Studio Ghibli

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Studio Ghibli, Inc.
株式会社スタジオジブリ
Type Animation film studio
Founded 1985
Founder Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata
Headquarters Japan
Key people Hayao Miyazaki
Isao Takahata
Toshio Suzuki
Industry Media and Entertainment
Products Animated feature films (Anime)
Website www.ghibli.jp

Studio Ghibli, Inc. (株式会社スタジオジブリ Kabushiki-gaisha Sutajio Jiburi?) is a Japanese animation film studio, and previously was a subsidiary of Tokuma Shoten. Its name derives from the nickname the Italians used for their Saharan scouting planes in the Second World War (and later for the AMX International AMX), which derived from the Libyan word for hot wind blowing through the Sahara Desert (also known as sirocco).[1]

Though the Italian word is pronounced with hard /g/, the Japanese pronunciation of the studio's name is IPA: [dʑíbɯɺi] listen (help·info). The theory behind the name was that the studio was blowing a new wind into the Japanese anime industry. The company's logo features the character Totoro from the film My Neighbor Totoro.

Anime created by Studio Ghibli that have won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award have been Castle in the Sky in 1986, My Neighbor Totoro in 1988, and Kiki's Delivery Service in 1989.

Contents

[edit] History

Founded in 1985, it is headed by the acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki along with his colleague and mentor Isao Takahata, as well as the studio's executive managing director and long-time producer Toshio Suzuki. Its origins date back to 1983, with the film Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind, which was popularized as a serialized manga in a publication of Tokuma Shoten's Animage magazine after the original screenplay was rejected. The film was eventually produced by Topcraft and the film's success spurred the formation of Ghibli. Much of Ghibli's works are distributed in Japan by the noted film distributor Toho. Tokuma is the parent company of Studio Ghibli, and it has provided the Walt Disney Company with the video rights to all of Ghibli's output that did not have previous international distribution, including the global, non-Japan distribution rights to Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. Miyazaki's latest film, Howl's Moving Castle, was based on a book by British author Diana Wynne Jones, published in several countries including Canada and the United States. Composer Joe Hisaishi has provided the soundtrack for all of Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli films.

The most famous and lauded film from the studio that was not directed by Miyazaki is Grave of the Fireflies, directed by Isao Takahata, a sad film focusing on the lives of two war orphans towards the end of Second World War in Japan. This and Only Yesterday are the only films which Disney has declined to distribute.

Over the years, there has been a close relationship between Studio Ghibli and the magazine Animage, which regularly runs exclusive articles about the studio and its members in a section titled "Ghibli Notes." Artwork from Ghibli's films and other works frequently graces the cover of the magazine.

The company is well-known for its strict "no-edits" policy in licensing their films abroad. This has stemmed from the disastrous dubbing of Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind when the film was released in the United States as Warriors of the Wind. The film was heavily edited and Americanized, with significant portions cut and the plot rewritten. The "no cuts" policy was highlighted when Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein suggested editing Princess Mononoke to make it more marketable. In response, a Studio Ghibli producer sent an authentic katana with a simple message: "No cuts".[2]

Miyazaki is currently working on a new film, Gake no ue no Ponyo, literally "Ponyo on a Cliff."[3]

On February 1, 2008, Toshi Suzuki stepped down from the position of Studio Ghibli president which he held since 2005, and Koji Hoshino (former president of Walt Disney Japan) took over. Suzuki said he wanted to improve films with his own hands as a producer, rather than demanding this from his employees. He has revealed that Takahata and Goro Miyazaki (director of Tales from Earthsea and Hayao's son) are developing projects for release after Hayao Miyazaki's Gake no ue no Ponyo. Suzuki decided to hand over the presidency to Hoshino because Hoshino has helped Studio Ghibli sell its videos since 1996, as well as helped to release the Princess Mononoke film in the United States.[4]

[edit] Works

[edit] Films (Theatrical & TV, excluding Ghibli Museum releases)

Film Original release date Director
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (released before the formation of Studio Ghibli) March 4, 1984 Hayao Miyazaki
Laputa: Castle in the Sky August 2, 1986 Hayao Miyazaki
Grave of the Fireflies (shown alongside My Neighbor Totoro) April 16, 1988 Isao Takahata
My Neighbor Totoro (shown alongside Grave of the Fireflies) April 16, 1988 Hayao Miyazaki
Kiki's Delivery Service July 29, 1989 Hayao Miyazaki
Only Yesterday July 20, 1991 Isao Takahata
Porco Rosso July 18, 1992 Hayao Miyazaki
Ocean Waves May 5, 1993 Tomomi Mochizuki
Pom Poko July 16, 1994 Isao Takahata
On Your Mark (short music video shown alongside Whisper of the Heart) July 15, 1995 Hayao Miyazaki
Whisper of the Heart July 15, 1995 Yoshifumi Kondo
Princess Mononoke July 12, 1997 Hayao Miyazaki
My Neighbors the Yamadas July 17, 1999 Isao Takahata
Ritual (live-action film produced by Studio Ghibli's live-action offshoot, Studio Kajino) December 7, 2000 Hideaki Anno
Spirited Away July 27, 2001 Hayao Miyazaki
Ghiblies Episode 2 (shown alongside The Cat Returns) July 20, 2002 Yoshiyuki Momose
The Cat Returns (shown alongside Ghiblies Episode 2) July 20, 2002 Hiroyuki Morita
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (co-production between Studio Ghibli and Production I.G[5]) March 6, 2004 Mamoru Oshii
Howl's Moving Castle November 20, 2004 Hayao Miyazaki
Tales from Earthsea July 29, 2006 Gorō Miyazaki
Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea July 19, 2008 Hayao Miyazaki
Unnamed Isao Takahata Film[5] 2009 or 2010 Isao Takahata
Unnamed Gorō Miyazaki film TBA Gorō Miyazaki

[edit] Short films (TV, Ghibli Museum, and OVA)

[edit] Music videos (Theatrical and TV)

[edit] Commercials

  • "Sora Iro no Tane" (The Sky-Colored Seed) (1992) (TV spot for Nippon TV)
  • "Nandarou" (1992) (TV commercial for NHK)
  • "Hotaru No Haku" (1996) (Kinyou Roadshow houeikokuchi spot)
  • "Kinyou Roadshow" (1996) (Announcement spot for Kinyou Roadshow opening)
  • "Umacha" (2001) (TV commercials)
  • "Shop-One" (Online Shopping Mall Announcement Spot)
  • "House Shokuhin" (House Shokuhin Campaign Commercial)
  • "O-uchi de Tabeyou" (House Shokuhin Series Commercial, Summer Version)
  • "O-uchi de Tabeyou" (House Shokuhin Series Commercial, Winter Version)
  • "Hajimaru yo, Erai Koccha-hen" (KNB YumeDigi PR Spot)
  • "Kawaraban-hen" (Corporate commercial for Yomiuri Shinbubsha)
  • "Dore Dore Hikkoushi-hen" (Corporate commercial for Yomiuri Shinbubsha)
  • "Risona Ginkou" (Corporate commercial)

[edit] Other works

The works listed here consist works that don't fall into the above categories. Many of these films have been released on DVD in Japan.

  • Sekai Waga Kokoro no Tabi (1998) (documentary following Isao Takahata to Canada to meet Frédéric Back)
  • Sekai Waga Kokoro no Tabi (1999) (documentary travelling with Hayao Miyazaki as he follows the footsteps of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
  • Thank You, Mr. Lasseter (Lasseter-san, Arigatou?) (2003) (thank you video created for John Lasseter)
  • Miyazaki Hayao Produce no Ichimai no CD ha Koushite Umareta (2003) (A film about Tsunehiko Kamijo's Okaasa no Shashin CD)
  • Otsuka Yasuo no Ugokasu Yorokobi (2004) (A documentary about animator Yasuo Otsuka)
  • Miyazaki Hayao to Ghibli Bijyutsukan (2005) (A film featuring Goro Miyazaki and Isao Takahata touring the Ghibli Museum)

[edit] Related works

These works were not created by Studio Ghibli, but were produced by members of Topcraft that went on to create Studio Ghibli in 1985; produced by Toei Animation, Nippon Animation or other studios and featuring involvement by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, or other Ghibli staffers; or created in cooperation with Studio Ghibli.

[edit] Pre-Ghibli

[edit] Cooperative works

[edit] Distributive works

These Western animated films have been distributed by Studio Ghibli, and now through their label, Ghibli Museum Library

In addition, Takahata, working with staff from the studio, contributed a segment to the 2004 experimental animation anthology Winter Days (Fuyu no Hi).

[edit] Contributive works

Studio Ghibli has made contributions to the following anime series and movies.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Birth of Studio Ghibli, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind DVD, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2005.
  2. ^ Brooks, Xan. "A god among animators", The Guardian, 2005-09-14. Retrieved on 2007-05-23. "There is a rumour that when Harvey Weinstein was charged with handling the US release of Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki sent him a samurai sword in the post. Attached to the blade was a stark message: 'No cuts.' / The director chortles. 'Actually, my producer did that.'" 
  3. ^ Ghibli World (2007-03-19). Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
  4. ^ スタジオジブリ社長に星野康二氏 (Japanese). Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  5. ^ a b imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Studio Ghibli films
Pre Ghibli films
Ghibli films
Studio Ghibli short films
Ghibli Museum Library
Related articles
v • d • e
Studio Ghibli people