After world war two, during the occupation of Japan by the US, the Japanese famailiarised themselves with the works of Disney. This went on to inspire many animators, perhaps even influencing the creation of Studio Ghibli itself in 1985.
|
Here is the English language trailer for 'Howl's Moving Castle' (2004). Interestingly you can see the music and architecture in this film are mock-european style, Miyazaki reveals he often chooses this setting due to an attraction to Western style (2008, p.275) |
Studio Ghibli films went on to be incredibly popular in Japan, and the studio been the powerhouse at the forefront of Anime’s venture into the west, beginning with director Hayao Miyazaki’s film Spirited Away (2001) which was the first of its kind to achieve global critical acclaim, including an Oscar for best animated feature in 2002. American animator John Lasseter did the English-language dub of Spirited Away and through his involvement with the studio, Disney now own the distribution rights to Ghibli films in America. The connection between these animation giants is hugely beneficial for the studios economically, and has made it possible for the western world to see these films in their own language and cinemas.
|
|
Hayao Miyazaki, a founder of ghibli and arguably one of Japan's best loved directors can be seen as a transnational auteur in many ways. Critics claim his characters and themes are far richer than those perhaps of western animation, and it is that that makes them so popular globally, and although they are originally drawn from a Japanese background, culture and language they are totally accessable to a worldwide audience. Miyazaki in his films takes Japanese culture not just in its ancient from, or in its assimilation to a more western style but as the bricolage of bits and pieces it has picked up along the way. (2008, p.272) |
Hollywood loves ghibli!
Even the Hollywood elite are confessed fans of Studio Ghibli’s films. It is shocking to see how many big-name stars have parts in the English dubbed version of the films released in the west. Here are a few examples..
The collaboration between Disney and Ghibli has paved the way for Studio Ghibli's success, it now being a global household name. Through mass media and clever marketing it is seen everywhere (see right) and Totoro in particular has reached icon status. It is doubtful whether it would have achieved this had it not been for the alliance of people across the world marketing and talking about the films and not forgetting the transnational themes of the films which is what makes them so easy to engage with, regardless of culture or nationality.
|