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The Films of Studio Ghibli |OT| Creating New Worlds
- Thread starter cj_iwakura
- Start date
Not quite, unless more news has come out since, the quote which was used for that story was a mistranslation as far I'm aware
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
I didn't care much for Spirited Away. Just tough for me to get into, and it drags in places. Beautiful film as far as animation goes, but the story just didn't hook me like others.
Mr. Wonderful
Member
Ah nevermind then. I thought I saw that on Wikipedia.
Edit: OK, it was nominated. That's what I saw.
Forsaken82
Member
Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most depressing films I ever saw, and I mean that in the best possible way. Didn't realize Studio Ghibli produced it.
No movie live action or animated has since elicited a similar emotional response. It is truly a one of a kind masterpiece.
Everything Ghibli touches is gold, especially when directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
No movie live action or animated has since elicited a similar emotional response. It is truly a one of a kind masterpiece.
Everything Ghibli touches is gold, especially when directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Funny, Mononoke would be near the bottom of my list. I have lots of love for Totoro, though.
SecretMoblin
Member
What I love about many Ghibli films is that the worlds feel dense without being claustrophobic. Mononoke is probably the best example. There are different shades of green all over the place, the art style and world are very heavy, but it's wonderfully pretty and engaging.
I thought the world of Spirited Away was endlessly fascinating. The level of detail in the bathhouse and the various locations in the film is simply incredible:
Best statue ever. Here's my obligatory photo in front of it it:
I couldn't choose a favourite Ghibli if you put a gun to my head, but Ponyo, Mononoke, Spirited Away and Totoro get most of my love.
shadyspace
Banned
Ashitaka catches a fuckin' arrow bro.
SecretMoblin
Member
It's not hate! It's just a poorly paced film that's much less grand than Ghibli's other offerings. It's still worth watching, though, and I think it has some of the better Japanese voice acting in the Ghibli library.
I remember watching Totoro when I was eight or nine on a really crappy VHS. It was so cool even with the terrible tracking.
Favorites (ie ones I've seen at least 5 times)
1. Totoro/Spirited Away-- I play both movies while I'm drawing.
2. Kiki's Delivery Service
3. Porco Rosso
4. Mononoke
Least favorite (less than 3 viewings)
1. Grave of Fireflies (not because it was a bad movie but it's not something I want watch multiple times )
2. Nausicaa
3. Ponyo
4. Laputa
On an unrelated note, Studio Ghibli popups
Favorites (ie ones I've seen at least 5 times)
1. Totoro/Spirited Away-- I play both movies while I'm drawing.
2. Kiki's Delivery Service
3. Porco Rosso
4. Mononoke
Least favorite (less than 3 viewings)
1. Grave of Fireflies (not because it was a bad movie but it's not something I want watch multiple times )
2. Nausicaa
3. Ponyo
4. Laputa
On an unrelated note, Studio Ghibli popups
What I love about many Ghibli films is that the worlds feel dense without being claustrophobic. Mononoke is probably the best example. There are different shades of green all over the place, the art style and world are very heavy, but it's wonderfully pretty and engaging.
I thought the world of Spirited Away was endlessly fascinating. The level of detail in the bathhouse and the various locations in the film is simply incredible:
I liked Spirited Away, but I can easily see how people could not. Its story doesn't pull me in the same as some of the other Ghibli masterpieces. It's very rich, culturally, but it's almost an overstimulation. You can catch the references to the various gods, dieties, mythical characters, etc... but it doesn't really HELP the story. It's beautiful and complex for the sake of being beautiful and complex.
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
No one watches Grave of the Fireflies multiple times.
Does anybody like Tales From Earthsea? I can appreciate someone having a contrasting opinion on pretty much every other Ghibli film, but this is just so conspicuous from the rest in its quality. It just feels so mechanical in execution, essentially ticking the Ghibli boxes but the end product is without much sentiment. It comes off feeling like a bad imitation, which is pretty depressing when you consider the history behind its production.
...and to think that was included alongside Totoro as a double feature. Talk about night and day!
...and to think that was included alongside Totoro as a double feature. Talk about night and day!
cj_iwakura
Member
I meant to show Joe Hisaishi some love, but better late than never.
Man is synonymous with Ghibli.
Gives me chills.
Man is synonymous with Ghibli.
Gives me chills.
The score for Princess Mononoke is ridiculously good.
Tales from Earthsea is ridiculously bad.
cj_iwakura
Member
That reminds me, all the Disney Ghibli DVDs(the two disc ones anyway) have a bonus disc of all the storyboards. Very comprehensive.
btw, you should update the Blu release date for Laputa, Whisper and Arriety. They all came out in US on May 22.
shadyspace
Banned
Is there not gonna be a Mononoke blu-ray
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
Those first three productions weren't done by Ghibli. Cagliostro was done by Miyazaki and Yasuo Otsuka at Telecom; Gauche was done by Takahata and Koichi Murata at Oh Pro; and Nausicaa was done at Topcraft, the proto-Ghibli of sorts. So make sure to mark those productions as non-Ghibli, just staffed by Ghibli members. And, if you want to expand that area: add Sherlock Hound, Green Jacket Lupin (and the Red Jacket Miyazaki episodes), Heidi, Marco, Anne of Green Gables, Future Boy Conan, Chie the Brat, etc.
Oh: Iblard is truly amazing, from what I've heard.
Oh: Iblard is truly amazing, from what I've heard.
Not quite, unless more news has come out since, the quote which was used for that story was a mistranslation as far I'm aware
Well the film Miyazaki's working on now seems to have a lot of flying machines, so it might touch on similar themes. Supposed to be based on this manga he did, but I can't find a direct source so take it with a grain of salt.
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
As for my thoughts on the Ghibli stuff: I'll go ahead and watch all of it before collecting a consensus, though I really liked Porco and Laputa a lot. They feel like the most natural films to have come out from Miyazaki, with much less of the environmental focus and more of the intimate love of vehicles and romantic pursuits that Miyazaki himself is bound to.
Attackthebase
Member
This girl has been showing me all of Angels in America. I've been wanting to show her something she had never seen. I've thought about introducing her to Studio Ghibli's film, since they have films accessible to non-anime watchers. I'm thinking Princess Mononoke might be the best film to show her.
AnathemicOne
Banned
Hmm a lot of people like Princess Mononoke but I didn't. It was okay perhaps my distaste had to do with it being dubbed and watching older animation didn't really help either.
Anyways I enjoyed Spirited Away and more recently Arriety, both watched as subbed, the latter way very beautiful imo.
Anyways I enjoyed Spirited Away and more recently Arriety, both watched as subbed, the latter way very beautiful imo.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Yep. It's a very beautiful film, even though there isn't any narrative or anything like that. I wish The Cat Returns had taken place in that world.
shadyspace
Banned
I don't think I've ever not at least teared up watching Mononoke. So much beauty, man.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
See You Next Wednesday
Banned
I wish I saw these as a kid, but I only got the chance to see then in the late 90's & up.
Totoro was my first. You should start there.
QueenOfThorns
Member
I can't really pick a favorite. It's a tie between Castle In The Sky and Spirited away and Princess Mononoke aaaand all of them. I think Spirited Away has a hold on me for being the first Ghibli movie I saw.
Attackthebase
Member
Would you recommend this to someone who doesn't watch anime?
Cool. Gonna pick up the DVD. It's won't be available on Blu Ray any time soon, right?
That's true, but they kind of retroactively include it as a Ghibli film anyways.
A bit distressing to see so much 'meh' on Spirited Away!
My brother took me to see it in the cinema back when it came out. I went in with little idea of what to expect...I can't begin to say how much it blew me away!
That instantly converted me into a huge fan of Ghibli, and I've since seen all of their films barring Arietty (may watch this week) and Poppy Hill. Also need to see some of the earlier stuff that involved key staff members, though I've seen Cagliostro, which of course I loved.
I just love how engrossing their work is, they truly house some amazing artists. I've had a bit of a rocky time with anime (find it tough to discover stuff that appeals to me), but I'll always have a soft spot for Ghibli
Was happy to see On Your Mark mentioned, it's the best music video I've seen. I remember showing it to a friend not interested in anime who absolutely loved it.
Also, Joe Hisahi's scores are amazing! I love listening to the Totoro one before going to sleep
My brother took me to see it in the cinema back when it came out. I went in with little idea of what to expect...I can't begin to say how much it blew me away!
That instantly converted me into a huge fan of Ghibli, and I've since seen all of their films barring Arietty (may watch this week) and Poppy Hill. Also need to see some of the earlier stuff that involved key staff members, though I've seen Cagliostro, which of course I loved.
I just love how engrossing their work is, they truly house some amazing artists. I've had a bit of a rocky time with anime (find it tough to discover stuff that appeals to me), but I'll always have a soft spot for Ghibli
Was happy to see On Your Mark mentioned, it's the best music video I've seen. I remember showing it to a friend not interested in anime who absolutely loved it.
Also, Joe Hisahi's scores are amazing! I love listening to the Totoro one before going to sleep
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Sure. Most of Ghibli's films are good for people who don't usually watch anime.
No, not for several more years at least.
Yes. Porco Rosso is one of my favorite Ghibli films and one of the more idealistic/romantic ones that they've produced. Kiki's Delivery Service is a good one to start with too.
not yet, they always come out in Japan first and then Disney brings them over.
they're their own thing which happens to come from Japan.
cj_iwakura
Member
Separated the films that were pre-Ghibli, might add a subsection for their mini-serieses and such later.
Princess Mononoke. It's the least weird, and has a compelling plot. Very beautiful, moving film.
Watch it with subtitles. The dub is very hit and miss.
One thing as well; I'm very envious of people who grew up watching these films as kids. They would be hugely nostalgic for me if I had, I'm quite sure...
I'll probably end up being nostalgic for them years down the line anyway
the music will always stay with you.
cj_iwakura
Member
Totally disagree. I think the dub is perfect, it's the sub that didn't do much for me.
They even dubbed the iron workers' song, and well at that.
shadyspace
Banned
One thing as well; I'm very envious of people who grew up watching these films as kids. They would be hugely nostalgic for me if I had, I'm quite sure...
I'll probably end up being nostalgic for them years down the line anyway
Yeah, that must suck. I can't imagine not having grown up with these movies. I must have been like 5 the first time I saw Kiki's and I had seen Mononoke, Laputa and Totoro before Spirited Away had even came out.