Studio Ghibli: Things you didn’t know about the legendary animation powerhouse
We all know of Walt Disney and his movies. But have you heard of the Walt Disney of Japan? Wondering what we are talking about? Well, it’s the legendary Studio Ghibli set up on 15th June, 1985 in Tokyo, Japan. The illustrious trio who turned this dream studio into a reality includes celebrated animator, director and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki, Japanese film director Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. Some of the timeless works from the stable of Studio Ghibli include The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and Castle in the Sky (1986). Today, let’s explore some lesser-known facts about this unique studio.
Studio Ghibli was named after hot winds and a military aircraft
The word ‘Ghibli’ is the Italian term for a ‘Hot Sahara Wind’ that affects several North African and Southern European nations. You may wonder why Miyazaki named this studio after a summer wind. Well, there are two reasons. Firstly, it was Isao, Toshio and Hayao’s dream to establish a studio that would bring a ‘new wind’ of revolution and rule over the animation industry; hence the name ‘Ghibli’. Considering the films they’ve produced till date, they did succeed in their mission, we can say!
Secondly, Miyazaki was passionate about aviation and flying. So, reflecting his love for aviation, the studio was named after the ‘Ca.309 Caproni Ghibli’ military aircraft that was employed during Italy’s colonisation of Africa during World War II.
It has a ‘no cuts’ arrangement with Walt Disney Studio
Even though Studio Ghibli is now famous, it took Miyazaki more than 10 years to feel confident enough to release his movies through Disney’s Buena Vista International (The Walt Disney Company). Yes! This happened after ‘Warriors of the Wind’ (1986), a badly edited version of ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’, was released in the West. Miyazaki was disappointed and forbade the release of his movies in the West for a long time. Studio Ghibli also waged their legal fights to maintain quality control.
Finally in 1996, Studio Ghibli entered into an agreement to allow Walt Disney Studios to release their films under a strict ‘no cuts’ and ‘no re-edit’ policy during overseas releases. Miyazaki stressed that even translations must be as close as possible to the original terminology and concepts. Thus, Ghibli films have a noticeably refreshing absence of corporate studio intervention, unlike other film studios.
There is a Ghibli Museum too!
To give his fans a real-life animation experience and behind-the-scenes look at the studio’s well-known productions, Miyazaki opened the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Inokashira Park, Japan. The museum thrives on the slogan ‘Let’s get lost together’, derived from Miyazaki’s vision for visitors to immerse themselves in his imagination and film work.
Inaugurated on 1st October 2001, the museum was designed with the help of storyboards Miyazaki used for creating his films. The museum structure mimics the architectural styles used in Miyazaki’s films. Dedicated to art and animation, the museum features a children’s technology and fine arts museum. The highlights include a model of the Catbus from ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ (1988), a café, a bookstore, a rooftop garden and a theatre showing Studio Ghibli’s short films. The museum is such a dreamworld that it is often referred to as a ‘gateway to a storybook world’.