Monday, May 30, 2011

Only in Japan: Ghibli Animation

Giant Robot from Laputar/ Castle in the Sky film. Taken at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan


A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit the famous Ghibli museum located in the city Mitaka in Tokyo.  Now I am not a huge fan of Ghibli animation but I do appreciate its unique style and storytelling.  The mainstream Manga or Anime is quite different and I think lacks the artistic style found in the Ghibli franchise. 

The Ghibli museum does not allow pictures except for this robot located at the very top of the museum in the garden area.  The museum itself is filled with gadgets, elevators, trinkets, and machines much like
Howl`s moving castle

Image from http://steampunkscholar.blogspot.com/

The museum also has a restaurant and movie theatre that shows short movies of rare or never seen before Ghibli animation.  If you are a Ghibli fan it is definitely a place to experience. If you have never seen any Ghibli animation I encourage you to watch them.  Most Japanese have a fondness and appreciation for the Ghibli works and they are very popular with a variety of ages from young to old. 

DVD cover of one of Ghibli`s most popular movies Tonari no Totoro
Perhaps Ghibli is best known for its movie Totoro which I have read is going to reworked into a new film by Disney`s pixar.

For a full list of Ghibli`s movies and more facts visit STUDIO GHIBLI

Ghibli`s stories, though often set in a European style, depict a flowing, vibrant animated form that truly captures the mystery and heart of Japan. At times the imagery can be overwhelming or even grotesque.  But it is surreal and honest to its audience.  It definitely leaves people with a sense of wonder and awe. It brings you back to storytime perhaps when you were a child.

Enjoy Ghibli Animation brought to you Only By Japan

Ghibli museum website- You can only go by booking a reservation in advance!

2 comments:

  1. This made me smile for long..I love fiction, cartoons, and animation...I was like a kid when I was reading your post...Your daughters would've been so delighted!! Hope to visit there someday.

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