Ghibliverse: Studio Ghibli Beyond the Films

by Jake Cunningham, Michael Leader

Step beyond the magical movies and explore the wider world of Studio Ghibli.

Hailed as perhaps the greatest animation studio in the world, Studio Ghibli's influence extends far further than the cinema screen. Ghibliverse plots a course through the universe outside the films, the wonderful web of inspiration and influences that are ripe and waiting for Ghibli fans to enjoy.

From manga and rare movies to forgotten television series and brand new theme parks, and from literary masterpieces and rival studios to soundtracks and secret short films, expert authors and hosts of the hit Ghibliotheque podcast Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham show that the magic doesn't stop when the film credits roll.

Genres: Nonfiction

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2024

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a slog, but a genuinely fascinating insight into outside of Ghibli, and the deepest of deep cuts

Well worth the read, but in short bursts

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
As someone who has loved for probably 25 years (I vividly remember always wanting to rent Totoro from our local movie rental store), this was an extremely interesting read. It was an impulse buy from a local indie bookstore. I saw it and knew I had to have it. I didn't realize there was another called the Ghibliotheque and now I NEED it.
While the Ghibliotheque digs deep into each of the movies made by Studio Ghibli, this one goes beyond (as the title implies). It describes movies and shows that a lot of the key employees at Studio Ghibli made before the studio was formed, the music, documentaries, real life places like the Ghibli museum, and potential "post-Miyazaki" directors among others.
I always tell myself that Studio Ghibli is one of my favorite fandoms ever. There are quite a few movies I have seen countless times, but I only watched through all of them (except Red Turtle because it wasn't streaming anywhere at the time) a few years ago. There are really some hidden gems that aren't as well known as Howl's Moving Castle for example. But I had no idea how deep this fandom really goes. The Ghibli Museum sounds absolutely amazing and there are 10 short films that you can ONLY watch in the parks! Including one about Mei and a baby cat bus! What?! The documentaries sound so thorough and interesting. I found shows and movies that Miyazaki and others created before the formation of Studio Ghibli that I'm really interested to watch as well as ones created by others that are "Ghibli-esque."
While the content itself was really interesting, the writing was a little dull sometimes when we were just thrown fact after fact, but I think that's just because I read 99% fiction.
I am definitely going to be on the hunt for the Ghibliotheque because this book made me really want to know every detail about these movies and then really experience them by paying attention to the music and animation instead of kind of having them on as background noise since I've seen a lot of them so many times.

[Lizzie]

Gave up. Too much of a western gaze to the universe. Only skimmed book in its entirety.

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

Vi siete mai chiesti quanto è profonda la tana del Bianconiglio?

"Ghibliverso", così come promesso dal suo sottotitolo, è un viaggio che avvolge tutto l'universo che ruota attorno allo Studio Ghibli: viene esplorato ciò che era e i primi passi degli autori chiave, ciò che è stato nel mentre con i progetti paralleli ai film e, infine, ciò che sarà attraverso i possibili successori.

Sono sempre stata una grande appassionata dei mondi creati dallo Studio Ghibli e leggere dei primi progetti di Miyazaki e Tokahata, cosí come vedere come sono nati e si sono sviluppati il Museo Ghibli e il Ghibli Park, apprendere delle trasposizioni teatrali e del sodalizio con Joe Hisaishi e altri compositori o, ancora, scoprire dei numerosi corti e documentari che sono stati sviluppati in parallelo ai film principali e che sono il simbolo di una continua ricerca, esplorazione e studio, per nuove tecniche d'animazione, é stato molto affascinante ed interessante.

L'iceberg é sempre più profondo di quanto appare e non vedo l'ora di scoprire ancora nuove cose su questo mondo cosí magico.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

got this book as a Christmas present, otherwise probably wouldn't have read it. I love the texture of the cover. It was very grippy and easy to hold, especially because this is a larger book, more like a coffee table style size.

I liked the insights into the Ghibliverse, but I definitely found the writing to be tiny and some of the boxes to be too dark. so I really had to read this in proper lighting at certain times of the day because it's the middle of winter.

definitely a fun read for somebody that's into the art and craft. then it just makes me want to rewatch Howl's moving Castle because that's my favorite movie of all time.

[Chris Aylott · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a catalog of interesting Ghibli-related places and artifacts than a deep study of its own, but there's a lot of fascinating stuff out there and they provide new ways of looking at the creators that drive the studio.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall it’s a nice and interesting overview, but at times too superficial and judgmental. It lacks socioeconomic and historical background researches

[Leah Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great insight into the deeper cuts & lesser known animators under the ghibli umbrella 🤓

[Emmanuel León · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buena información, contada de forma amena. Para curiosos y verdaderos fanáticos de Ghibli.