This article was originally printed on November 4, 2015 in Area of Effect magazine. It is reprinted here with permission. If you enjoy this article, we recommend you check out the Area of Effect anthology, containing pieces similar to this one and many more written by a cacophony of wonderful (and nerdy) writers. A teenage… Read More Grave of the Fireflies and burying selfishness
I decided to watch a Studio Ghibli film I hadn’t seen yet and give my first impressions of it. So I watched Howl’s Moving Castle, which had the misfortune of being released at a time when my interest in anime (and movies and television in general) were at a low ebb. It also had the… Read More A New Perspective on Howl’s Moving Castle
In a movie filled with fantastic (and fantastical) sequences, it’s one near the end of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya that stands out as both thrilling and questionable. Kaguya is a magical being who has grown into a beauty that is proposed to by suitors far and wide, including the emperor, but feels burdened… Read More Leaving Family for the Princess Kaguya
The round of sixteen in our tournament to determine the best Studio Ghibli film is done and we’re on to the elite eight! Spirited Away (v. Arrietty), Princess Mononoke (v. When Marnie Was There), Howl’s Moving Castle (v. Ponyo), and My Neighbor Totoro (v. Porco Rosso) crushed their opponents, and Grave of the Fireflies one… Read More Studio Ghibli Tournament: Round of 8
Some of my loved ones and friends don’t use social media at all. They have no FOMO nor a desire to post the minutia of their everyday lives, and rarely feel the need to see how their connections are doing. I sometimes envy them. Facebook and Instagram are wonderful ways of keeping up with people,… Read More Only Yesterday (And onto Tomorrow)
As a child, I dreamed of becoming a director. I would write out my career, detailing the movies I would make, the awards they would win, and even how much money they would earn. But most of all, I loved casting the roles in the films. I would get just the perfect actors and actresses… Read More Casting Nausicaa
My first anime experience in theaters remains my best. I saw Spirited Away when it premiered in the U.S. in 2002, and even though I had already seen a couple Studio Ghibli films, I was not prepared for what an amazing experience it would be to watch Miyazaki’s latest on the big screen. GKIDS and… Read More Giveaway: Two Tickets to See Spirited Away in Theaters!
We’re proud to present a guest post today by Eric Reinders, a professor of East Asian religions, religion and fantasy, and fortune-telling in the Department of Religion of Emory University. He has authored books on Christianity in China, Medieval Chinese Buddhism, and the films of Miyazaki. His current project is on Chinese translations of Tolkien.… Read More Creative Spark and a Whisper of the Heart
Studio Ghibli’s contribution to anime (and animation in general) cannot be understated. Founded by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and producer Toshio Suzuki, the studio has produced many of Japan’s most hallowed films, movies that are both critically acclaimed and monsters at the box office. In 1996, Disney partnered with Studio Ghibli to bring… Read More Ranked: Every Studio Ghibli Movie
Studio Ghibli’s contribution to anime (and animation in general) cannot be understated. Founded by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and producer Toshio Suzuki, the studio has produced many of Japan’s most hallowed films, movies that are both critically acclaimed and monsters at the box office. In 1996, Disney partnered with Studio Ghibli to bring… Read More Ranking Every Studio Ghibli Movie From 22 to 1