Friends familiar with Studio Ghibli will surely recognize this piece of music. Indeed, it is from their classic work 'My Neighbor Totoro'. This animated film, released in 1988, still brings joy to today's audiences, including many gray-haired "big kids" among them.
Bryan Bufford, who is 63 years old, says 'My Neighbor Totoro' is his favorite, and he never tires of watching it. He summarizes Studio Ghibli's works as follows:
“Imaginative, with a unique narrative style, and the characters are particularly interesting, especially the female roles. They allow one to quickly resonate with the story and characters.”
In 1985, Hayao Miyazaki, along with his partner Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki, established an animation studio. Miyazaki named it “Ghibli”, a term derived from Arabic, meaning “the hot wind blowing over the Sahara Desert”, and also the name of an Italian reconnaissance aircraft from World War II. With a special fondness for aircraft, Miyazaki hoped this studio would spark an animation revolution in Japan. In 2015, Studio Ghibli will celebrate its 30th anniversary. To pay tribute to Miyazaki and his team, the British Film Institute has specially planned a two-month screening of Studio Ghibli's works. Curator Justin Johnson described the uniqueness of Studio Ghibli to reporters:
“Today's animated films, especially those from well-known studios, heavily utilize 3D technology and computer graphics, but Miyazaki and his team go against the tide, focusing on traditional hand-drawn animation.”
Environmental protection, anti-war themes, and critiques of human greed are also reasons why Justin is fond of Miyazaki's works.
“I feel he does not deliberately impose these themes on others; they are merely a reflection of his personal style. He is inherently a person with a strong sense of humanity, naturally incorporating his thoughts into his drawings and works.”
Justin noted that although there are cultural and linguistic differences between Japan and the UK, this does not hinder fans' love for Miyazaki, as many of his works contain familiar plots and scenes for British audiences.
“He seems to have a special affection for the UK, stemming from his love of reading. Many of his works are inspired by British literature. Studio Ghibli successfully adapted Mary Norton's 'The Borrowers' and Diana Wynne Jones' 'Howl's Moving Castle' into animated works for Japanese audiences.”
Hayao Miyazaki's feature-length animated final work 'The Wind Rises' is also based on literary works. The film topped the box office for six consecutive weeks after its release in Japan last year and was nominated for the Venice Film Festival. It was at Venice that Studio Ghibli held a press conference announcing Miyazaki's retirement, leaving fans around the world in deep reflection. Mari Ko, who recently moved from Tokyo to London, said that in the hearts of young Japanese fans, Miyazaki is like a kind guardian deity.
“His animated films are very close to life, with details that often remind us of our childhood experiences, constantly reminding us to cherish the beautiful things in life.”
She was quite surprised to find that on this side of the globe, the master Hayao Miyazaki has a large number of loyal fans.
“I can feel that everyone loves his works. This is the first time I realized he has such a significant influence in other countries. It is truly remarkable.”
