Studio Ghibli is a household name in animation, with films such as Spirited Away (2003) making it a big hit in America. Hayao Miyazaki (the studio’s creator) is considered a god in the animation industry. And many artists hold his style in high regard.
What is it about Studio Ghibli and their films that make them the gold standard?
Today I’m going to explore why everybody loves Studio Ghibli.
Art style
If anyone has seen a Ghibli movie, everyone comments on the art style. The food looks so realistic and mouth-watering that it makes you hungry. The sky looks realistic too. You can’t believe it's an animation. The backgrounds and the way the food is presented, compared to the cartoony art style of the humans, look realistic. Ghibli mixes realism with the fantastical (this doesn’t just apply to the art style either.)
However, the ghibli art style isn’t afraid to change. For example, if we compare Kiki’s Delivery Service to Princess Kayuga, the art style differs. Kiki’s Delivery Service is the typical Ghibli anime style. In contrast, Kayuga goes for a more pastel color scheme, similar to traditional Japanese watercolor paintings.
With Studio Ghibli films and the ever-changing art styles, you always find something to marvel at and dissect. It’s always a style that compliments the film and is visually eye-catching. Because of the versatile nature of Ghibli’s art style, people always keep coming back.
Music
Throughout the studio’s thirty-six years of making films, there has been iconic music from The Legend of Ashitaka to Path Of Wind. There’s always a soft, fantastical score to suit the movie, composed by Mamoru Fujisawa (also known as Joe Hisaishi) that sounds very light to the ear.
However, Hisaishi manages to mix deep and dramatic sounds with the floaty piano in most films. For example, the extended harmony in One Summer Day has a soft and fantastical extended harmony that feels ethereal and has a sense of sadness.
Many people describe the music in a Studio Ghibli (specifically a Miyazaki film) as ‘pretty.’ This is because Japanese music has two different scales our western ears aren’t used to. And so, we apply what we know to music. We think there is no resolution. (Which is a simplification. If you watch Sideway’s video on Miyazaki films and music, you’ll get a better understanding.)
Ultimately Hisaishi’s music is dramatic, light, floaty, and pretty. It expands on the tone of whatever Ghibli animation the music is heard.
Female Protagonist
Almost every Studio Ghibli film has a leading female protagonist from Castle of Luputa to From Up on Poppy Hill. The only exceptions being The Legend of Princess Mononoke, The Wind Rises, Porco Rosso, and Earthsea (I think.)
Now, if you’ve gone through a Reddit post on Studio Ghibli, there is an unpopular opinion. ‘that all the lead female protagonists can be swapped out for one another.’ And whilst there is some grain of salt to that truth. The protagonists still have some excellent writing and development behind them.
Examples of the character development of the Female leads
San, Princess Mononoke- is distrustful of humans and is rather aggressive and physically strong. Thanks to the help of Ashitaka and Moro, she becomes more trusting of humans. And, whilst still bold and ready to fight, becomes a bit softer.
Kiki, Kiki’s Delivery Service- Is cheerful, ready to leave home, polite, confident in her powers. As time goes on in her delivery service, she isn’t confident in her capabilities and feels lost without them. Becoming more depressed and bored. She has to learn how to use her powers again and cope with burnout.
Sophie Hatter, Howl’s Moving Castle- Sophie is soft but will shout at you when needed, independent and able to look after herself but is still kind. She doesn’t put up with people's rubbish. Throughout the film, she grows more into herself and becomes more confident in her assertiveness.
Chihiro Ogino, Spirited Away- At the beginning, she is whiny, loud, and unable to deal with much thrown at her. (To be fair, she is ten); however, throughout the movie, she becomes more adventurous, assertive, and becomes more determined.
Umi Matsuzaki, From Up On Poppy Hill- independent, looks after her family, is responsible, is shy, raises the flags in the morning, and longs for the fast due to grieving for her father. Throughout the film, she learns more about her family and opens up more instead of being closed off. On top of that, she also learns to put herself over her family at times and have fun.
Proving the criticism wrong
Whilst there can be some criticism of how a different protagonist could replace the female lead. Each one has distinct development and traits that separate them. Plus, Kiki, whilst being a similar age to Chihiro, could not be the lead of Spirited away and vice versa. Ultimately putting to rest that unpopular opinion. Proving Ghibli movies have well-developed, strong female leads and characters. Not every animation studio can say that.
Love interests
In many Studio Ghibli movies, there is a love interest from Howl to Shun Kazama. However, unlike most films that go for physical attraction, Miyazaki opts for a different one: a spiritual and emotional bond.
They don’t always remain together. In Spirited Away, Chihiro forgets about Haku at the end to return to her parents. The love interest grows thanks to the others’ influence, and whilst they might not be together, they still care for each other.
Miyazaki doesn’t force the characters together and gives them stronger bonds than most Hollywood couples.
Audiences, like the more grown-up and honest way Studio Ghibli explores love.
Studio Ghibli is treated as the gold standard of animation for many artists and writers’ as most, if not all, of the elements of filmmaking are the best they can be. The art is stunning, the music is spectacular, and the characters are developed and have decent love interests.
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