the wonderful world of studio ghibli, hayao miyazaki

howdy everyone! when i was a child i had a vhs of kiki’s delivery service - an animated film that tells the story of a young witch and her talking black cat. i adored this film as a little girl and as an adult, a story that grows as you do. over the last few years i have had the pleasure of discovering the wonder that is studio ghibli films.

directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata founded the studio in 1985 followed by the subsequent release of Castle in the Sky in 1986, which was both directed and written by Miyazaki. in fact, these directors often also wrote the films they animated. the last film directed & written by Miyazaki was The Wind Rises, 2013. Miyazaki retired after the completion of The Wind Rises but came out of retirement many years ago to work on his final film How Do You Live which is set to release in 2023. 

whimsical, cute (かわいい kawaii in japanese, if you will), evocative, nostalgic, these are just some of the adjectives that describe these films. they create a sense of wonder while being relevant to life’s seasons - the joys and sorrows of people and the world. many of the main characters are children in various states of learning and exploring.

the majority of the films directed by Miyazaki are composed by the wonderful Joe Hisaishi. even if you haven’t seen a Ghibli film - it’s possible you’ve heard such work’s of Hisaishi as “Merry-Go-Round of Life” or “One Summer Day” - his work is thoughtfully arranged and one can tell that he and Miyazaki create quite well together.

i recently bought a My Neighbor Totoro poster for the office in my new house - i didn’t want to buy it at first but my partner Thomas encouraged me to. at first, I thought it would be not very fashionable to have an animated film poster but many times i have walked past it and was calmed by its cozy, nostalgic atmosphere and i find myself singing the happy “totoro, totoro” theme song. I think that is the magic of Studio Ghibli, their films rub off on you in happy and creative ways.

i can’t put my favorite films in order as it changes as i change but some of my favorites in no particular order are Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, Whisper of the Heart, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Arrietty, and My Neighbor Totoro!

throughout the year theaters around the nation feature Ghibli films - do yourself a favor and go to the cinema, young or old you are sure to be delighted by the films. you will be reminded of the simple joys of life - nature, friends, family, food and you will feel comforted by the warmth of created with heart art. 

i hope you feel called to enjoy one of these films, here are some stills from my favorite Studio Ghibli films!