The ending of Spirited Away is densely packed — even for a Miyazaki film ending. (Looking at you, Howl.) Japanese animated films often have short, swift endings where a lot of storylines can be wrapped up in a dizzyingly short timeframe. This tendency is especially true for creators as well-versed in traditional Japanese storytelling structure […]
Why Haku tells Chihiro: Don’t Look Back
The Landscapes of Studio Ghibli – Moon Rabbit Podcast #003
Studio Ghibli’s films exist across a wide spectrum of stories and genres, and much has been said about the characters and the storytelling – something I myself have been heavily involved with for the past ten years. But there’s one thing that connects Studio Ghibli films that I’ve felt for a long time is a […]
If you wanna pop down to the underworld, today’s the day
Something caught my eye yesterday as I passed by my favourite taco place in Brighton (Casa Azul – you must go, the things they do with mushrooms!) The owner, Gabriel, had repurposed one of the tables as a makeshift altar, lovingly arranged with candles, sweetbread, bottles of tequila and black-and-white photos hanging above on a piece of string. I’ve […]
Spirited Away is really about growing up in modern Japan
As his career progresses, Hayao Miyazaki just keeps piling on the complexity of his films, and trying to see how many characters, plotlines and themes he can put in there and get himself out of it – and every time he manages to pull it off so effortlessly, he creates another masterpiece. Like with Totoro, […]
Studio Ghibli Secrets – the story patterns hiding in plain sight in Hayao Miyazaki’s animated masterpieces [free guide!]
Most people who write about Studio Ghibli films interpret them through a Western lens. But if you want to fully understand the stories Hayao Miyazaki tells, you have to take into account the unique context of his upbringing, his connection to Japanese culture and mythology, and how he reacts to the society around him. My new free guide gives pointers for all major Studio Ghibli films to help you go deeper in the works this master craftsman of the moving image.
Most people who write about Studio Ghibli films interpret them through a Western lens. But if you want to fully understand the stories Hayao Miyazaki tells, you have to take into account the unique context of his upbringing, his connection to Japanese culture and mythology, and how he reacts to the society around him. My new free guide gives pointers for all major Studio Ghibli films to help you go deeper in the works this master craftsman of the moving image.