Chihiro and Haku from Spirited Away, which was shown in Cornell Cinema’s Studio Ghibli Sundays Series.
This semester, Cornell Cinema showcased various film series.
One notable series is their Studio Ghibli Sundays, which featured classics such as Spirited Away (2001), Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), and My Neighbor Totoro (1988). Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio based in Tokyo and their films have received global recognition for their creativity, attention to detail, and captivating balance between fantasy and reality. In fact, the studio’s influence in Japan’s animation industry is comparable to that of Disney’s. Recognizable characters from Studio Ghibli’s films are referenced extensively throughout Japan from everyday places such as supermarkets to cafes. There is even a Ghibli themed museum and park, which parallels the Ghibli world.
Perhaps when we think of Ghibli, we also think of Hayao Miyazaki–the animator, director, screenwriter, and one of the four co-founders of the studio. Miyazaki has made a tremendous impact in forming the ‘Ghibli image’ – the whimsical, emotional rawness that his films portray.
In the film Spirited Away, which was screened in Cornell Cinema on March 12th, Miyazaki creates the protagonist Chihiro, an ordinary ten year old girl. Chihiro is invented to be a character who has nuanced emotions yet maintains her childlike bearing, making her come to life as someone relatable. In fact, Chihiro was actually inspired by a real life character, a daughter of Miyazaki’s friend. Miyazaki revealed in an interview with Midnight Eye that, in the process of creating Chihiro, he constantly asked himself “the question whether my friend’s daughter or her friends would be capable of doing it.”
“That was my criteria for every scene in which I gave Chihiro another task or challenge,” he added.
Studio Ghibli’s impact in the animation industry and its appreciation is also apparent on Cornell.
Upon approaching a random Cornell student at U Tea, I asked if they heard of Studio Ghibli, their impressions, and what films they have watched. Nala Peng’ 25 answered that she had previously watched Spirited Away and that she really enjoyed it. Peng described the film as “really soothing and makes you relax” and that she likes the animation and unique art style that Ghibli implements. “You can tell that it is a unique art style that was used in the 2000s,” she added.
This unique art style that Peng refers to is perhaps related to Miyazaki’s integrity to traditional techniques of animation. Ghibli animators hand draw each of their frames. While this may seem repetitive and time consuming, this gives Ghibli films its distinctive quality.
Though formally retired in 2013, Miyazaki continues to be involved at Ghibli and has even decided to come back to make another film, which is expected to release in Japan on July 14th of this year. In an interview with the New York Times Magazine when asked why he is coming back, Miyazaki said with a grin “Because I wanted to.”
This article originally appeared in the Reviews Spring Semester Print Edition.
