G is for Ghibli

Hi Friends! I wrote about some of the human artists behind Ghibli’s beloved movies, just in time for Ghibli to become a popular target for AI. So that this article does not become a giant rant, let's be clear & concise: AI “art” is bullshit. It couldn't exist without theft & it also destroys the environment. Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki famously hates AI, considering it “an insult to life itself”. I agree. 💚 KW

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio whose name has become synonymous with the enchanting anime style that they have perfected over the years. Studio Ghibli has made dozens of movies, four of which are in the top ten highest grossing Japanese movies of all time! The sheer amount of films, books, clothing, home decor, toys, games, & all other official Ghibli merchandise is mind-boggling. They have an official museum. They have an official theme park. I was genuinely surprised to find out they don't have an official holiday dedicated to them. If we can have an International Pillow Fight Day (and we do, it's this Saturday), I think we should have a Ghibli Day!

Watercolor anime granny in a blue dress with black trimmings, with big gold earrings and lots of rings. She has a very large head, a long nose, and very big hair drawn up into a bun.

There is so much to celebrate about Studio Ghibli. I could talk all day about Hayao Miyazaki, who directed most of the studio’s biggest hits. I would give a TED talk on Ghibli’s extensive use of Yokai. I will probably write an article someday about the various movies' amazing casts of characters. However, there is one major aspect of every Ghibli movie that often gets overlooked.

Watercolor Ghibli landscape, with an enormous lake in the middle of a field of flowers and mountains in the distance.

The backgrounds in Studio Ghibli movies are practically an extra character in each scene. The landscapes, in particular, are so good! Some of the landscapes & backgrounds are almost as popular as their characters are. These iconic backgrounds are largely the work of one person: Kazuo Oga. You might think such an accomplished & talented artist is using top-of-the-line materials to make backgrounds for award-winning movies. Nope! He paints them using relatively inexpensive Nicker Poster Colors, which work like gouache. This gives him bold & opaque, yet still water-soluble, paint colors to play with.

Kazuo Oga is an inspiration & a reminder that we don’t need to splash out on every expensive artistic accessory being marketed to us- the basics can be enough if you have the dedication & patience to develop the skills. You can make art with limited supplies, or with cheap ones, what matters is that you make it.

A very small child in a pink dress & pigtails naps on a gigantic friendly grey monster, who is also sleeping. They are surrounded by lush greenery.

Another great form of art found in Studio Ghibli movies is the music! The soundtracks to Ghibli movies are amazing. Joe Hisaishi is a prolific musician who has, among other things, scored many Ghibli movies. I encourage you to look him up wherever you get your music! While you’re there, check out the overwhelming amount of fan-made musical Ghibli tributes. Most of my favorite covers can be found on Cat Trumpet’s album Relaxing Piano: Studio Ghibli Complete Collection.

Many Studio Ghibli movies started as children's books written by English authors. Mary Norton wrote The Borrowers & Diana Wynne Jones wrote Howl’s Moving Castle & Earwig & the Witch. And because I am never able to resist suggesting books, Diana Wynne Jones is an amazing author. Most of her books are speculative fiction for children. They are also a lot of fun! When I was little I read every one of her books my library had. One that didn’t end up as a Ghibli movie is called Fire & Hemlock, which I liked a lot. I recommend it both for being a fun story & also for name-dropping dozens of other really good books over the course of the narrative.

Yu-Bird & Boh

Which is your favorite Ghibli movie? If you haven't seen any before, where do you think you will start? Let me know on Mastodon or Ko-Fi! Have a fantastic day, draw something for my art challenge, see you next week!

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