My Neighbor Totoro

Hey minna,
back for my final installment in the “12 Days of Ghibli”, I’ve saved, what I consider, the best for last, My Neighbor Totoro. Released in 1988, Totoro is often considered THE Studio Ghibli film (might have something to do with Totoro appearing in the logo….).  Following the story of two young sisters as they move into their new house with their father in the Japanese countryside, while their mother is in the hospital, the magic begins almost as soon as they set foot into the old house.

What starts with little soot sprites in the floorboards of the house, turns into a magical tale after Mei stumbles upon the hidden nest of Totoro, a wood spirit who inhabitants the forests surrounding their new home. While doubtful of her fantastic experience, even Satsuki gets to meet Totoro, as well as the mystic cat-bus that traverses the countryside, unseen by human eyes.  Weaving a story of midnight trips as the wind across the countryside, the sisters make friends with Totoro and his companions, who help their acorn seeds, planted in their mother’s garden, sprout leaves right before their eyes.  Totoro takes a heart-wrenching turn when Satsuki receives a telegram instructing them to contact the hospital her mother is staying at.   While both sisters become very distressed at the news of their mother’s continued sickness, Mei decides to go visit her mom, a nearly three hour walk, even for an adult.  Thus begins the community’s desperate search for the lost child.  After hours of searching high and low with no results, Satsuki pleads for Totoro to show himself and help her find her lost sister.

I’m not going to spoil the ending, but I will say it was very enthralling and true to the style Miyazaki will use in his future Ghibli features.  My Neighbor Totoro served to put Japanese animation (particularly film animation) in the global spotlight, and for those of you with sharp eyes, you’ll notice Totoro even made an appearance in the recent Toy Story 3 Pixar film.  Definitely a must-see for any one interested in anime films, Totoro also makes for a great movie regardless of genre-preferences, unless you despise wholesome films that are very touching…

Until next time,
- BeldenOtaku

Howl’s Moving Castle

Hey minna,
back on this 3 days before Christmas with another edition of the “12 Days of Ghibli”, today’s feature film: Howl’s Moving Castle. Originally released in 2002, Howl showcases Ghibli’s talents given more modern animation technology, and a plot filled with witches, wizards, and magic is exactly what Ghibli thrives on when it comes to stunning visuals.

Howl’s Moving Castle follows the tale of an 18-year-old, plain-looking girl, Sophie, as her life gets turned upside down the day a wizard lends her a hand on her way to the bakery.  Unbeknownst to her, this wizard was being sought by a nasty witch, how decided to take her anger out on Sophie, cursing her with old age, and removing her ability to tell anyone about it.  Afraid of what others would say, she runs away from home, heading toward the Waste, an area known for its wizard and witch inhabitants.  There, she stumbles upon the magic castle on legs, belonging to a wizard named Howl, his apprentice, Markl, and a fire demon who powers the castle, Calcifer.

 

The film follows this misfit family’s misadventures as Howl must use his magic to protect them from the king’s sorcerer, whom was out to remove all the rogue witches and wizards in the kingdom.  At first simply searching for a way to life her own curse, Sophia ultimately lifts the curses from others, and helps Howl to finally learn to stop running and hiding, and standing up for those he wants to protect.

Not as theme-filled or transcendental as some other Ghibli films, Howl’s Moving Castle is more of a simple fairy tale story of an average girl swept into a magical journey where she finds herself not only dealing with her own problems, but also being able to solve larger problems as well.  Recommended on a similar basis as Spirited Away, while, at its core, a children’s movie, there’s no reason for an adult to enjoy it as well.

Until next time,
- BeldenOtaku

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Hey minna,
back with a film that really takes a step back from the Studio Ghibli we know today.  Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was (technically) produced before Studio Ghibli was Studio Ghibli, but is still considered one of Ghibli’s collective works.  Released in 1984, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind follows the story of Nausicaa, the princess of city-state known as the Valley of the Wind.  An avid wind-rider, Nausicaa spends most of her free time exploring the Toxic Forest (or “Sea of Decay”, depending on which version you’re looking at), a poison-filled front by nature that stands as the primary threat to humanity, 1000 years after humanity was nearly destroyed by the Seven Days of Fire, the apocalyptic end to a devastating war that left the Earth’s ecosystem in despair, producing the Toxic Forest, and it’s giant insect guardians.

Unlike my previous 12 Days of Ghibli films, this film takes a more sci-fi approach to a different theme.  Nausicaa focuses on the harm humanity does on the planet when we fight our wars and inevitably cause our own demise.  Ghibli does a great job illustrating the alien-ness of humans on their own planet, because the spores poisonous to them, were actually the remnants of the forest’s purification process. Deep below the forest’s surface, petrified trees served as filters, cleaning the water and scrubbing the soil of pollutants, left by humans so many centuries ago.

Of all the Ghibli films, this one holds the most impact, in my opinion.  Expressing the value of living in union with nature, understanding the symbiotic relationship of the planet is necessary for humans to continue living happily on it.  It also shows the futility of man’s warfare against the raw, untethered wrath of nature, as shown when the revived Giant Warrior fails to stop the rampaging Ohma as they approach the Valley of the Wind.

I refuse to divulge the ultimate ending of this film, it’s too good to not be seen first-hand.  Highly recommended to, well, anybody.  Children will enjoy the epic adventure of Nausicaa and adults will appreciate the message presented in such a dynamic story of one girl’s journey to save her people, and humanity in the long run. Don’t count this one out just because of the old animation-style, Ghibli takes pre-digital methodology to a whole new level. I’m surprised there isn’t a bigger appreciative fanbase for this, but maybe the general “Japanese/foreign film” tag put people off. (You guys should know better, right? :3 )

Until next time,
- BeldenOtaku

Whisper of the Heart

Hey minna,
back with my third film in a series I’m calling “12 Days of Ghibli”, and Whisper of the Heart. Following the story of Shizuku Tsukishima, a middle school student of a Tokyo suburb, as she finds out where the magic in her life has gone.  A bookworm in the most literal sense of the word, Shizuku can usually be found either in school, at the library, or at home reading a book, but lately, she’s found the magic in her fiction has left, replaced with the stark reality that the real world doesn’t always just work out like it does in her books. Until one day she stumbles upon an odd coincidence, someone by the name “Seiji Amasawa” has checked out and read all of the same books as she had.  That was but the beginning of her story, as her life begins to change and she discovers more about herself than she ever knew existed.

While this isn’t as much of a plot-driven film as Spirited Away or Kiki’s Delivery Service, the closest generalization I can make is that it’s a “slice of life’ movie, though the story sequences as she’s writing her novel might defeat that notion.  The story has a very relaxed pace and gives the viewer time to dwell on the feelings expressed through Shizuku.  Feelings like doubt, frustration, excitement, anxiety, all the emotions typical of someone on the verge of discovering themselves.

The development of the story is when Seiji leaves Tokyo for a two-month apprenticeship in Italy, where he’ll prove to his parents his commitment to learning how to better his craft of creating violins.  Meanwhile, Shizuku is left behind, worried that she has no future, unable to figure out what she’ll do with her life.  Thanks to her friend, she decides to try her hand at writing, because, as old man Nishi told her, like Seiji, they’re both gems in the rough, potential value, but with time, and patience, they expect something great to come forth, possibly even something more valuable than they knew was there. Shizuku pushes herself to write her own fictional tale before Seiji returns home, to show that’s she working toward something herself.  She commits herself so fully to this, that even her parents become worried as her grades start to slip, but she assures them that’s working toward something very important to her, and they trust her to do her best.

Shizuru’s growth comes to a head as she crafts a fantastic tale centered around the Baron, a cat-man figurine in Nishi’s shop.  Even though Shizuru feels so much was wrong with it, and that many parts weren’t done correctly, Nishi assures her, she’s just a gem in the rough, just like Seiji.  Then she commits to continue school, and to work to become a great writer, just like she thinks Seiji will become a great violin craftsman.  The story wraps up with Seiji’s return, as she proposes to marry Shizuru one day, leaving me with the cliche, but true, feeling that this is truly just the beginning.

Not as geared toward children as some of Ghibli’s other movies, this has a more adolescent-targeted audience, especially as far as the net of love interests go.  The animation has the familiar Ghibli-style that I like so much, and the unique song tracks make Whisper of the Heart stand out from other films of its genre.  Recommended to slice of life advocates, and anyone who sympathizes with not knowing what you want to do in life.

Until next time,
- BeldenOtaku