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

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

Spirited Away

Hey minna,
it’s time to get into the Christmas spirit, and what better way to celebrate the true reason for the season, than watching anime movies? From now until Christmas, I’ll be taking a look at 6 or 7 movies from one of my favorite animation studios, Studio Ghibli.  Today, I’m watching Spirited Away, a movie a lot people are probably familiar with.  Originally named “The Mysterious Disappearance of Sen and Chihiro”, Spirited Away was released in  2001 and became one of the most successful films in Japanese history, grossing $274 million worldwide.  Passing Titanic as the highest grossing movie of all time.  The english dubbed version was done by Pixar Animation Studios in preparation for its American theater release and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003.

Spirited Away follows the story of Chihiro, a young adolescent girl, picked up as she’s arriving to a new town after moving away from her childhood friends.  Chihiro’s slight insecurities make way for real disaster when her parents suddenly turn into pigs after helping themselves to food at a nightstand in an abandoned theme park they’ve stumbled upon.  To return her parents to normal, Chihiro befriends Haku, a dragon learning magic from an evil witch, Yubaba, who runs the bath house that she allows Chihiro to work in, granted she changed her name to Sen.  While working in the bath house and meeting all sorts of people and monsters along the way, Chihiro learns the responsibilities to growing up and also that she doesn’t have to face life’s challenges alone.

Sprited Away also contains a plethora of subtle themes and cultural critiques. From the coming of age of Chihiro to the struggle of Japanese society losing touch with its traditions.   Chihiro even spends time in an abandoned theme park, a reference to the break of the bubble economy of the late 20th century.  But one doesn’t have to know the deep intermingling themes or references to enjoy Spirited Away.

 

The animation is top notch, as expected of Studio Ghibli, and the english dubs (I’ve seen both original Japanese and English versions) for this movie are one of the few I’ve actually been very pleased with, the transition was done very well.  And all around great movie for kids and adults alike, also a great movie if you want introduce someone to anime films.  HIghly recommended to anyone look for a family-friendly movie to enjoy with friends of any age.

Until next time,
- BeldenOtaku