Our Wedding Theme: Studio Ghibli Films by Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki
Studio Ghibli is one of the most acclaimed animation studios in the world, second only to Disney / Pixar. The brainchild of Japanese artists Hayao Miyazaki and the late Isao Takahata, it is home to some of the most incredible, mind blowing works of creative genius the world has ever seen.
My love story with Studio Ghibli animation started as a child when my mother purchased Kiki’s Delivery Service for me. A beautiful and endearing story of a young witch who, as per family tradition, ventures out on her own at 13 in order to grow in both independence and ability. Her struggle to find her purpose and the importance of finding joy in the things she does in life are messages that are profound in their complexity yet simple and exciting in their delivery.
Studio Ghibli has an excellent theme of independent, self-sufficient young women. Girls who struggle but need not be rescued by a man or boy. They may need assistance, like any of us would, but they never wait to be saved. It is a wonderful alternative to the often outdated views of Disney and it allows us to see a young love blossoming instead of neatly wrapped ‘happily ever afters’.
The innocence and purity of the love stories is what has drawn both Chris & I to these films. The beauty of the hand drawn animation with water colour landscapes, each scene is an artistic masterpiece. The richness of imagination in the stories & characters is what has kept us watching.
We hope that you can take some time before the big day to sit down and watch at least one of these films. We hope you find the same joy in them that we have!
We recommend watching the English dub versions of the Studio Ghibli films, as they are often voiced by famous actors & actresses, including: Liam Neeson, Tim Curry, Betty White, Anne Hathaway, Dakota Fanning, John Krasinski, Kirsten Dunst, Anna Paquin, James Vanderbeek, the list goes on…
In particular, the Studio Ghibli film “Spirited Away” won an Oscar Academy Award in 2003. It has been ranked as the “2nd Best Movie of the 21st Century So Far” by the New York Times and the “4th Best Movie of the 21st Century” by the BBC as picked by over 177 film critics from around the world!
For your pleasure, below are film trailers & a synopsis of each Studio Ghibli film that we will be incorporating into our wedding theme and naming the dinner tables after.
KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE
In this anime feature, 13-year-old Kiki moves to a seaside town with her talking cat, Jiji, to spend a year alone, in accordance with her village’s tradition for witches in training. After learning to control her broomstick, Kiki sets up a flying courier service and soon becomes a fixture in the community. But when the insecure young witch begins questioning herself and loses her magic abilities, she must overcome her self-doubt to get her powers back.
SPIRITED AWAY
In the Oscar award winning animated feature film Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki, 10-year-old Chihiro and her parents stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku, who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her parents.
What we think is truly incredible about Spirited Away is that, unlike any other animated film, it was created without a script! The entire story was completely improvised, and it evolved organically while Miyazaki was drawing! In his own words, Hayao Miyazaki said: “It’s not me who makes the film. The film makes itself and I have no choice but to follow”.
Spirited Away won an Oscar Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003!
It is ranked the “2nd Best Film of the 21st Century So Far” by The New York Times!
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/09/movies/the-25-best-films-of-the-21st-century.html
It is ranked the “4th Best film of the 21st Century” by the BBC!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC%27s_100_Greatest_Films_of_the_21st_Century
PONYO
During a forbidden excursion to see the surface world, a goldfish princess encounters a human boy named Sosuke, who gives her the name Ponyo. Ponyo longs to become human, and as her friendship with Sosuke grows, she becomes more humanlike. Ponyo’s father brings her back to their ocean kingdom, but so strong is Ponyo’s wish to live on the surface that she breaks free, and in the process, spills a collection of magical elixirs that endanger Sosuke’s village.
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO
This acclaimed animated tale by director Hayao Miyazaki follows schoolgirl Satsuke and her younger sister, Mei, as they settle into an old country house with their father and wait for their mother to recover from an illness in an area hospital. As the sisters explore their new home, they encounter and befriend playful spirits in their house and the nearby forest, most notably the massive cuddly creature known as Totoro.
WHISPER OF THE HEART
Based on the manga with the same title, this animated film follows Shizuku, an inquisitive young girl and a voracious reader, who longs to be a writer when she grows up. One day she notices that all of her library books have previously been taken out by one Seiji Amasawa. Amid chasing after a large cat, befriending an eccentric antiques dealer and writing her first novel, Shizuku aims to find this mysterious boy who may well be her soul mate.
THE CAT RETURNS
High school student Haru (Chizuru Ikewaki) rescues a cat that was about to be run over by a truck and discovers the cat is actually a prince named Lune. Out of gratitude, Lune’s father, the Cat King, asks her to marry Lune. Haru is brought to the Cat Kingdom, where she starts to develop feline features. When she is prevented from leaving, the Baron (Yoshihiko Hakamada) and Toto, two statues that have magically been given life, provide assistance in gaining her freedom.
HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE
Sophie has an uneventful life at her late father’s hat shop, but all that changes when she befriends wizard Howl, who lives in a magical flying castle. However, the evil Witch of Waste takes issue with their budding relationship and casts a spell on young Sophie, which ages her prematurely. Now Howl must use all his magical talents to battle the jealous hag and return Sophie to her former youth and beauty.
CASTLE IN THE SKY
Young orphan Sheeta and her kidnapper, Col. Muska, are flying to a military prison when their plane is attacked by a gang of air pirates led by the matronly Dola. Escaping from a mid-air collision via a magic crystal around her neck, Sheeta meets fellow orphan Pazu and the pair join forces to discover the mystical floating city of Laputa while pursued by both Muska and the pirates, who lust for the city’s myriad treasures.
THE SECRET WORLD OF ARIETTY
Arrietty, a tiny teenager, lives with her parents in the recesses of a suburban home, unbeknown to the homeowner and housekeeper. Like others of her kind, Arrietty remains hidden from her human hosts, but occasionally ventures forth from beneath the floorboards to borrow sugar cubes and other supplies. A secret friendship forms when 12-year-old Shawn meets Arrietty, but their relationship could spell danger for Arrietty’s family.
Collage of Studio Ghibli Characters – Artist Credit: Hyung86 on Deviant Art
Hayao Miyazaki photographed in his studio in Tokyo. Photographed by: Hiroji Kubota.
Film Trailers © Studio Ghibli – All Rights Reserved
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