Ghibli is an Asia animation studio, founded by talented artists extremely passionate about anime, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Although they started their careers and then matured from making anime series for television, directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata were determined to direct Ghibli studios to focus only on animated movies.
In addition to promoting and inheriting the distinct values that anime has achieved over time, it is the different ways of the company and director Hayao Miyazaki that have made Ghibli’s anime films achieve many achievements.
Always geared towards children
Hayao Miyazaki has always been faithful to his vision of serving children. His films are always highly entertaining with engaging and engaging plots. No movie is heavy or carries confusing messages. Even a seemingly philosophical, anti-war film like Howl’s Castle is easy to watch with its plot, lovable characters, and a great ending. But of course, Hayao Miyazaki never made movies for pure entertainment or relaxation.
His filmmaking motto is to create quality products. Hayao Miyazaki often complains about his frustration with the anime industry, the pride of Japan. He argues that television anime has been commercialized. Around are just a few topics about robots, space wars, transforming superheroes, or frivolous love. They are highly entertaining but do not teach children anything about the meaning of life.
With Hayao Miyazaki, he wants to make films that encourage children to be more independent, movies that bring positive messages to children who are feeling a loss of faith in life.
And of course, Hayao Miyazaki never made dogmatic or threatening films full of lessons and threats. He thinks that life itself is too tiring, a child needs to preserve his pure soul.
This Asia animation studio has a clear message and purpose
Before deciding to make a film, Hayao Miyazaki always knew what message he would send, how to send it in a movie. It’s not a message like let’s join hands to protect the environment or try to be good children. The message in his films never comes out in the character’s dialogue, but always leaves the viewer to feel it for themselves.
With Totoro, he wants to make a fun and pleasant movie that, after watching, the audience will leave with a smile on their lips and a comfortable and happy mentality.
Or like Laputa, from the beginning, Hayao Miyazaki pointed out that this is a movie for elementary school children, a movie that will make them really enjoy it. Pazu (Laputa’s initials) will be filled with laughter and tears, sincerity, sweet affections, and sacrifices. The film that tells the story of a boy who is determined to follow his dream is made with a way of telling the story that is really easy to understand and appeals to young audiences.
The way of choosing, determining the message as well as the clear purpose makes Hayao Miyazaki’s films always have depth. This makes many Ghibli anime films sometimes appreciated in terms of content even more than Disney movies.
Beautiful image
Ghibli films are famous for their beautiful hand-drawn images. It can be said that Hayao Miyazaki is a traditional painter, he hates drawing with computers or using special effects, because they lose the value of animated films. Although from the movie Princess Mononoke, Hayao Miyazaki also accepted the use of computer graphics and coloring in some scenes, he did so only to save time when the film’s release deadline was approaching.
Most of Ghibli’s works are drawn by hand. Not only taking care of the compelling plot and deep message, but Hayao Miyazaki is also especially fastidious about the film’s visual effects. Hayao Miyazaki often watched all the scenes himself and personally edited every detail. Even when needed, he demanded to change the background of each scene.
For example, the scene where Ashikata jumps onto the roof to chase San in the movie Princess Mononoke.
Because San is lighter and faster, she glides on the roof gently, so when performing this scene, the artist does not need to touch the background, but only draws the movement. But with Ashikata it was different. He was heavier, so when he jumped on the roof, Hayao Miyazaki wanted the tile roof where Ashikata’s feet were to be broken, and so the artist would have to intervene in the background for each scene.
Hayao Miyazaki is extremely picky with his film’s visuals. Therefore, every Ghibli film directed by Hayao is a feast of the eyes. Every movie has picturesque scenes or breathtaking scenes like the robot battle in Laputa, the Ohmu herd attacking the valley, or the fire and war scene of Howl’s Castle. Therefore, Hayao Miyazaki’s films are always considered the pinnacle of anime.
Build characters close to the audience
Hayao Miyazaki always puts female characters at the center. It can be said that female characters in Ghibli films are ordinary young girls, easily found in life.
A princess who loves nature and loves to fly in Nausicaa; an orphan girl with no talent other than possessing the magic stone in Laputa; Chihiro is also just a student and Sophie, the hat-making girl who manages a small hat factory… All of them are not outstanding, but they all become true heroes in their stories.
Each character’s journey is different, but they have one thing in common: they have a pure soul, a good purpose in life, and try their best for what they believe in. The new perspective on Ghibli-style superheroes is different from other cultures, especially American culture, where a hero is understood as someone who has a special ability with the mission to save the world.
Ghibli Asia animation studio has a unique scenario
The name Hayao Miyazaki was given to the screenwriter of the film, but he never actually wrote a script. Hayao Miyazaki views the script as just a draft of the idea, the important thing is that from that idea, we will add and develop the story to become a complete movie.
Hayao Miyazaki opposes the idea that artists have to draw according to the script of the screenwriter, according him, cartoons are not the same as cinema, the artist always has his own imagination for his story.
Sometimes the screenwriter writes a good story, but it is difficult to do it in the cartoon, and the animator, they can visualize the script directly with pictures, and so Hayao Miyazaki often skips the scriptwriting stage that goes straight to drawing scenes for the movie. He grasps the plot, bullet points the important things or twists of the script, and then draws the scene for each movie.
While setting up the scene, he and Isao Takahata edited until they were satisfied with the direction of the story. Having decided on the script by himself, although Hayao Miyazaki’s films are complicated, with many segments, the story has fast-paced, tight, attractive, conveying many messages. Not only with the original script, but even an adaptation of work was also done in this way by Hayao Miyazaki.
Hayao Miyazaki believes that in order to have a successful script, the scriptwriter must clearly understand what he wants in the film. The path of the story must be as simple and clear as a solid tree trunk.
What the audience can see is the treetop with beautiful luxuriant branches. But the important thing is that the tree has deep roots and a strong enough trunk to support branches and leaves. Other things like flowers, fruits, or decorations, anyone can contribute. An excellent scenario is a tree where there are luxuriant foliage and insects perched on the leaves.
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CONCLUSION
Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata’s filmmaking perspective and execution have created many different anime works. They use their enthusiasm, passion, and positive thoughts, opinions, and talents to make beautiful movies in terms of shape, perfect in content, making audiences around the world sympathize and love.
Above are all of the reasons why this Asia animation studio is successful in the animation industry. If you have any questions about this topic, leave a comment below!
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