will be one of five distinct areas. The section will also draw from another Studio Ghibli hit, Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Howl’s Moving Castle Giant Recreation

Howl’s signature castle won’t actually be able to motor across land like the animated version. However, the concept art for the building is reason enough alone to want to head to Japan to see it in person. And although the park’s version won’t be a full-sized recreation, it will still be plenty tall. When finished it will stand four to five stories high. Guests will be able to “see the eye-catching cannons moving.” As well as “Howl’s bedroom inside the building.” Visitors will also be able to walk the castle’s gardens and dine at accompanying restaurants. Recently, we got a new glimpse at the Ghibli theme park feature.

Other Parts of the Theme Park

Aichi Prefecture also announced the fifth new section of the park, the “Princess Mononoke” area. (Guess what movie that’s based on!) It has also begun construction.

Along with “Witch Valley,” the “Princess Mononoke” area will join the three previously announced sections. That includes “Youth Hill,” which will feature attractions based on The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart. “Ghibli Warehouse” will be adorned with other Studio Ghibli elements. And the the “Dondokomori” area will celebrate My Neighbor Totoro. Those three sections will open in 2022. Guests will be able to visit “Witch Valley” and “Princess Mononoke” the following year. There will also be a tremendous amount of natural spaces, which highlight the spirit of the films.

For now, the park has opened its Dondoko Forest, Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, and Hill of Youth areas. The Mononoke Forest will open in late 2023, and the Valley of Witches section will open in March 2024.

We can’t wait to take a closer look someday.

Originally published on February 3, 2021.

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Of the many incredibly and beautiful movies that Studio Ghibli has created, Spirited Away might be my favorite. I could wax poetic about its incredible soundtrack and gorgeous animation, created, of course, by Hayao Miyazaki, for hours. But what Spirited Away does truly effortlessly is offer viewers elements that are elegant and subtle and elements that are just absolutely adorable. And RockLove Jewelry’s latest collaboration with Studio Ghibli brings this winning Spirited Away combination to life.

The new Studio Ghibli jewelry collection from RockLove contains three excellent designs that capture the spirit of Spirited Away. The jewelry line features No Face, the Soot Sprites, and the dreamy Haku’s dragon form. (Haku is also known as the Nigihayami Kohakunushi.) If I had two choose three symbols of Spirited Away, these would absolutely live at the top of my list. After all, who could forget the endearing and lonely No Face, the cutest spirits ever, and the powerful yet vulnerable dragon?

Additionally, the three designs come in various forms for all your accessorizing needs. Mix and match them, or go fully decked out in your favorite, to bring Spirited Away to life all around you. The Studio Ghibli X RockLove Collection is now live for your shopping pleasure.

Check out a little bit more about each of these designs below, and take a look at all the excellent images of the collection below.

Studio Ghibli X RockLove Spirited Away Jewelry: No Face Ring and Necklace

According to the official site, “Handcrafted in nickel-free sterling silver and polished to a brilliant mirror shine, the spirit Kaonashi features black and lavender enamel details on this softly domed oval ring and pendant.  Ring is available in an array of sizes 5-11.”

Click To View Gallery

Studio Ghibli X RockLove Spirited Away Jewelry: Soot Sprite Rings, Earrings, and Necklace

RockLove shares, “Handcrafted in nickel-free sterling silver float charming three-dimensional Soot Sprites coated in premium glossy black enamel, with large white enamel eyes.  The Susuwatari love star candy: around the Soot Sprites hover sculpted pink, yellow, and green star clusters set with glittering faceted cubic zirconia crystals.”

Click To View Gallery

Studio Ghibli X RockLove Spirited Away Jewelry: Haku Necklace

The collection notes, “Handcrafted in nickel-free sterling silver, Nigihayami Kohakunushi is intricately sculpted in dragon form. Polished and antiqued to emphasize the incredible detail, the slender three-dimensional river spirit dragon suspends in a traditional overlapping knotwork pose with elegant trailing whiskers and flowing mane.”

Click To View Gallery

These Spirited Away pieces range from $85-$150. Whichever you choose, you’ll carry with you the beauty of Studio Ghibli.

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The beginning of March saw the opening of the Spirited Away stage adaptation. This take on Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved 2001 Studio Ghibli film reimagined the story for theatre with stunning puppets. To be exact, 50 puppets. Toby Olié designed the lively creations to accompany the 32 performers bringing iconic scenes from the film to the stage. The show started at the Imperial Theater in Tokyo, but now, the Spirited Away stage adaptation will move on to tour four additional cities. And along with the news about the tour, Toho Co., Ltd. has shared some new images. We can’t get over how gorgeous this show looks.

Look at how extra terrifying Yubaba appears as a giant puppet!

The story centers on Chihiro. She’s moving with her parents to their new home when her father takes a shortcut. They end up near a seemingly abandoned amusement park, and after they go exploring, Chihiro’s parents turn into pigs and the young girl ends up alone in a world of spirits. Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi portray Chihiro in the play. Mari Natsuki, who voiced Yubaba in the film, reprises her role in the Spirited Away stage adaptation. Romi Park also plays the witch.

A number of images from the show look unbelievably true to the movie. Whether it’s Chihiro sitting by No-Face, Kamaji talking to Chihiro, or the girl alongside the steadfast Haku. They even have small puppets for Boh and Yu-Bird. Seeing this brought to life would be a treat.

The Spirited Away stage adaptation will tour in the below locations on the following dates:

• April 13-24, 2022 at Umeda Arts Theater (Osaka)
• May 1-28, 2022 at Hakataza Theater (Fukuoka)
• June 6-12, 2022 at Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru (Sapporo)
• June 22-July 4, 2022 at Misonoza Theater (Nagoya)

Here’s hoping it continues to tour so we can try to see it.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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There is no question about it Hayao Miyazaki creates incredible stories like no other. The animated filmmaker is most well-known, of course, for his riveting Studio Ghibli movies. These works of art take the viewer into fantastical worlds that somehow remain utterly relatable. They introduce us to beloved characters and teach us important lessons. And now, English-speaking Miyazaki fans can enjoy a whole new facet of the creator’s work. In 1983, nearly 40 years ago, Hayao Miyazaki published a graphic novel, Shuna’s Journey. And in 2022, Miyazaki’s graphic novel will receive a translation into English.

Of course, undoubtedly, reading any kind of written work in its native tongue offers the most authentic experience. But translation creates art all its own. And we love how excited translator Alex Dudok de Wit feels about the opportunity to translate Miyazaki’s graphic novel.

🥁Some personal news🥁 I’m translating SHUNA’S JOURNEY, a 1983 graphic novel by Hayao Miyazaki, into English. The good folks at @01FirstSecond will publish it on November 1. (1/4) https://t.co/Wqyzbf7rgC pic.twitter.com/LWTtes4CYQ

— Alex Dudok de Wit (@dudeydok) February 22, 2022

The book isn’t so much a manga as an emonogatari (illustrated story), with all-watercolour images and text mostly presented as captions. It is based on a Tibetan folk tale, and the fantastical pseudo-Central Asian setting has a lot in common with the world of NAUSICAÄ. (2/4) pic.twitter.com/GswSObbDhe

— Alex Dudok de Wit (@dudeydok) February 22, 2022

SHUNA also prefigures other Studio Ghibli films, including PRINCESS MONONOKE (which borrows visual and narrative ideas from it) and Goro Miyazaki’s TALES FROM EARTHSEA (which is explicitly based in part on the book). (3/4) pic.twitter.com/vRheMuBbLf

— Alex Dudok de Wit (@dudeydok) February 22, 2022

Apart from all that, it’s just a really beautiful story, strange even by Miyazaki’s standards, sombre and luminous by turns. I can’t wait for this to be out!

(Miyazaki’s original afterword will be included, as will a new introduction by me.) (4/4) pic.twitter.com/y5xGwk1WKX

— Alex Dudok de Wit (@dudeydok) February 22, 2022

In addition to shedding light on the make-up of the story, de Wit offers Miyazaki fans greater context on what they can expect.  He notes that Princess Mononoke borrows visual and narrative ideas from Shuna’s Journey. Additionally, Miyazaki’s graphic novel has a lot in common with the world of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Knowing this should greatly excite those unfamiliar with Shuna’s Journey, as the mentioned films are two of Miyazaki’s most loved.

As Mark Siegel, editorial and creative director of First Second, the publisher of the translation, further shares:

Fans of Princess Mononoke and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind — there are millions of us — will delight in finding early hints of these masterworks in gorgeous watercolor pages by Miyazaki’s own hand.

The official synopsis for Shuna’s Journey, first written in 1983, shares more about the tale:

Shuna, the prince of a poor land, watches in despair as his people work themselves to death harvesting the little grain that grows there. And so, when a traveler presents him with a sample of seeds from a mysterious western land, he sets out to find the source of the golden grain, dreaming of a better life for his subjects.

It is not long before he meets a proud girl named Thea. After freeing her from captivity, he is pursued by her enemies, and while Thea escapes north, Shuna continues toward the west, finally reaching the Land of the God-Folk.

Will Shuna ever see Thea again? And will he make it back home from his quest for the golden grain?

Gods mixed with practical concerns mixed with romance. Sounds like a Miyazaki story to us.

The English translation of Miyazaki’s graphic novel releases on November 1. But you can pre-order it today. Hopefully, this new Miyazaki adventure will help us in the wait for Hayao Miyazaki’s next (and last?) Studio Ghibli movie.

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Ah, UNO. One of the most fun card games on the market. Also one of the most infuriating. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know UNO was a contentious subject in my own family. We loved gathering ’round the table after dinner or on holidays to play the game. Though it often led to fights and debates about the rules. But that’s part of the fun of family game time, and UNO is the best for that. It’s also fun to collect different themed decks. I had Harry Potter and even High School Musical UNO sets back in the day.

Now, fans of Studio Ghibli can look forward to collecting as well. Mattel came out with a My Neighbor Totoro UNO deck and it’s as adorable as you might imagine. The set comes with 112 cards that feature images of characters like the titular Totoro, as well as Mei, Satsuki, the Cat Bus, and more. It also contains stills from the film. How cute!

Mattel

This special edition UNO set also comes with a twist. According to DesignTaxi, where we first learned about this Totoro-themed deck, this version has a “Sanbo Wild,” or Walk, card. When this one is laid down, all players have to pass their cards to the person next to them. Bring on those family arguments!

My Neighbor Totoro is one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli films, so this deck is sure to warm hearts the world over. It’s wild to think the animated classic—directed by the iconic Hayao Miyazaki—is more than 32 years old. It feels like just yesterday that we fell in love with Satsuki and Mei and their wood spirit friend, Totoro. Now, we can relive our favorite moments from the movie and have fun at the same time. Until someone lays down that Sanbo Wild card. Then all bets are off.

You can buy the My Neighbor Totoro UNO deck at retailers like Amazon and Sugoi Mart now.

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It’s an understatement to say Studio Ghibli is one of the most beloved studios, animated or otherwise, in the world. It’s special to so many for a myriad of reasons. From compelling, heartfelt stories and memorable characters, to fantastic premises and a beautiful artistic style, films like My Friend Totoro, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle transport audiences to worlds they never want to leave. It’s why we can easily get lost in a montage of quiet serene moments.

But one of Studio Ghibli’s best recurring visual treats always bring us right back to our own world. And in the best way. Ghibli movies feature some of the most delicious-looking food in all of animation. It’s not easy to make us crave a drawing, but that’s exactly what happens anytime one of the studio’s characters digs into a dish. Now, we know how artists consistently make that possible.

It’s an easy recipe to understand. And it only makes us love the legendary Hayao Miyazaki even more. All of the food in Studio Ghibli films are based on things he’s actually made himself.

Producer Toshio Suzuki recently answered fan questions on Twitter. (Which we first learned about at Kotaku.) That included one on how Ghibli food always looks so good. Suzuki said it’s because Miyazaki “has actually cooked” those dishes on his own.

From an onion-and-cheese sandwich in Tales from Earthsea, to a herring and pumpkin pot pie and cake from Kiki’s Delivery Service, you aren’t just seeing an animated approximation of something the characters are eating. You’re seeing something the iconic director has prepared in his own kitchen.

Studio Ghibli

No wonder all those dishes look so delicious. They come from the heart (and the gut) of the man who has poured his soul into making Studio Ghibli one of the world’s most cherished studios.

It only makes us appreciate him more. Both as a filmmaker and as a cook.

The post The Simple Reason Studio Ghibli’s Food Always Looks So Tasty appeared first on Nerdist.

I never again want to hear someone say, “These are unprecedented times.” And if I open up one more email that starts with, “I hope this email finds you well,” I am going to lose it. All of us are very aware we are living through a nightmare. No one is well! Like everyone, I’m a smidge stressed these days. It’s cold and dark, and I’ve been stuck inside my house for what feels like 37 years. It’s all just a lot, with few options for escape. But now there’s a simple, beautiful way to get away, all from the comfort and safety of your couch. HBO Max, home to Studio Ghibli in the US, has released a 30-minute video featuring some of the iconic animation studio’s most serene and beautiful scenes.

HBO Max has cut together a soothing video (which we first learned about at DesignTAXI) with “peaceful visuals from Studio Ghibli.” The roughly six-minute sequence, which loops for half an hour, includes beautiful shots from classics like Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki’s Delivery Service. The montage features a bevy of bucolic shots, sweeping landscapes, and the general tranquility of a beautiful day. Occasionally a character pops on to screen as well. They too are there to take in the the serenity of their surroundings on a lazy day of relaxation.

And it’s all set to a quiet soundtrack of birds and bugs chirping away, the winds gently blowing, and water rippling with a calmness one kind only find outdoors. (Although in this case you are finding it indoors and on a screen).

Studio Ghibli

The whole effect is like if Sir David Attenborough did a nature documentary about Hayao Miyazaki’s mind. And I don’t care how stressful the world is right now. Anything that can accurately be described like that is going to make me feel better.

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There is no doubt that Studio Ghibli creates timeless masterpieces. One of them, Kiki’s Delivery Service, was released 32 years ago this January. The movie, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, is still full of magic and hidden truths that we can discover over and again if we dive deeper into the animation’s narrative.

Kiki’s Delivery Service tells a story of a young witch, Kiki, who leaves her hometown and family to become an independent young adult and the best witch she can be. The girl has to find her community. She’s a highly-skilled, smart, and inventive young lady. After arriving in the port city, her qualities are quickly noticed by Osono, a warm-hearted woman who owns a local bakery. The character is the first one to welcome the girl with open arms. Once Kiki is settled in Osono’s home, she starts operating an air delivery service from the woman’s store. Working hard, Kiki’s distraction from reality is Ursula, a young artist whom Kiki meets by accident, and Tombo, a boy living in the same ocean town.

The film holds many life lessons for kids. By watching Kiki’s adventures, they can learn about independence, growth, and the value of hard work. As we grow up, however, we notice that Kiki’s Delivery Service can speak to adults as well. One of the most significant themes showcased in Studio Ghibli’s creation is the topic of tolerance.

Studio Ghibli

From the moment Kiki enters the port city and slowly settles down, people look at her differently. After all, the girl is a 13-year-old witch, traveling on a broom without her parents. The town’s residents treat her as an outsider. When the character arrives in the charming ocean town, everybody stops and looks at her. Some with awe, some with confusion, and others with fear. While introducing herself to a crowd of people right after landing, they dismiss her with terror. This scene alone, just at the beginning of the film, says a lot. Although it’s more than 30 years later, we still observe people who fear what’s strange to them.

In the beginning, the only supporters of Kiki are Tombo, Ursula, and Osono. The latter takes on a rather motherly role. The young witch really looks up to her, learning everything she can from the woman. Throughout the film, Kiki is looking for her identity and skills. She isn’t entirely sure of herself; the only sure thing about her is her magic. Only after finding people who support her, Kiki finds herself and is truly happy. It easily relates to matters today. For me, it resonated on a personal level—I saw its relevance when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community. The topic of coming to know your true self is very crucial. Once you discover and accept yourself for who you are, you can be fully yourself—just as Kiki is at the end of the film.

The subject of tolerance is a very significant component of Kiki’s Delivery Service. First and foremost, it teaches the young viewers of its importance in today’s life. But it also reminds the adults of how important tolerance is in modern society. As a community member, I couldn’t help but relate to the narrative and, especially, Kiki’s character on a personal level. Throughout the first 30 minutes of the film, we can experience the witch’s struggle. Luckily, the residents quickly discover how smart and genuine the young witch is. By her impeccable manners and want to be helpful, Kiki gains the town’s trust.

Studio Ghibli

The girl becomes a full-fledged resident of the port city. It further showcases how important acceptance is for a human to grow. The film’s last scene—when the witch saves Tombo—is especially telling. You can see the resident’s awe when Kiki catches the boy at the very last moment before he falls. They are shouting her name and cheering her on. The film’s narrative showcases how important it is to surround yourself with people who value your hard work and commitment. It highlights the fact that diversity between people is what makes the world more beautiful.

Along with the timeless topic of tolerance, there are other components that adults can relate to. One of them is the issue of burnout. Kiki loses touch with her magic. Soon after, she’s unable to fly and falls into depression. As adults, we often feel exactly like Kiki. When we run only on fumes, it’s only a matter of time until we crash. The main character reminds us that we need to take care of ourselves. The work is important; however, not more important than mental stability.

Kiki’s Delivery Service proves itself to be a timeless masterpiece. Even after more than 30 years, we can still find relevance in the film and easily connect it to our personal struggles or even society’s issues. The film provides moral lessons for children and adults. While the world is changing, Kiki’s adventures remain applicable, and the film’s magic still charms us.

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We recently told you about these amazing stained glass windows based on Marvel superheroes like the X-Men. Those are super cool, but what if your taste runs a little more towards anime? Then these amazing creations based on the films of Studio Ghibli most definitely belong in your house of worship (otherwise known as your home office). Via Geeks Are Sexy, we’ve discovered these incredible windows based on the iconic work of Hayao Miyazaki.

Art Brothers Glass

This celebration of the Studio Ghibli characters was created by Russian artists Eugene Koksharov and Anna Dobrunova of Art Brothers Glass. This piece measures 36″ x 27″ (90cm x 70cm). It’s made with 750 individual pieces and in 45 different colors. This one is isn’t for sale—would YOU part with it?—but they have an estimate for how much a commission for a nearly identical piece would set you back. And it’s only a mere $5,000. That seems like a lot. But if you’re a hardcore Miyazaki fan, you’re probably at least considering it.

Art Brothers Glass

Several of the most iconic characters from the Studio Ghibli library make an appearance in this unique piece of art. There’s Kaonashi and Haku from Spirited Away; Big Totoro, Little Totoro, and Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro; and the Kodama from Princess Mononoke. Sheeta and Kiki don’t make an appearance, unfortunately. But there’s always the chance we get a second Studio Ghibli piece from Art Brothers at some point featuring characters from the other films.

Studio Ghibli

Art Brothers have other amazing pop culture-based stained glass windows for sale via their Etsy shop. There’s a menacing Boba Fett and an Arkham games-looking Batman. There is also several Marvel heroes like Spidey, Iron Man, and Deadpool. One of their most interesting ones is “Hellgirl,” a genderbent version of Hellboy. For more images of the Studio Ghibli piece, and to see some of their other work, be sure to head on over to their Etsy shop.

Featured Image: Art Brothers Glass

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Studio Ghibli

Look at her takes on the herring and pumpkin pot pie and cake from Kiki’s Delivery Service.

And slightly less appetizing (maybe?) but still neat, onion and cheese sandwiches from Tales from Earthsea.

Something I admire about these images is that besides being spot-on representations of the food in Ghibli movies, EN 93 stages the photos to match the setting in the films. She replicates any containers or dishes in the films as best as she can. See how the cheese and bread plate in the below meal from Howl’s Moving Castle has the blue embellishments like the one on screen? Even the mug ties in. I appreciate that kind of dedication.

She’s made a couple takes on the bento box from My Neighbor Totoro. There’s this one from a few years ago.

And this recent re-creation:

See a few more examples of EN 93’s work by scrolling below. But be sure follow her on Instagram to keep up with all her Ghibli inspired meals and beautifully decorated cookies. And yes, it’s likely that doing so will make you hungry and/or feel like having a Miyazaki movie marathon. In fact, maybe you’ll inspired by these creations to come up with your own menu for that marathon.

Featured Image: Studio Ghibli

The post This Is What Food from Studio Ghibli Films Looks Like IRL appeared first on Nerdist.

No matter your age, My Neighbor Totoro is probably one of your favorite movies. Enchanting, heartwarming, and just plain beautiful, Totoro is one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most beloved works. A creative couple in Takaharu, Japan wanted to bring that magic to life in the real world (via My Modern Met). So they created the immediately recognizable Totoro bus stop for their grandchildren. The life-sized construction quickly turned into a local tourist attraction.

We don’t know about you, but we want to go there immediately, even if it’s raining. Especially if it’s raining.

Studio Ghibli

Wood, bricks, and cement might not sound like a magical mixture, but in the hands of an experienced plasterer, they transformed into a (weatherproof) real-life Totoro.

Takaharu is in the Miyazaki Prefecture in the south of Japan on the island of Kyushu. The doting grandparents re-created the bus stop for their children and grandchildren. And then they decided to open it to the sightseeing public. Take a look at their progress to see Totoro take shape from a large, wooden barrel-like frame to a painted masterpiece in this town blog.

A local guesthouse just steps away from the statue has been chronicling visitors from around the world as the bus stop grows in popularity. No matter where they’re from, every visitor has a look of joy on their face as they stand next to the giant statue. Totoro might be made from cold concrete but no one can resist a quick cuddle.

Just when you think this couldn’t possibly be cuter, there’s also an acorn vending machine at the Totoro bus stop. For just 100 yen you’ll get a (possibly magic, who can say) acorn and a good luck fortune.

If you want to book your next relaxing getaway to visit the beloved Ghibli icon, take a look at the local guesthouse website and grab your red umbrella now!

Featured Image: Studio Ghibli

Kelly Knox is a freelance entertainment writer in Seattle, WA who writes for Star Wars, DC Comics, and more. Follow her on Twitter.

The post Creative Grandparents Make an IRL TOTORO Bus Stop appeared first on Nerdist.

There are some Instagram accounts so perfect and soothing that you immediately want to travel to the cozy places and handcrafted goodies they feature. Petrichoro, also known as Grace, features one such lovely collection of photos. With so many Studio Ghibli inspired sweets and treats, bullet journaling and hand-lettering that will leave you green with envy, and even sweet embroidery projects, it’s difficult for any one photo to stand out. But this gorgeous koi cake is a completely edible work of art that makes all our cares float away.

The cake is even just as pretty when sliced. How did she do it?

The translucent and transcendent confectionary creation is made of layers of cake, mousse, and a top layer of agar almond jelly. The koi were painstakingly crafted out of sweet bean paste. Petrichoro made the cake for Father’s Day. Obviously it’s a labor of love that the home baker says kept her up until 5 AM. “The whole process took around 2 days,” she said in a comment.

Studio Ghibli

You’ll find even more amazing baked goods and yummy lunches in the Instagram photo gallery, from Pikachu adorning a kimchi pork stir-fry, to Rilakkuma inspired choux au craquelin, to Studio Ghibli-themed macarons that actually are too adorable to eat. (Even Petrichoro says in the description that she couldn’t bring herself to nibble on them.)

We also have to give a shout-out to this little curry bear. To be honest, we’re not sure if we want to eat him or be him.

Be sure to follow Petrichoro on Instagram to be simultaneously impressed and jealous of her creativity and culinary masterpieces.

Featured Image: Studio Ghibli (The Tale of the Princess Kaguya)

Kelly Knox is a freelance entertainment writer in Seattle, WA who writes for Star Wars, DC Comics, and more. Follow her on Twitter.

The post This Transparent Koi Cake Is Sweetly Soothing appeared first on Nerdist.

Studio Ghibli

You might not think that the otherworldly setting of Spirited Away could fit into the bright and cheery world of Animal Crossing, but Tsukimaro is crafting scenes that perfectly merge the two. SoraNews24 shared a walkthrough of each step of Chihiro’s journey on the island, which Tsukimaro is posting regularly on Twitter. The story begins, as it does in the movie, with our young heroine and her parents getting lost one fateful day.

Tsukimaro not only uses standard furniture and items from the game to craft the scenes, but gets the villagers and other players to play along.

Of course, there’s extensive use of Animal Crossing‘s custom design editor, which can turn into background pieces, costumes, stand-ins for characters, and so much more thanks to Tsukimaro’s seemingly endless creativity. We’re big fans of the ingenious idea to use a custom clothing design as No-Face; it’s just as spooky and yet oddly endearing as the character in the animated masterpiece.

You can follow the story on Tsukimaro’s Twitter or take a look at the complete walkthrough of their tweets on SoraNews24. And if you play Animal Crossing, you can even download and use their Studio Ghibli inspired custom designs yourself with their creator code.

And lastly, we can’t help but point out Tsukimaro’s quick Whispers of the Heart re-enactment in Animal Crossing, which is just as adorable as you’d expect.

Header Image: Studio Ghibli

Kelly Knox is a freelance writer in Seattle, WA who writes for Star Wars, DC Comics, and more. Follow her on Twitter.

The post ANIMAL CROSSING Gets SPIRITED AWAY On This Island appeared first on Nerdist.

But now, thanks to the Ghibli Museum itself, we can finally see inside its gorgeous walls.

Dan Casey

The museum is releasing the very first looks inside with a series of YouTube videos that is sure to excite any fan of animation. “Ghibli Museum, MITAKA is now under temporary closure,” they wrote in the description. “Please enjoy our museum by watching our staff’s video journal!”

Each video might be only 30 seconds, but there’s a lot to take in. The Ghibli Museum first teased an all-too-brief look at the outside of the building to finally stepping through the doors. Gorgeous stained glass windows featuring Totoro and Mei, a bright mural with some beloved characters, and more greet lucky visitors.

Next we see a room called “Where a Film Is Born,” packed with ideas for telling an animated story. “The room provides lots of inspiration for what will go on to the blank piece of paper on the desk to become the origin of an actual film,” says the museum.

The third video takes you through the “night museum,” which gives a rare look inside during a time of day when visitors aren’t typically allowed. Even if you’re one of the lucky ones to have been inside the Ghibli Museum, you haven’t seen it like this, with softly illuminated lamps casting colorful shadows.

Visit SoraNews24 for walkthroughs of these incredible videos complete with translations of the subtitles.

Featured Image: Dan Casey

Kelly Knox is a freelance writer in Seattle, WA who writes for Star Wars, DC Comics, and more. Follow her on Twitter.

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Hayao Miyazaki is a master of cinema. His contributions to film and animation culture are innumerable, and his company Studio Ghibli stands out as one of the most groundbreaking and impressive animation houses in the world. If you’re a fan of Ghibli or Miyazaki then the Japanese national broadcaster NHK has a treat for you. Their wonderful documentary series 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki is currently available to watch on their app or their website for free, and it is nothing short of amazing.

10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki is the perfect watch for the current times. Not only does Miyazaki have plenty of wisdom and comfort to offer, but the series is also a tale of passion, creating art against the odds, and the power of those stories. With nearly four hours to enjoy, the series works as a great binge watch or as a treat to distribute over the span of a few days. And if you do find this a soothing balm then make sure to check out NHK’s other offerings on their video on demand service, which is full of inventive, thoughtful, and often completely unique programming.

Feature Image: NHK

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As discussed in the below report, HBO Max claimed North American distribution rights for Studio Ghibli’s catalogue en masse. That HBO Max is not expected to be available outside of North America has given Netflix the opportunity to claim the rights to Ghibli within other territories. In short, no matter where you live, you may well get to stream your favorite Miyazaki movies before you know it!

10/28/2019 – The streaming wars continue to claim weaponry left and right. For every “All the Star Wars movies” Disney+ offers, Netflix fires back with “The complete series of Seinfeld.” And it’s starting to get pretty rough out there. Major studios and networks are launching their own streaming services all over the net, promising their own exclusive mixture of must-have favorites and top-tier new stuff. HBO Max, perhaps the upstart most in line to rival Disney+, has just scored a major coup for its side: it is now the exclusive streaming home of the entire Studio Ghibli library.

This is major for a few reasons. One is that, up until a few years ago, Disney had the theatrical and home video rights to the Studio Ghibli library, consisting of all of co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s movies and quite a few of co-founder Isao Takahata’s. But those rights lapsed and slowly but surely GKIDS picked up the library. Now they’ve released every Ghibli film on Blu-ray and run theatrical screenings nationwide every year. That would have made Disney+’s already impressive offering even more so.

Studio Ghibli

The other reason this is big news is timing. Earlier this week, Polygon ran a piece essentially detailing why Studio Ghibli would never offer its films for streaming.

“Studio Ghibli does not make their films available digitally, whether for download or streaming, anywhere in the world,” a GKids representative told Polygon over email earlier this year. “They continue to believe that presentation is vital and particularly appreciate opportunities for audiences to experience the films together in a theatrical setting.”

It certainly seemed like no one would ever see a Ghibli movie on a streaming service. But before any of us could even wrap our heads around the notion of never getting to put on Howl’s Moving Castle or My Neighbors the Yamadas whenever we felt like it, WarnerMedia released their statement of the rights acquisition.

HBO Max will be the US streaming home to the entire Studio Ghibli film library, one of the world’s most coveted and revered animation catalogues. The landmark deal with North American distributor GKIDS for the twenty-one Studio Ghibli feature films marks the first time these beloved films have been licensed to a streaming platform.

HBO Max, the name given to the WarnerMedia mega streaming service, is expected to launch in late spring of 2020.

The 21 Studio Ghibli films represent perhaps the most beloved animated films of all time. Maybe even strike “animated” from the previous sentence. The attention to detail, story construction, and a sense of wonder meant their films take a long time to make. But they rival only Pixar (and beat it depending on who you ask) in terms of consistent quality and ability to stir emotion.

Studio Ghibli

Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, along with producer Toshio Suzuki, founded Studio Ghibli in June of 1985 following the success of Miyazaki’s second feature, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. In the ensuing 34 years, they produced a wide array of fantasy and drama films. Miyazaki directed 10 of the Studio’s features while Takahata directed five, though Grave of the Fireflies, his most lauded and hearbreaking work, is not among the films coming to HBO Max.

The films in the lineup are:
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Castle in the Sky
My Neighbor Totoro
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Only Yesterday
Porco Rosso
Ocean Waves
Pom Poko
Whisper of the Heart
Princess Mononoke
My Neighbors the Yamadas
Spirited Away
The Cat Returns
Howl’d Moving Castle
Tales from Earthsea
Ponyo
The Secret World of Arrietty
From Up On Poppy Hill
The Wind Rises (coming Fall 2020)
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
When Marnie Was There

Is this a service-buyer for you? Is HBO Max now worth the price of admission? We’ll see; but WarnerMedia has certainly struck a blow, right in the prospective subscriber’s heartstrings.

Featured Image: Studio Ghibli

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

The post Studio Ghibli Movies Heading to HBO Max and Netflix appeared first on Nerdist.

Studio Ghibli is a beloved and lauded company for a reason. They have a standard for quality in story, visuals, and heart that few studios in any medium can boast. All of co-founder Hayao Miyazaki’s films are classics the world over. And there’s a couple reasons for that: 1) they’re very good, and 2) they’ve had good luck with distribution deals outside of Japan. Arguably Miyazaki’s best film (and it’s a real argument) is 1997’s Princess Mononoke, which was distributed in America at the time via Miramax. Miramax had a lot of clout in the ’90s, enough to hire a big-name writer to write the English voice dub. That writer is Neil Gaiman, and you probably never knew that.

I often forget it myself. While the late-90s English language dub boasts performances from Gillian Anderson, Claire Danes, Billy Bob Thornton and others, a lot of anime purists will tell you any English dub is inferior to the original Japanese. But without Miramax, maybe we wouldn’t have seen Mononoke over here when we did. So it’s a double-edged sword. At any rate, Gaiman’s name should have been a big selling point. But according to the man himself in a recent Twitter post (h/t io9), Miramax took his name off the poster…to make sure theirs was on it.

My biggest secret. (Studio Ghibli asked for some of the Miramax execs to be removed from the poster and credits. The execs looked at all the names, determined that theirs would remain, and realised that mine was contractually expendable.) https://t.co/fm7BRFpp1W

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) August 12, 2019

Now, we obviously don’t need to reiterate all of the many reasons former Miramax head Harvey Weinstein is a subhuman sludge pile. He was, however, certainly infamous for getting the distribution rights for Asian films and cutting them to pieces. In one of the more famous anecdotes surrounding Mononoke‘s acquisition, Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki mailed a samurai sword to Weinstein with a note saying “No Cuts”. Though this had to have annoyed Ol’ Harv something fierce, Princess Mononoke was indeed released uncut. However, the Japanese language script contained some references and context that Western audiences just wouldn’t get. Hence Gaiman’s participation; the American Gods and Stardust author created a script that certainly changes some of the meaning of the words, but holds on to the crux of the story as a whole.

Yet, because Harvey, his brother Bob Weinstein, and producer Scott Martin wanted their names on the poster, Gaiman’s wasn’t. Miramax as a company even got top billing over Studio Ghibli. Gaiman’s name does appear in the credits, but leave it to some glory-gobblers like the Weinstein brothers to think they’re more important than either the writer or the actual filmmakers.

Image: Studio Ghibli

Kyle Anderson is the Editor at Large for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

The post Why People Forget Neil Gaiman Wrote MONONOKE’s Dub appeared first on Nerdist.

The 1997 film Princess Mononoke is a landmark for its director Hayao Miyazaki. For six films over the span of nearly 20 years, Miyazaki had proven himself as a visual master and a proponent of the spirit of fun and adventure in anime, an ethos lessening as the cynical ’80s and the cyberpunk ’90s wore on. He’d found major successes with movies like My Neighbor Totoro about the power of childhood. However, following a break of five years after 1992’s Porco Rosso, Miyazaki returned with what is easily his angriest, most violent, and least innocent film to date.

The making and marketing of Porco Rosso took a lot out of Miyazaki, and he took a break after its completion. In that time, still angry and having lost some of his filmmaking glamour, he began to see the horrors of the war in the former Yugoslavia and realized that he’d never make a movie like Kiki again. The world wasn’t innocent and he needed children to know that. He also took his inherent love and respect for the environment and began to get mad about how people weren’t as respectful as they should be. He set his new film in feudal Japan in an historical fantasy backdrop, but this is easily his most contemporary and political film.

Studio Ghibli/GKIDS

The film begins in the middle of action. Prince Ashitaka races on the back of an antelope-like creature after a giant monster made of oil. During a battle, the oil infects Ashitaka, but he manages to kill it, revealing the oil had actually taken over a giant boar god. It’s quickly apparent that the oil is an infection, a blight upon the serenity of the natural lands. Ashitaka traces the oil to Irontown, where industrialization means clear-cutting the forests and using up the resources. Lady Eboshi, the ruler of Irontown, wants to use her machines to get the head of the great Forest Spirit. Moro the wolf goddess and a young human girl named San (given the nickname Princess Mononoke) stand against Eboshi. Ashitaka will have to find a way to make peace between humanity and nature or the future of the land will be ashes and cinder.

Studio Ghibli/GKIDS

There’s an urgency to this film that Miyazaki’s other movies simply don’t have. Totoro and Kiki both feel like they could go on forever; Princess Mononoke feels like there’s a ticking clock the whole time. The unrest of the world is present in nearly every frame, and even the wondrous magical creatures we see can’t make us forget that for too long. Ashitaka is the only character who is seemingly trying to make peace and not simply escalate the war, but even he’s corrupted from the outset and can’t help but kill or maim people, cutting off the arms and head of soldiers as he flees. San, the human who feels no kinship with humanity, represents Miyazaki’s anger toward that part of mankind that would destroy a forest to build a factory, or slaughter hundreds for some political control.

Studio Ghibli/GKIDS

Miyazaki also directly deals with Shinto, the traditional Japanese religion, which focuses on nature spirits and ancestors. Though Japan is one of the least formally religious nations in the world, nearly 80% of its population practice some form of Shintoist rituals. Miyazaki’s earlier films, especially Totoro, deal with the idea of nature spirits and communing with Mother Earth, but here he weaves the narrative around its practices. We must, Mononoke says, be kind to the world and revere its history and teachings, lest we die. While the 1984 film Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind shows us a post-apocalyptic version of machinery versus nature, in Mononoke, Miyazaki is pointing a finger at the possible downfalls of Japanese modernity.

Studio Ghibli/GKIDS

It’s hard not to sense Miyazaki’s conflict in this story. He’s clearly enamored of machines, especially planes and flying contraptions. In all of his movies, flight is seen as the most beautiful and profound means of transportation. Nausicaa, Castle in the Sky, and Porco Rosso relish in futuristic yet simple flying machines, that are nevertheless instruments of war. In Mononoke, the beauty of flying machines is absent and replaced with the destruction of rolling deforesters.

Studio Ghibli/GKIDS

Despite the darkness and violence, though, there is still a lot of beauty, especially from the Great Forest Spirit itself and the surrounding mythical creatures. In these scenes, the filmmaker explores his love of nature and his wish that it remain pure and untainted by man. When the Spirit’s head is removed, its face contorts slightly to look like a human, implying even a god can be just another dead person in the wake of greedy people. Miyazaki also gives us a bit of hope at the end of the movie, once the Spirit’s head is returned; Eboshi and the mercenary aren’t killed but they instead learn from their ways, or at least agree not to continue down their current paths. San and Ashitaka cannot be together, but they do remain friendly and will surely see each other again; she goes to protect the forest, and he goes to help rebuild (for the better this time) the village of Irontown.

Studio Ghibli/GKIDS

Princess Mononoke has remained on of Hayao Miyazaki’s most lauded and reappraised films. In celebration of its beauty and continued majesty, GKIDS and Shout! Factory have released a collectors edition set. The deluxe disc portfolio includes the Blu-ray with hours of special features and the original soundtrack, available on CD for the first time in North America. Joe Hisaishi’s music is unfathomably gorgeous and make Miyazaki’s movies what they are. You also get a new 40-page, full-color book full of art and essays.

There’s no better time to catch up with Princess Mononoke, a film that continually looks forward while making sure we respect the past.

Kyle Anderson is the Editor at Large for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

The post PRINCESS MONONOKE Might Be Miyazaki’s Angriest Film appeared first on Nerdist.

The first feature Miyazaki directed was 1979’s The Castle of Cagliostro, a big screen spin-off of the popular Lupin the Third manga and anime series. While that movie is a ton of fun and displays the director’s prowess with action, it lacked a bit of the thoughtfulness we’ve come to expect. Nausicaä on the other hand—adapted from his own manga novel—has absolutely everything that makes Miyazaki who he is, from his love of flight to his devotion to nature and ecology. It’s all there in a post-apocalyptic package that should get talked about in the same breath as Mononoke or Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, but never is.

Studio Ghibli

It’s a thousand years since humans effectively destroyed the planet with the violent “Seven Days of Fire,” a chemical and biological war that gave rise to a Toxic Jungle which has grown to cover most of the rest of Earth. Within it, huge and terrifying insect creatures have sprung up, including the enormous Ohm, which kind of look like trilobites. The word “behemoth” would be underselling these things. But there are small patches of non-toxic land (which continually shrink as the jungle grows), and this is where the remaining humans have settled, splitting into different kingdoms. One of these is the titular Valley of the Winds where Nausicaä is the princess.

Studio Ghibli

Nausicaä has learned to communicate with the Toxic Jungle and flies there often, trying to discover the source of the toxicity and perhaps how to make it ebb. One night in the Valley she and others witness a massive airship crash, and Nausicaä races to see if she can save anyone. Before the survivors succumb to their injuries, they beseech Nausicaä to destroy the ship’s cargo: the embryo of a Giant Warrior, a bio-mechanized golem of the kind that obliterated the planet all those years ago. Unfortunately, the princess of a neighboring kingdom wants this Warrior to destroy the jungle (even though prophecy states that would be disastrous) and she and her army subjugate the Valley of the Wind, claiming to bring “safety” along with their rule.

Studio Ghibli

The film deals with the idea of humanity’s covenant with Earth and the creatures who live on it in much the same way Princess Mononoke would 13 years later. Both have humans on the brink of destroying the Earth through their smoke-belching machinery and hubris, and both find pseudo-mystical animals who are at once at odds with humanity but might also be the key to salvation. We in both instances have a princess as our lead character and a militaristic woman as the antagonist. The difference, of course, is that Mononoke used a fantasy version of Feudal Japan as its setting while Nausicaä is set thousands of years in the future, with airships and robots and things.

Studio Ghibli

The other difference might be Miyazaki’s own mentality at the time. In Nausicaä we have violence and terror, but the ultimate message is hope that humans will learn their lesson and the world will be at peace. By the time of Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki was much more cynical about the ecological state of the globe and expressed it in the film with a message that the Earth and its wonders will survive in spite of humanity, which is all but destined to kill itself off. That the more hopeful film is the one set in the steampunk post-apocalypse is a great irony of the genre.

Studio Ghibli

And maybe it’s that underlying hopefulness mixed with the setting that makes Nausicaä seem lesser in Miyazaki’s cinema. Only four years after Nausicaä, Otomo would usher in the cyberpunk revolution in anime with Akira, a deeply cynical story of humanity destroying itself with technology, but with almost no thought at all given to the natural world. Akira at its heart is a sci-fi nightmare of the slightly-ahead-of-now world, fully recognizable as Tokyo, once again on the brink of annihilation. Nausicaä in comparison is much more of a fantasy, from its idyllic Valley of the Wind and gliding machines to creatures we’ve never seen before. Hell, Nausicaä herself even has a pet that looks like a rejected Eevee design.

Studio Ghibli

But Nausicaä has so much more going for it than what could be construed as cutesy fairy tales. The action in the movie is hard-hitting and fast, evidenced the rage-fueled beating Nausicaä gives enemy knights after they kill her father. She’s a warrior, and Yupa, her sword master mentor, is so skilled he can kill a knight with one movement. There’s a brutality at work that seems atodds with Miyazaki’s visual style, but is right at home in the genre. The monstrous Ohm are also suitably terrifying…at first, until their true nature is revealed.

In the character of Nausicaä, we have Miyazaki’s first strong heroine, a character archetype he’d return to in nearly all of his films to come. She’s obviously skilled and tough and unafraid to sacrifice her own safety for the security of her people, but she’s also highly sensitive and attuned to nature and the world around her in a way no one else in the film is. Princess Kushana, the head of the military state Torumekia, is just as strong-headed and concerned for her people’s safety, but she does it by fearing the natural world, sure that the Ohm and the Toxic Forest are evil and must be eradicated. She even has a robotic golden arm, furthering her ties to machines over nature. Fittingly, Kushana’s metal arm is a mirror of Nausicaä’s, where her furry friend constantly sits.

Studio Ghibli

When it comes to sci-fi, and especially sci-fi anime, we tend to only take seriously the stories with the more adult themes and the downbeat ending, but in terms of messaging and execution, Nausicaä is right on that level. Miyazaki became known for his family fare for the rest of his career, but to lump all of his films into that category downplays their willingness to tackle real world issues. It just doesn’t do it with R-rated content the way post-Akira sci-fi anime would.

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

The post Miyazaki’s NAUSICAÄ Is the Best Anime We Don’t Discuss Enough appeared first on Nerdist.

Everyone loves Hayao Miyazaki, and the imaginative worlds he created in his films have inspired many of us to dream and create. One Miyazaki fan took things a step further, using Miyazaki himself to inspire a pretty awesome culinary achievement in the form of the coolest looking bento box ever.

Bento boxes can be assembled in a pretty straightforward manner, but more and more, bentos have become an outlet for some serious creativity. There isn’t a ton of space in those boxes, so finding a way to assemble a bento box in a way that not only utilizes the space effectively, but also creates a pleasing arrangement of the food has become a fun challenge for the more artistically inclined among us.

As SoraNews24 reports, Japanese Twitter user @gtx373x got together with some work friends for a Ghibli-themed bento party, and one partygoer decided that instead of using their bento to recreate some of Studio Ghibli’s iconic characters, they would honor Miyazaki himself in their bento. The results are nothing short of brilliant.

バイト仲間でジブリしばりのキャラ弁対決したんだけど、
みんな「トトロ」とか「カオナシ」とかの中、
1人だけ「はやお」作ってきたヤツいたの今だにジワる。 pic.twitter.com/hedofWXVaD

— 美七海/GEL/PASH (@gtx373x) February 9, 2019

According to SoraNews, the tweet reads: “We had a competition among co-workers to see whose Studio Ghibli-themed lunchbox reigned supreme. Among all the characters like Totoro or No-Face, one person made a Hayao bento that made us all laugh.”

The brilliant bento was created using whitebait fish for Miyazaki’s beard and hair; the glasses were made with seaweed; pollock roe created Miyazaki’s lips, and bento-Miyazaki’s skin was made of bacon. The bento is instantly recognizable as Miyazaki and almost feels too perfect to eat.

Unfortunately, we don’t know if the Miyazaki bento won the Studio Ghibli bento competition, but it certainly has won the internet over. And one thing is for sure: we’re definitely inspired to step our lunch game up!

What do you think of the Hayao Miyazaki bento box? What are some of your favorite bento box designs that you’ve seen? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

Feature Image: GKids

The post This Hayao Miyazaki Bento Box Is Too Cute to Eat appeared first on Nerdist.

Few things are as uplifting and whimsical as the beloved animated films of Hayao Miyazaki. From quieter slice of life tales like Whisper of the Heart to epic fantasies like Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, every story Studio Ghibli tells brings a little bit of magic to real life.

Artists from around the world are paying tribute to Miyazaki’s creativity with bursts of heartwarming inspiration of their own in a mixed media art exhibition opening in Honolulu this weekend.

“My Neighbor Hayao” is an art show from Spoke Art and POW! WOW! Hawai’i featuring over 150 international artists. The traveling art exhibition has already stopped by New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles before making its way to Hawaii. From bright and vibrant paintings, to incredibly detailed embroidered needlework, to delicately carved woodwork, to a tiny sculpture carved in the tip of a white crayon, the artists highlighted in the show display the same amount of delightful eccentricity and imagination as the work they’re inspired by.

Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and many more of your favorite animated films are paid tribute with some truly stunning artwork that fills the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu only from February 13-17.

Seeing each artist’s interpretation of Miyazaki’s classic work is a treat for both the eyes and the mind, as many of them envision bold colors and dizzying designs that match the unusual nature of Studio Ghibli’s highly regarded creations. Visit the Spoke Art website for a look at a few more pieces from the one-of-a-kind exhibit and for more information about the gallery show opening this week.

Which Hayao Mikyazaki film has inspired you? Tell us which one and why in the comments.

Featured Image: Dan Mumford, Ponyo Loves Ham! by Jessica So Ren Tang, Wild White by Hoang Tran, Starry Dynamo by Brian Ashburn, Kiki by Allison Reimold

The post Miyazaki Tribute Art Show Comes to Honolulu appeared first on Nerdist.

Studio Ghibli have been creating beautiful, fantastical films for over thirty years and over that time we’ve fallen in love with so many of the wonderful characters the studio have introduced us to.

Well, this year two fan favorite Ghibli films hit big anniversaries! The studio’s gorgeous retelling of The Little Mermaid, Ponyo turns ten and the iconic kids classic My Neighbor Totoro turns 30. To celebrate GBL Tokyo have designed two beautiful starter jackets based on the two beloved movies.

Both jackets are works of art and have gorgeous detailed embroidery of ur fave characters. The Ponyo jacket has multiple little red haired Ponyo’s swimming down the sleeves, which is perfect as we all know that “We love all the Ponyos!” The back showcases Ponyo riding the oceans waves and is a must have for any fans of the magical little goldfish princess from the ocean who loves ham and Sôsuke!

The Totoro jacket focuses on the iconic Catbus and the sleeves are embroidered with creatures from the opening of My Neighbour Totoro. The back is all about the Catbus which if you look closely has a little Totoro riding inside!! There’s no better way to showcase your love for this classic animation than rocking this uber stylish and super cute jacket!

The collection isn’t available yet but keep your eyes on the store as they’ll likely sell out pretty fast. They aren’t cheap and will run you around 29800yen which translates to about $270, but if you’re looking for a luxurious treat then how can you say no to these lovely souvenir starter jackets!

Will you be grabbing one of these gorgeous commemorative coats? Just really love Ghibli movies? Let us know below!

The post We Are In Love With These STUDIO GHIBLI Jackets appeared first on Nerdist.

How awesome would it be to ride in the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro? (A movie which, by the way, is now 30 years old.) You’d get to roam around in a mystical Studio Ghibli anime cat, finding your way to vantage points that other buses simply can’t get you to. Then again, maybe there are downsides. After all, you’d be riding inside of an animal, and who knows how clean of an experience that would be. Whatever the case, somebody made this dream into a reality, and it looks pretty excellent (via SoraNews24).

え、まって
猫バスおったんじゃけど笑
しかもチャリ改造してから笑笑#ネコバス pic.twitter.com/YM1BsobnxP

— かっきー (@ryouta_3) June 22, 2018

In the above video posted by a Japanese Twitter user, we see a pretty darn slick real-life approximation of the Catbus, and the look is spot on. There’s the many legs, the cab on top of the cat’s body, the huge toothy smile, and even the light-up eyes illuminating the pathway in front of it.Like the real Catbus (if an anime fantasy vehicle can be considered “real”), this one doesn’t rely on an engine to propel itself, since it’s a heavily modified bicycle (which probably explains why it’s on the sidewalk and not the road, as well as all the clanking and rattling sounds).

It would be interesting to see what this Catbus looks like on the inside and gain a better understanding of how it works, but even with this one limited perspective, this thing still looks pretty spectacular.

What do you think of this IRL Catbus? Would you like to give it a try, or should anime stuff stay in anime? Let us know what you think down in the comments below!

Featured image: Studio Ghibli

More anime news!

• An official LEGO Voltron will debut at SDCC
• Remastered Dragon Ball Z films are coming to theaters!
• Opposing soccer fans find common ground in the One Piece theme song

The post A Real-Life MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Catbus Was Spotted in Japan! appeared first on Nerdist.

Have you ever wanted to step into a Studio Ghibli movie? Why are we even asking—of course you have. A restaurant in Thailand, opening this month, gives anyone who walks in the same warm, snug feeling of a beloved Ghibli movie. My Neighbor Totoro, to be precise.

May’s Garden House Restaurant in Bangkok is the first themed restaurant officially licensed by Studio Ghibli. It’s the little details that really capture the feeling of the 1988 anime classic, from the adorable plates and table settings to the incredibly intricate designs on the stained glass windows.https://twitter.com/ria_comn/status/997788797604544512

Take a moment to zoom in on those windows–they’re simply delightful! You might also notice two new characters on the bottom of the window design. On Facebook, May’s Garden House Restaurant says those are two special birds, Koru and Pi, are mascots created by Studio Ghibli Producer Toshio Suzuki just for the restaurant.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Biie8VxgVNo/?taken-by=maysgardenhouse

As beautiful as the decor and atmosphere is, a restaurant is all about its food, and the desserts at May’s Restaurant look truly outstanding and completely adorable.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BigccIAgLO3/?taken-by=maysgardenhouse

How can you even eat something that cute?

If dessert isn’t your thing, the restaurant describes its cuisine as “Asian fusion, Japanese, and Thai,” so there’s something for everyone. On a cool, rainy evening, there’s probably no better place to be than sipping warm soup in a Totoro-themed restaurant.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BigeKBjgqM5/?taken-by=maysgardenhouse

From the lush, leafy decor to the incredible attention spent on details (Totoro is even etched on the drinking glasses), it’s obvious that May’s Garden House Restaurant is a labor of love. Fingers crossed that it’s just the first of many Ghibli-themed restaurants to delight fans worldwide.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BigcLjmAbrI/?taken-by=maysgardenhouse

Which Studio Ghibli-themed restaurant would you want to create? Tell us in the comments.

Featured Image: Studio Ghibli

Anime-zing news:

• The crazy twists of Magical Girl Ore.
• John Boyega has an anime obsession.
• Check out some animated Godzilla concept art.

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The post First Officially Licensed MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Restaurant Opens appeared first on Nerdist.

April 16, 1988, was a banner day for animation, and film as a whole. After launching Studio Ghibli with 1986’s Castle in the Sky, co-founders Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata each began work on their own new films. Both movies would feature children as the central characters, and tackle themes of loneliness, the hardships of growing up, and the melancholy of childhood. Both films were set in realistic, nostalgic versions of Japan, but with magical and fantastical elements used for different effects. My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies were released 30 years ago today as a double bill, and they remain their respective creator’s high water mark.

The irony of the two films coming out when they did is that they were the first big “Here, look what we can do” movies by Studio Ghibli, and they’re the most similar movies Miyazaki and Takahata would ever make. But neither represent the direction either director and the studio would go on a microcosmic level. Yes, Totoro features cuddly, magical creatures and children having adventures, but it was the most wistful movie he’d ever make. Fireflies, conversely, is about the land and history of Japan, which are certainly passions of Takahata’s cinema, but he’d never be so tragic again. If someone saw this double feature thinking they knew exactly what a Studio Ghibli was, they’d be wrong any way they sliced it.

My Neighbor Totoro is the story of two young girls–one a toddler, the other, importantly, on her way to adolescence–who move with their father to a small house in the country. Their mother, we learn later in the movie, is in a nearby hospital with a long-term illness. The elder daughter, Satsuki, often has to take care of her sister, Mei, and together they explore the nearby woods. Mei comes across a nature spirit called Totoro, which resembles a giant, furry bunny-cat, and as much as she tries, she can’t convince her sister or father of Totoro’s existence. However, one evening, while waiting for the bus in the rain, and Mei asleep on Satsuki’s back, Totoro appears next to them and they all take a trip in a bus that is also a cat. Totoro, and his smaller spirit acolytes, help the girls plant trees and generally enjoy their time in their new home.

Totoro and the other spirits and sprites in the movie represent both childhood imagination and a child’s tendency to interact with the natural world more intimately than adults. It’s important that Mei finds Totoro right away but it takes Satsuki a little while before she sees him. She is right at the age when she probably should still be out having fun and playing, but she’s forced to grow up faster due to new circumstances. She makes wrong choices and eventually has to be the one to find her sister when she gets lost.

Though Totoro became the mascot for Studio Ghibli going forward, and there are some wonderful and fantastical sequences in the movie that spark the imagination, My Neighbor Totoro is firmly set in a realistic version of Japan. The movie is set in 1958, when Miyazaki himself was 17, and much care was taken to replicate how that part of the country looked at that time. The movie doesn’t have a traditional plot structure and instead spends its relatively brief running time in the day-to-day lives of the two girls. They engage with the fantasy of Totoro in the same manner and withthe same level of acceptance as school, chores, and dealing with their mother’s illness.. Things don’t always go well, but there isn’t an antagonist, nor is Totoro a benevolent mentor figure. He’s there to help Satsuki and Mei, but he’s ethereal and impermanent.

Set in 1945, at the very end of World War II, Grave of the Fireflies depicts a very different Japan, one torn apart by the ravages of war, and one which Takahata encountered when he was nine-years-old. It’s nostalgic about childhood and its innocence, and the reality of the world, but without the benefit of a friendly nature spirit, and without the notion that everything might be okay. It focuses on a teenage boy named Seita and his much younger sister, Setsuko. The film opens with Seita dying of starvation in a train station, clutching a candy tin that belonged to his sister, who also died. We then flashback to several months earlier, when Seita tried to give his sister a childhood of fun amid air raids, food rations, and transience. It’s incredibly important to him that Setsuko not feel the horrors of the war, while not making light of it.

Takahata’s work was much more up front about Japan and the plight of its people and its history. The symbolism of the title comes from when the characters move in to an abandoned bomb shelter and release fireflies into the cave for light. Setsuko loves them, but is horrified the next day when she discovers all of them have died. “Why do fireflies have to die so soon?” she asks, and they bury the insects outside the next morning. This is Takahata’s melancholic assertion that innocence can’t last forever, while also making clear that, in any war, the innocents are the ones who suffer worst. At the end of the movie, the spirits of Seita and Setsuko are surrounded by fireflies as they float over a modern-day Japan, with all of its prosperity. Cities and populations can survive horrible adversity, you just might lose a few fireflies along the way.

In both cases, the films were deeply personal to the specific upbringings of their creators. Even if Fireflies was based on someone else’s short story, both of the films offer a nostalgia for childhood while acknowledging that era is hard and doesn’t last forever. Both men were looking back to a youth that wasn’t misspent so much as taken away too soon, in a country that had overcome so much following a defeat in a war. Both movies end with cautious hope, for the future of not just the country but for children in general.

Miyazaki’s output after My Neighbor Totoro would go back to out-and-out fantasy, though most would deal with childhood’s end. Perhaps his two most lauded films would deal with the desecration of the wonder of nature (1997’s Princess Mononoke) and the corruption and exploitation of children (2001’s Oscar-winning Spirited Away), but both were much harder edged and lacked the lilting wistfulness of My Neighbor Totoro.

Takahata’s subsequent movies, on the other hand, stayed in the same arena, all about life in Japan, growing up, and family. Only Yesterday dealt directly with returning to your hometown and remembering childhood, while the beautiful oddity Pom Poko was about the ill effects of human growth on nature, specifically through the eyes of the revered Japanese animal, the tanuki.

With their one-two punch, Miyazaki and Takahata made the world–not just Japan–take notice. Both films ended up in Roger Ebert’s book of Great Films, both won many awards, and both cemented Studio Ghibli’s place as the top storytellers in their field. 30 years on, both movies pack indelible punches and will certainly last 30 more years, and probably until the end of time.

Images: Studio Ghibli

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. He’s the writer of Studio Ghibli retrospectives Miyazaki Masterclass, Takahata Textbook, and Ghibli Bits. Follow him on Twitter!

The post MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, and the Sad Nostalgia of Youth appeared first on Nerdist.

I first saw My Neighbor Totoro as an adult. But I grew up in the 2D animation age, with the films of the Disney Renaissance era shaping my youth and teenage years. I’ve spent hours since then admiring frames, looking at the composition of the fixed backgrounds and the moving characters and how they blend. Each layer of the frame has to come together just so to add depth and a touch of realism, even in a fantastical setting. Studio Ghibli films excel at presenting stories that live comfortably in a magical realm and in the world outside our doors—Totoro especially. Even as an adult, I kind of believed I would find Totoro in the woods on my next camping trip. And that’s because of the movie’s knock-you-off-your-feet visuals.

To celebrate Hayao Miyazaki‘s film’s thirtieth anniversary, let’s look at some of the most spectacular shots.

Landscapes and Backgrounds

It doesn’t matter if it’s the countryside, the forest where Totoro takes naps, or a messy house, the backgrounds in My Neighbor Totoro are lived in and vibrant. Some are detailed (note the carefully shaded grime on some of the indoor surfaces), but sometimes an impressionist-like approach softens the edges and adds a hint of mystery and imagination–especially with the images centered on nature.

Portraits

A single line on a face can communicate a world of information in animation. If those lines aren’t in the right place, you lose reaction and emotion, and therefore, story. The expressions on the faces of Kusakabes convey inner conflict, joy, fear–you don’t have to guess about what they’re thinking. The many looks of Mei are an excellent study in character expression.

Creatures

Totoro and Catbus are the clear creature stars of My Neighbor Totoro, but the animators lavished just as much attention on everyday, real critters like toads and insects. Because they don’t treat them differently, it adds to the feeling that you just might spy Catbus the next time you’re waiting at the bus stop.

If you close your eyes and think of My Neighbor Totoro, what image comes to mind? What scene is your favorite? Tell us in the comments.

Images: Studio Ghibli, screencaps via Animation Screencaps

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter.

The post MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: A Visual Appreciation appeared first on Nerdist.

Kiki’s Delivery Service is pure joy. The Studio Ghibli tale about a girl who wants to find a place she can be herself and do the most good as a witch is, yes, magical and also very relatable. If you’ve ever felt lost or uncertain, you know how Kiki feels when she takes flight with her pal Jiji, a.k.a. one of the best fictional cat companions in the history of ever, in search of her new home. Adults like the Hayao Miyazaki film as much as (maybe more than?) kids, and Closet by Donguri is taking aim at those fans with a new line of Kiki’s Delivery Service inspired accessories and fragrances.

They had my attention with the Jiji cosmetics pouch. Honestly, if they put Jiji on it, I’m in.

Via Crunchyroll, the Kiki’s Delivery Service collection includes few kinds of “fragrance body mists” from a collaboration between Closet and Fernanda, a perfume company. While they don’t have a description of the various fragrances with names like “My Story” and “Magic Moments,” I’m so sold on the dreamy looking label art, I don’t much care what they smell like. That said, I do hope at least one of the blends smells like pancakes.

See more of the fragrances and bags in the gallery below. You may want to follow Closet by Donguri on Instagram, too, because the brand will be highlighting a number of female characters from Ghibli’s films in the future.

Closet will be opening in Lazona Kawasaki Plaza on March 20. Are you planning to purchase this entire collection? Hop on your broomstick and fly to the comments to let us know.

Images: Closet by Donguri

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

More Ghibli to love!

• Food from Ghibli movies in real life.
• Adorable art celebrating Hayao Miyazaki’s birthday.
• A Studio Ghibli tea collection.

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The post KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE Inspired Fragrances Will Help You Be Witchy appeared first on Nerdist.

This whole year has been spent intermittently being upset about the state of the world and excited about the prospect of a new Hayao Miyazaki movie in the works. After announcing his latest un-retirement in late February, we were left to speculate about what the project would be. I had assumed, as many others had, that it would be a feature-length version of the short he’d been working on, but a new report by The Ashahi Shimbun (via The Mary Sue) tells us it’s not the typical kids fare one might expect.While speaking at Natsume Soseki Memorial Museum at Waseda University in Tokyo, the report says, Miyazaki revealed the title of his new anime as Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka, which translates to “How Do You Live?” or “How Are You Living?” The title comes from the title of a 1937 book by Genzaburo Yoshino, a journalist who “served as the chief editor of Sekai (The world), a progressive monthly magazine, for many years and was an opinion leader in postwar Japan.” Miyazaki went on to say “The film is about how this particular book featured prominently in the protagonist’s life.” He also said the movie would take about 3-4 years to complete, so we definitely have something to look forward to…just not any time super soon.This kind of politically resonant storyline is not outside the norm for Studio Ghibli. Isao Takahata‘s masterpiece Grave of the Fireflies took on how war effects children, and his movie Pom Poko was a comedic take on Japan’s dwindling forests and wildlife. Miyazaki himself has dealt with these issues in more fantastical ways, including Princess Mononoke‘s condemnation of demolishing nature, and Spirited Away‘s warning about children forced into work. His most recent (and at one time final) feature film was the somber biopic The Wind Rises which took a look at the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the Mitsubishi engineer who designed the aircraft eventually used as fighter planes in WWII. While Miyazaki drew criticism of romanticizing the Japanese Empire’s losing effort in that war, he’d done it more as an allegory to one’s creation being perverted by those who own it.It was recently revealed that Miyazaki came out of retirement because of his beloved grandson, and while on the outset a movie about a character’s devotion to a postwar text isn’t all that child-friendly, Miyazaki has a way of making everything feel like a storybook.He also said the movie would take about 3-4 years to complete, so we definitely have something to look forward to…just not any time super soon.

Image: Toho/GKIDS/Studio Ghibli

Kyle Anderson is the Associate Editor for Nerdist. He’s the writer of Studio Ghibli retrospectives Miyazaki Masterclass, Takahata Textbook, and Ghibli Bits. Follow him on Twitter!

Enjoy more from the world of animation!

• Our review of gorgeous new anime, and one of the best movies of the year, In This Corner of the World!
• Add several Hayao Miyazaki movies to your Blu-ray collection!
• Why the complete series Blu-ray of Samurai Jack is well worth your time!

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The post Hayao Miyazaki Reveals the Title of Next Feature Film appeared first on Nerdist.

Some music is made to be heard played on soothing, emotive strings, and that definitely applies to Joe Hisaishi’s scores for Hayao Miyazaki‘s films. The music has as much depth as the incredible story and visuals. We got a taste of Vitamin String Quartet’s skilled covers of Hisaishi’s work with a track from My Neighbor Totoro, and we were impressed. And now, we’re thrilled to exclusively debut another moving piece from their upcoming Studio Ghibli cover album, “The Legend of Ashitaka” from Princess Mononoke.

Vitamin String Quartet’s treatment captures the nuanced musical layers of Ashitaka’s story from prince, to hunter, to warrior. Following the roadmap created by Hisaishi, they add rich tones and a unique quality. I’m looking forward to hearing the group’s versions of more selections from Studio Ghibli films, including Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and more.

The 12-track Vitamin String Quartet: The World of Studio Ghibli will be released on Black Friday Record Store Day on November 24 as an 180-gram vinyl with a download card and full color sleeve. If you’d rather own the album digitally, it will be available on December 1. Get more information at their website.

Will you be adding this album to your rotation? What do you think of their rendition of “The Legend of Ashitaka?” Share all your thoughts in the comments.

Images: Studio Ghibli, Vitamin String Quartet

Amy Ratcliffe is an Associate Editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

Get more Ghibli!

• A review of the new batch of Hayao Miyazaki Studio Ghibli Blu-rays.
• All about the Totoro sequel Mei and the Kittenbus.
• Studio Ghibli characters in real world settings.

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The post Listen to an All-Strings PRINCESS MONONOKE Cover from Vitamin String Quartet (Exclusive) appeared first on Nerdist.

The post Hayao Miyazaki Reveals Why He Came Out of Retirement appeared first on Nerdist.

Fighting to protect your forest home is tough and trying work. If you want to emulate and channel the relentless side of San, a.k.a. Princess Mononoke, to get through a rough day or to accomplish a project, Her Universe has you covered. They’ve launched a new fashion collection inspired by the Studio Ghibli film, and it has everything you need for casual Mononoke cosplay or a savage day at work.

The collection of course comes with a furry hooded vest like San’s. You could pair the vest with a white tee, a statement necklace, and jeans for an understated look. It’s just what we all need for overly air-conditioned offices.

The vest also goes well with the Princess Mononoke forest dress. The top of the dress has cutouts that are a nod to San’s necklace, while the skirt features a subtle forest design with the prince’s elk, San riding a wolf, and more. And hey, it has pockets for all your crucial battle supplies–like your smart phone.

The Princess Mononoke line is rounded out with forest spirit leggings, a cozy looking sweater with San’s mask, and a cute Kodama tee. Scroll to the gallery below to see everything; shop the collection at Her Universe’s website.

Will you be donning any of these pieces and running away to the forest? Let us know in the comments.

Images: Her Universe

Amy Ratcliffe is an associate editor for Nerdist. Follow her on Twitter and keep up with her Disney food adventures on Instagram.

Read more about Studio Ghibli!

• Listen to an all-strings cover of My Neighbor Totoro music.
• Watch an edit showing how Ghibli films have evolved.
• Get the scoop on a Ghibli theme park.

The post PRINCESS MONONOKE Fashion from Her Universe Is All Kinds of Fierce appeared first on Nerdist.

My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Ponyo, Howl’s Moving Castle… Studio Ghibli has created some of the most magical movies ever made, and now with the announcement of their North American distribution deal with GKIDS, you’ll be able to take them home and watch them over and over again. Though the visionary production house has had DVDs and Blu Rays released largely by Disney in North America, GKIDS will now bring Studio Ghibli films to our small screens with a full roster of reissues.

GKIDS already had the rights to the newer movies and two previously unreleased ones from Miyazaki’s groundbreaking animation studio. With this announcement, they will take on Ghibli’s entire 20-film catalog, which includes classics like Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Princess Mononoke. This deal sees the home and theater distribution rights come together under the GKIDS banner, coinciding with Studio Ghibli Fest, which will see GKIDS screen classic Ghibli movies in theaters nationwide.

Established in 1985, Studio Ghibli is a powerhouse studio that’s created some of the most influential animated films of all time under the watchful eye of Hayao Miyazaki. With a catalog spanning over 30 years–often featuring strong female characters, daring political allegories, and bursting with skilled hand-drawn cel animation–Ghibli’s movies are truly like nothing else on Earth.

GKIDS is a nine-time Oscar-nominated producer and distributor of feature animation. You’ll likely have seen some of their most lauded work including The Secret of Kells, A Cat in Paris, Chico & Rita, Song of the Sea, and this year’s My Life as a Zucchini. With these newest additions to GKIDS roster, they’ll be rounding out their Ghibli collection and bringing all of your favorite classic Ghibli movies right into your home.

Who’s your favorite Ghibli heroine? Which of these movies can you not wait to own at home? Will you be hitting any of the Studio Ghibli Fest screenings? Let us know in the comments!

Images: Studio Ghibli

The post All of Studio Ghibli Movies Are Getting Reissued on Blu-ray/DVD appeared first on Nerdist.

Remember the scene from Studio Ghibli’s Castle In The Sky when the giant Laputan robot, who was dormant not that long before, basically destroys the castle by itself despite heavy enemy fire? That scene alone solidifies the robot as perhaps the most badass Ghibli character of all time (feel free to fight us on that in the comments). For all the times you’ve watched the movie and dreamed about how cool it would be to have one of those for yourself, today is your lucky day, because Bandai has you covered (via Kotaku).

The Japanese toymaker has created a fully poseable figure, and it looks absolutely true to what we’ve watched on screen so many times, but, you know, smaller. It stands at about 4.5 inches tall, and while 7,560 yen (about $68) might seem steep for a model of this size, it’s diminutive stature doesn’t mean that any details were overlooked. We mean, just look at how dang poseable this thing is:

That’s 57 points of articulation in action, meaning that you can put this thing in pretty much any position you want to. It also comes with replaceable arms, so you can put this guy in winged mode and let him soar (please don’t actually throw this beautiful robot). The figure is set to ship in October, but you can go ahead and pre-order now.

Assuming Bandai will ship these figures outside of Japan, are you planning on scooping one up? Do you have any other impressive Ghibli figures you want to show off? Hit us up on Twitter and let’s talk.

Images: Bandai

The post This CASTLE IN THE SKY Robot Figure is an Essential Studio Ghibli Collectible appeared first on Nerdist.

For International Women’s Day, we’re reflecting on women in entertainment, and it’s impossible to overlook how often they’re underwritten and not given agency as characters in film and television. Certain filmmakers have, however, spent most of their careers showcasing that women and girls can be and are just as strong, smart, and worthy of myth as any man. One such filmmaker is Japan’s Hayao Miyazaki, who through the course of his 11 feature films has bolstered heroines and strong supporting characters. Here’s the master’s philosophy:

“Many of my movies have strong female leads – brave, self-sufficient girls that don’t think twice about fighting for what they believe in with all their heart. They’ll need a friend, or a supporter, but never a saviour. Any woman is just as capable of being a hero as any man.” – Hayao Miyazaki[/nerdist_section]

And when you look at his cinema, almost all of his films have a female protagonist, and the ones that don’t still feature women prominently and not as damsels in distress. Let’s take a look at some of Miyazaki’s best heroines.

NAUSICAÄ – NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND

Miyazaki’s first major heroine is still one of his best. A princess living in one of the last valleys of peace and life following an apocalypse, Nausicaä hopes to understand the nature that has been long forgotten to bring an end to war and hatred. However, she has to contend with a rival princess who wants to destroy the remaining vestiges of the non-mechanical world. Nausicaä is a figure of hope for her people and a powerful leader.

KIKI – KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE

Women and girls in Miyazaki movies are strong and clever, yes, but they’re also people and people have self doubts. Kiki the young aspiring witch who moves to the big city to make it on her own finds that she’s often confused and unsure about how to proceed, but nevertheless finds the strength within herself to overcome it. Even when she begins to lose her powers, she still manages to fly her broom and save her friend and the city from a runaway hot air balloon.

SAN – PRINCESS MONONOKE

While not the point of view character in Miyazaki’s 1997 classic, San is nevertheless the most iconic. She–the titular “Princess of Monsters”–was raised by the giant wolves of the forest and has a hatred for all humans, yet she has to change her ways when Prince Ashitaka tries to save the Forest Spirit from the ruler of Irontown. Her feral exterior gives way to one of Miyazaki’s deepest and most soulful heroines.

CHIHIRO/SEN – SPIRITED AWAY

Miyazaki’s allegorical condemnation of exploited children everywhere, Spirited Away‘s heroine is Chihiro, a young girl whose parents get turned into pigs and who ends up in the spirit world, where her name is taken away (and replaced with the name Sen) and she is forced to work in a bathhouse. Despite being the youngest heroine on this list by far, Chihiro is arguably the most capable and brave of the bunch, earning her respect among the spirits, and the ability to free her friend from his dragon-ish fate.

SOPHIE – HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE

Sophie gets the short end of the stick in many ways, getting turned into a 90-year-old woman almost immediately, simply because a jealous witch saw her speak to the wizard Howl. Because of this, Sophie constantly feels out of sorts in the story, and like less worthy than she truly is. But it ultimately falls to her to save Howl and all of her new magical friends, which she does, whether she’s trapped in an old person’s body or not.

Kyle Anderson is the associate editor for Nerdist. He’s the writer of Studio Ghibli retrospectives Miyazaki Masterclass, Takahata Textbook, and Ghibli Bits. Follow him on Twitter!

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We could sit here and talk for ten years about how amazing the worlds are in Hayao Miyazaki films, dreaming about turning them into theme parks, and just generally loving the stories he brought us over the years. But for all of of the time we’ve all spent watching Studio Ghibli films and pretending we could spend time in the world of movies like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, wouldn’t it be nice to actually have a piece of those places at home with you? Thanks to a Japanese papercrafting company, you can have a part of the Miyazaki world right in your own home. Sort of, anyway.

As our friends at Rocketnews 24 report, thanks to the paper crafting company in Japan called Sankei that brought you the Cat Bus paper crafting kit, you can create a miniature version the village from Spirited Away. If you’ve never seen any of the amazing miniatures that a Sankei paper crafting kit produces, don’t for a second think you’re in for a low quality result. You can expect an incredibly detailed village once your project is all said and done, and even better, it’s not going to make you want to poke your eyes out in the process. While there are several small pasrts to take care of like the details both outside and inside Chihiro’s parents’ food stall, you don’t need to be a paper crafting master to make the village successfully. Each of the pieces is laser cut on paperboard, so you only need to glue the pieces together. That’s right, no awkward attempts at folding and cutting paper–just grab some adhesive to stick it all together.In even better news, this sucker isn’t going to totally clean your bank account out. It runs for about 45 American dollars. That is without tax and shipping, but they will ship overseas, so you don’t have to live in Japan to get your hands on one of these. You can grab yourself a kit at Amazon Japan.

Have you ever tried paper crafting before? What tips do you have for assembling a paper crafting kit? What other things from Miyazaki films would you like Sankei to create a miniature for? Let me know in the comments.

Image credit: Sankei/Amazon Japan

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The worlds we get to see take form in Hayao Miyazaki films are nothing short of magical, and I think we all wish we could experience those worlds firsthand. If John Ramirez has his way, we might get to. Ramirez designs rides for Disney—the coolest job ever—and has dreamed up a ride based on Miyazaki’s Castle in the Sky.

Ramirez imagined the ride as part of the flying variety, in which participants would get to soar over several vastly different and intricate scenes from the film. Riders would load up in the crystal caves, zip through a mining town, dodge a robot in the burning fortress, soar through cloud mist, searchlights, and a thunderstorm, and finally arrive safely at Laputa. Check it out:

The ride is incredibly intricate, but what makes it awesome is how vastly different each area of the attraction would be. Experiencing the Castle in the Sky ride would really make the riders feel like they’re right in the middle of that world Miyazaki created in 1986, and would leave them off with the memories of an epic journey. Basically, that awesome feeling after finishing the film, only amplified to about 1,000.

Of course, this is nothing more than concept art for now. This isn’t the first time Ramirez has used a Miyazaki film for ride design inspiration. A few months ago we got to see the AMAZING ride he dreamed up based on My Neighbor Totoro. He told Kotaku back in April that he would keep asking Miyazaki until he got a yes (or a ban from the studio, whatevs), so let’s hope Miyazaki is blown away by the continuous stream of awesome ride ideas based on his amazing films. Until then, we’ll just have to make due by imagining riding Ramirez’s rides IRL.

What do you think of John Ramirez’s latest Miyazaki ride? What other Miyazaki movie would you like to see Ramirez convert into a ride? Tell us in the comments, and be sure to check out John’s Instagram to see all the other awesome stuff he’s working on.

Featured Image: Studio Ghibli

Image credit: John Ramirez

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We took the month of October off for Halloween purposes, but we’re back with the final three films by Hayao Miyazaki. If you’d like a refresher course, you can read my previous Miyazaki Masterclass essays right here.After his Oscar win with the magical Spirited Away, Miyazaki took a bit of a break. He’d made eight films in his nearly 3 decade career and produced many more with his company Studio Ghibli. His films all possessed a magical, fairy tale aspect, but his last two movies, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away had been deeply personal, much darker than his previous work, and emotionally taxing. He could have stopped making films and his legacy still would have been secured, and celebrated. But he wasn’t quite finished yet. For his ninth film, Miyazaki would return to familiar ground with castles and magicians and curses and flying, but from a different point of view. With the exception of his first film, which was a continuation of an existing television anime and popular manga, only one of his films, Kiki’s Delivery Service, was based on material not created by Miyazaki himself. For this film, 2004’s Howl’s Moving Castle, he would adapt a book that wasn’t even Japanese.

Howl’s Moving Castle is based on a 1986 British fantasy novel by author Diana Wynn Jones, the first in her trilogy of books featuring the eponymous wizard Howl, a powerful, mercurial, and vain man who lives in, you guessed it, a castle that moves around and can turn into a giant bird. The book is all about enchantments and curses and demons and things, all very common in English fantasy and favorite topics for Miyazaki given his previous films. But Miyazaki, of course, brings his own tendencies and point of view to the story, which actually makes it something of an anomaly for the director; it’s at once definitely a Miyazaki film and completely not a Miyazaki film.Like all of the master’s work, Howl’s Moving Castle doesn’t spend too long telling the audience about the world we’ve entered, we just enter it and the story begins and he will show us what’s necessary and not explain what isn’t. He allows the visuals set the stage for the kind of story we’re watching and the first few scenes set up the overall gist. It’s amazing that his movies, for as vivid and complex as the worlds he creates are, he doesn’t spend any more time than is necessary on what everything is. While some visionaries build their worlds through constant naming and explaining of things, Miyazaki doesn’t feel the need to do so.The story centers on a shy young hatter named Sophie who is pretty but doesn’t think herself so. One afternoon, she is cornered by guards on her way to meet her sister, and she encounters the powerful wizard Howl who takes her up into the sky to get away from the guards. Afterward, the Witch of the Waste, who is hopelessly in love with the aloof and self-absorbed Howl, comes into the hat shop who curses poor Sophie to be a 90 year old woman who cannot speak of her curse to anyone. Sophie decides to leave town and seek a cure for the curse on her own, eventually ending up in the Wastes. She meets a living scarecrow, another cursed individual, who escorts her to Howl’s castle, which looks rather piecemeal and walks around on mechanical chicken legs. Getting inside, Sophie meets Calcifer, the fire demon who Howl has bound to the castle and who powers the whole thing, and Markl, Howl’s young apprentice. Through cleverness, Sophie sets herself up as the castle’s new maid.Howl proves himself to be a very strange master. He comes and goes at random, overusing his magic at times like a junkie on a bender, and he’s impossibly vain and considers himself the most beautiful man alive. Despite all these traits, Sophie can tell he’s basically a good-hearted person who is afraid to engage in the world and thus hides from it, despite his immense power. A war is brewing between two neighboring countries, and two of Howl’s magician aliases get summoned to join the kingdom in the war effort. Howl has made a pact to show himself, but he’s afraid to do so, so he sends Sophie in his place, posing as his elderly mother. On the way, Sophie meets the Witch of the Waste who has also been summoned. They both are called before the King’s royal magic adviser Madame Suliman, who immediately knows Sophie isn’t Howl’s mother, and is in fact in love with him, and who makes the Witch of the Waste as old and ugly as she really is, seemingly just for fun. Howl arrives and says he wants nothing to do with the war, but that doesn’t sit well with Suliman, who wants Howl’s power. The Witch of the Waste joins Howl and Sophie as they make their escape and begin their life on the run from the war and its factions of airships.This is certainly one of Miyazaki’s most visually dynamic films, owning in no small part to the visual technology present in by this time. The colors really pop and the palate is much more diverse than even Spirited Away had been, with its largely red tone. Miyazaki hasn’t lost his eye for action nor his love of the detail of flight and traveling through the air. The wide array of strange creatures and characters also feel right at home in Miyazaki’s oeuvre, namely Turnip Head the scarecrow, Calcifer the fire-demon, and Howl in his monster-bird form. He’s also able to input cool looking airships, not unlike the ones he created all the way back 20 years earlier for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.The strange thing is that ultimately Howl’s Moving Castle feels a bit uneven and, while still very, very good, is lesser Miyazaki. There’s a lot less of the director’s personality in this one, despite having all of the elements I’ve already listed. It seems almost like Miyazaki by numbers from a narrative standpoint. By now, we’ve already seen several of his films with elements like a villain who doesn’t stay a villain, a strong young girl protagonist, and strange magical beings. There’s nothing here that wasn’t present in Spirited Away but, because this was based on an existing work, it lacks any of the social commentary or all-out wonderment of his more recent films. Again, it’s still a much better movie than most animated features, but when comparing it to others in Miyazaki’s body of work, it doesn’t shine quite as brightly.Howl’s Moving Castle was an enormous international hit, making nearly ten times its budget back worldwide and earning Miyazaki another Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, though he would lose to Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. There would be another four year gap between films with his follow-up to Howl’s and it would be a return for Miyazaki to the more childlike point of view of My Neighbor Totoro and its focus on everyday family drama mixing with a magical world. It also has the dubious honor of being the only Hayao Miyazaki movie I don’t love. More on that next week, when Ponyo, Miyazaki’s penultimate film, will be discussed.

Images: Madman

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