Studio Ghibli: The Films of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata

by Colin Odell, Michelle Le Blanc

The first English language book about Studio Ghibli, now updated to include The Wind RisesThe animations of Japan’s Studio Ghibli are among the highest regarded in the movie industry. Their delightful films rank alongside the most popular non-English language films ever made, with each new eagerly-anticipated release a guaranteed box-office smash. Yet this highly profitable studio has remained fiercely independent, producing a stream of imaginative and individual animations. The studio’s founders, long-time animators Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, have created timeless masterpieces. Although their films are distinctly Japanese their themes are universal: humanity, community, and a love for the environment. No other film studio, animation or otherwise, comes close to matching Ghibli for pure cinematic experience. All their major works are examined here, as well the early output of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, exploring the cultural and thematic threads that bind these films together

Genres: Nonfiction, Film, Art, Japan, Anime, Pop Culture, Manga

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2009

Reviews

[Joe Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge Studio Ghibli fan, and I was hoping for great things when reading this book. Having not long watched the documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, I was eager to get reading.
However, I was disappointed.
I found some of the points in this book interesting, such as the links between certain films, but overall, the book itself is unimpressive. It reads as a cross between a review of the Ghibli and pre-Ghibli films and a piece of poorly written GCSE coursework (there were actually times I wished I could print the story from my Kindle and get a big red marker pen out). Beside giving an insight into how the studio was founded (the majority I already previously knew, some that I did not), this book basically reviews what happens in each film up until Ponyo. Literally that. No insight into the behind the scenes action of how they came to be. Just a badly written review.
Apart from vaguely jogging my memory of the films I have watched many a time, the book seems to rely more upon hearsay rather than facts that I know to be true. In addition to this, the book is constantly making points that are either obvious even to the untrained eye, or making statements that don't particularly make sense, as well as injecting silly quotes that make no sense whatsoever. The worst part is, these ludicrous points aren't even backed up with evidence! They're just left there, floating in the air, gradually plummeting to the Earth with nothing there to keep them suspended.
Where I thought I would be getting a decent biography of the history of the famous Studio Ghibli and it's work, I was instead presented with a poorly written essay about the stories of the films. I was hoping to get a real insight into the studio, but I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth, reminiscent of the vile curry noodles the author kept harping on about before he brought his book to an abrupt, but welcome, end.

[Harmonyofbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bu filmi beş yaşındaki çocukların anlayabileceği şekilde yaptım, 50 yaşındakiler anlayamasa da olur.”
5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ruhların Kaçışı kitabından sonra Miyazaki filmleri üzerine yazılmış başka bir kitap var mı diye araştırırken keşfettiğim Stüdyo Ghibli; Isao Takahata ve Hayao Miyazaki’nin filmlerine dair adeta cennet gibi bir arşiv. Kitap öncelikle filmlere dair genel detayları işliyor. Mesela Şihto inanışından, filmlerdeki hayvan figürlerinin öneminden, kadın karakterlerin özelliklerine, doğa ve insan üzerinden verilen mesajlara kadar birçok ayrıntıyla çevrili. Sonrasında iki yönetmenin Ghibli Stüdyo’yu kurmadan önceki eserlerine ve ikisi arasındaki farka değiniyor. Her filme dair filmin kısa bir özetine, yapım sürecinin detaylarına ve sinemadaki hasılatına dair birçok bilgi içeriyor. Ben her filme dair anlatı bölümünü okurken o filmden en sevdiğim soundtrack parçasını dinledim. Okuması inanılmaz keyifli ve bilgi dolu, Japon animasyon dünyasına dair zengin ayrıntılarla çevrili harika bir kitaptı. Görsel içeriğe çok öncelik verilmemesine rağmen bu kadar akıcı ve merakla okunmasına şaşırdım açıkçası. Fiyat performans açısından da çevrilmesine çok mutlu olduğum, kesinlikle dolu dolu bir kitaptı. Ghibli dünyasına meraklıların okumasını şiddetle öneririm..

[Büşra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her zaman Miyazaki filmlerinin sihirli olduğunu düşünmüşümdür. Beni içine alır ve yüreğimi öyle bir sarar ki film bittiğinde ben başka bir ben daha bulurum. İşte bu sihrin nasıl emek gerektirdiğini nasıl zorlukla yapıldığını okuyoruz.

[S.P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly short book which discusses all the studio Ghibli films (well from Laputa: Castle in the Sky to Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea) plus less emphasized discussions about the Pre-Ghibl days and few sentences about non-filmaking work.

The discussions are pretty basic, brief plot outlines, some personal details about Miyazaki and Takahata, and a bit of summarizing of the social contexts in which the films were made. Much of this is a case of stating the obvious and the sort of snippets you could pick up from television interviews and/or other peoples works. Many of the films (particularly the Miyazaki films IMO) could do with much longer treatise, however I guess that is not really the point of the book, which seems to be an introduction to the films.

This it does well. There is not too much worthiness in the text, each of the works is concisely discussed in chronological order allowing the development of themes, which are often revisited across a number of films. The simple and gentle style of the authors complements the material of the films and although you are left 'wanting to know more' about each of the animations you have not already seen, I was glad it didn't go into too much detail as this could detract from watching the unseen films. For those films already seen, there was nothing really new.

Not really for avid Ghibli fans then, but good if you have seen 'Spirited Away' or 'Princess Mononoke' and want a bit of a pointer to other works.

[Ilaria Vigorito · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good starting point, if you want to know more about Studio Ghibli and the career of its two most famous directors - Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki - before delving into more specific and more academic essays.

The only, true downside is that sometimes the fan inside the authors of this essay pops up and you can feel it in the too triumphlistic tone they use, when talking about Studio Ghibli's movies - though, they're among the few people who recognize that "Tales from Earthsea" wouldn't have received so many bad reviews, if it weren't a Ghibli movie and if its director weren't the son of Hayao Miyazaki.

As I said, a good starting point, if you want to know more about Studio Ghibli.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a tidy analysis of Ghibli from the top down:

1. Anime as form distinctive from its American cousin.
2. Brief professional histories of Ghibli founders Miyazaki and Takahata.
3. Analysis of all Ghibli films—themes, character motivations, “big ideas;” both within and across Ghibli films.
4. Production process of each film.

The three-star rating comes from the tendency of the authors to spend too much time describing film premises. Frankly, much of “The Films of Studio Ghibli” section reads like film reviews. Sure, these passages might be useful for compartmentalizing and organizing your thoughts about the films if you’re already a Ghibli fan. But chances are, if you’re reading this book, you already know how great Ghibli is.

Readers of this book don’t need to be pandered to. And, if someone has picked it up and read it without watching at least a few Ghibli films, then may god have mercy on their soul.

I’d be interested in picking up the 2015 edition of this book (I read the 2009 edition, which lists Ponyo as the most recent Ghibli film), if only to read the authors’ analysis of The Tale of Princess Kaguya.

[Emmilby · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good collection of plot summaries if you are unfamiliar. If you've seen all the media, there will be only small tidbits of information outside of whats directly in the films, But I did appreciate the history of productions that led to the studios founding.

[Saphirablue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this.

It's a nice overview of the movies pre- and from Studio Ghibli with short descriptions and explanations about plot, source material, animation style and other things.

[Olive Sparrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book even though I tend to avoid non fiction when it's not historical. I actually wasn't hugely enthused when my mom gave it to me for Christmas because even though I love Studio Ghibli, I hadn't had much of an inclination to read a book on it. That said, I learned a lot despite knowing a great deal already and I've come away with some new perspectives of some of my favorite films.

[Craig Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it felt redundant for me to read this, being that I wrote a paper on the works of Hayao Miyazaki in college, I still enjoyed getting a deeper insight into not only his movies, but the works of Studio Ghibli in general. The book also reignited an appreciation for his movies, as each and every one of them is a work of fine art. Miyazaki will go down as THE finest animator the world has ever produced - mark my words.

Anyway, if you're fan of Studio Ghibli fans, but you're largely unaware of the studio's history and the scope of of their work, this is a perfect book for you. It's written in language that is very casual and easy to read. This is also a very fast read. I would like to check out the other film books by this publisher, as they all look interesting as well.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a big Studio Ghibli fan this book dissapointed. I was looking forward to an in-depth analysis of the themes and characters in Ghibli films but this book did not deliver. It makes a lot of large, unsubstantiated points and doesn't have much to offer. I learned a bit from this book but it could have been a lot better.

[Ahmet]

Karmaşık duygular içerisindeyim. Bazı kısımlarda hiç konsantre olamadım okuduklarıma, zaten o nedenle böyle uzun sürdü, yayıldı okuma. Fena değildi ama daha iyisini beklerdim. Bu arada kitabın baskısı da okumayı zorlaştırıyor. Kalkedon'un yayınladığı diğer kitaplar da bu şekilde mi bilmiyorum.

[Sinem A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghibli yi daha yakindan tanimak icin küçük güzel bi başvuru kitabı

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good background and genesis of each film and of the Ghibli studio...

[Miriam Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's proper that the first book I've read in a while concerns Studio Ghibli (as I love them).

Personally, I thought this book was quite interesting. The authors give a review, summary and analysis of all films Ghibli (even those prior to the actual conception of the Studio).

What really works, in my opinion, is that there's always something new to learn when reading about all the different films. The author is quite thorough and, honestly, I was inspired to either revisit some of the movies or watch some of those I've been avoiding (because of the drama, not because I have any doubt whatsoever they are masterpieces in their own right). Additionally, I learned about films that are not exactly Studio Ghibli, but are collaborations that I'm curious to watch. I mean, did anyone here know about the Red Turtle?


I don't know you - I can see myself being emotionally destroyed by a movie about a metamorphosing turtle and a human.

In any case, if you're into facts and you're into Ghibli, then I recommend the book. Simple as that. There's no story here or fascinating plot. It's just an author that loves Ghibli as much as I do, having done his homework and delivering on all his research. To me? That's valuable and a great read.

What I didn't like (and hence it's 4 stars instead of 5): I think the analysis could have been deeper in some of the more popular films. Like, I could have done with one less page of "The Cat Returns" and more on Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, etc. So my complaint here isn't exactly about what's already written, but what was left out. I could have read pages and pages of Spirited Away and yet it felt like it was brushed by.

So again....

Studio Ghibli fan? Looking for fun and nerdy trivia to pass on to your unsuspecting friends/loved ones? This book is a good one to look into, then.

PS. I'm also amazed at how easy it was to read. Like, it only took me a week and, I'm telling you, it's not a novel, so I would have thought it would have taken me more. Kudos to the author for making it easy to do so!

[Andrew Garvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A loving tribute to Studio Ghibli's films, this short overview gives plot outlines, production notes and Japanese cultural references that are fascinating to a casual fan (like me) of Miyazaki and Takahata's films but lacks a deeper understanding of what's going on onscreen and behind the scenes (again, me).

Working chronologically through the pair's pre-Ghibli work from the mid-1960s, right up to 2008's Ponyo on the Cliff By the Sea, Odell and le Blanc's book is excellent at picking out recurring themes (particularly environmentalism, flying, Shintoism, childhood) in their work and noting unusual trivia, like the impact of Miyazaki's visit to Wales in 1984 and the quite staggering decision to pair one of the most joyous films ever made (My Neighbour Totoro) with an animated feature so grimly, unrelentingly, mercilessly upsetting that it makes Watership Down look like a comedy (Grave of the Fireflies).

How useful it is a more informed Ghibli student, I don't know, and some of the discussions do feel a little brief. At times, the uncritically admiring tone gets a bit much, and Odell and le Blanc's fanboyish defense even of a mess like 2006's Tales From Earthsea "for any other animation studio [it] would be a jewel in their crown" is more than little preposterous when you consider that by the time this book was published (2009), Pixar had released two Toy Story films, Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo. But as a Ghibli primer, this still comes highly recommended.

[Zeeshan · Rating 2 out of 5]

After picking this book off and being incredibly excited to learn more about the Ghibli-verse, I finished the book feeling somewhat disappointed. While Odell and Le Blanc have certainly done their homework on Ghibli, the book reads less like an in-depth analysis on Ghibli and more like two fans reviewing a couple directors they really like. The most interesting section by far is the introduction, wherein they discuss the convergent themes of the Studio Ghibli movies. Their movie breakdowns, however, feels lacking and more like a review than an actual analysis. To be honest, there's little that I feel you would gain from this book beyond simply watching the Ghibli movies and having a brief conversation with a friend about the underlying themes. That being said, the book is well-written, and I'm sure Odell and Le Blanc could offer far more interesting analysis if they decided to go in depth on four or five movies, rather than covering everything Miyazaki and Takahata have done.

[Chad Kohalyk · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's okay. Not a particularly well-written account, but considering they are drawing from all secondary sources, it is pretty challenging to create any sort of narrative. Each film is granted its own subsection in a templated formula: 1) a vaguish, non-spoilery, plot overview; 2) some production notes; and once the book progresses, 3) comparisons and links to previous films. It is basically a collection of wikipedia articles, though every once in a while there is a real nugget of insight. It is hard to say who this book is for. It is not really for the otaku, since it lacks a ton of potential detail (the kind of stuff I was hoping to glean). But, without seeing the films, I think the plot overview/discussion would leave a reader at a loss. Luckily, it is short, so if you love Ghibli films you can get the nuggets fairly quickly. Though, I would recommend getting this from the library, since this doesn't have much reference value.

[EB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and enjoyable, but all-too brief and superficial. If you’re looking for an in-depth exploration of each film, it’s development, analysis, and critical reception, then look elsewhere. The authors are also extremely charitable in their discussion of Ghibli and seem to have wanted to avoid ruffling any feathers. As an example, I would point to their perspective on “Tales from Earthsea” as a film that would be the crown jewel of most studios, but because Ghibli is of such high caliber and reputation, it wasn’t given a fair shake. Maybe that’s true to an extent, but something tells me there’s a better story to tell here. Still, it’s a quick read through which I learned a lot of cool factoids about movies that I love. Probably worth your time if you like them too, and have a free afternoon.

[Arinka · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book for enthusiastic Ghibli fans and for those eager to get to know more about the studio and it's two well-known directors. The book dives into the themes explored on Miyazaki and Takahata's work, prior and on Studio Ghibli. It's not a book on the history of the Studio, but on the history of the work itself (the films).

For someone such as myself who has not seen much of the works that preceeded Studio Ghibli nor has seen almost anything other than the films, this book was an excellent opportunity to get to know more about the Ghibli Museum and it's short films, the series Takahata and Miyazaki worked on at their beginning, and just other Ghibli works other than films in general.

It provides a good insight and brief analysis film-by-film. An easy and relaxed read, recommended to any Studio Ghibli fan or cinema enthusiast.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something old, something new

People looking for beautiful spreads of cels, film captures, and pre-production sketches and paintings should go for Viz Graphics “Art of” books. But if you’re looking for behind the scenes facts about Studio Ghibli from its people and movies to more obscure works, this is the place to go. This second edition covers all the movies up through 2014 (which is all of them as of this review, with the exception of the new documentary “Never-Ending Man”).

I don’t consider myself a hardcore fan, but I’m fairly knowledgeable and this book had new information for me.

[Gijs Grob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice overview of all Studio Ghibli films, and of all Miyazaki's and Takahata's work on fims and series before the foundation of the famous Japanese studio. The authors can understand Japanese and identify several Japanese cultural elements otherwise lost on the Western viewer. They also explore several recurring themes in the studio's films. Unfortunately, the studio's place in the Japanese studio landscape remains obscure, and the studio's influence on the work of others remains unexplored. On the other hand, there's ample attention for the role the Ghibli's films played in appreciation for anime in the West.

The book was written in 2009, so more recent developments aren't covered. This book was reprinted several times, so it's a pity no expanded edition has been made, to include films like 'Arrietty', The Wind Rises' and 'The Tale of the Princess Kaguya'. Nevertheless, this is a nice introduction to the Ghibli studio and its two founders.

[Ankit Dhakal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't watched a lot of Studio Ghibli movies, but the ones I have watched have left deep impact on me. I found a lot of movies I need to watch from the studio, and by Miyazaki and Takahata. The discussions on the themes of the movies is great.

The discussions on chronologically ordered movies is good, but I expected more insight. I wanted detailed interviews of the directors, what was their thought-process and what they were risking in each project. The discussions look to have been obtained from secondary source, which felt like reading Wikipedia articles.

[Kam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive study of Ghibli, its members and its origins, this book is very well researched and analysed, albeit trying very hard to keep it for the general public and avoiding the mention of the most controversial themes in some of the films. From what I've read on the subject up until now, it is a great book for facts, chronology, and production, which can also steer you in some deeper analysis trajectories.

[Maddie Cooper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this would be so much better sold as a film review book rather than analysis. The analysis, if any, is downright lacklustre, surface level of isn’t there.

The comparisons where good. I enjoyed those. The history as well was very clear.

But it was sold to me as a film analysis book. And that’s not what I got. An introduction to analysis maybe.

Also the grave of the fire flies section made me downright angry. I’ve never gotten angry with a book before. But this reading of grave of the fire flies feels so wrong to me - like they missed the main message of the film. They’re just kids.

Anyway. Not a great book. Overpriced in the shop as well because it was ghibli.

2/5 stars

[Pat T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good resource as a single guidebook into the Ghibli films and the backstory. I learned quite a few interesting facts about some of the films I've only watched once and didn't revisit, such as The Tales of Earthsea. The analysis is interesting but broad. While it gives you some threads to explore on your own, this was missing a degree of introspection and complexity of reading which I enjoy. I also appreciate that this also included a subchapter on The Boy and the Heron.

[umuttchan 花火 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kapağından da çok bayılarak almıştım ve sonunda bitirmeyi başardım.Ghibli diyince hep Miyazaki ön planda oluyor ama bu Stüdyonun sadece ondan ibaret olduğu anlamına gelmiyor tabii ki.

Isao Takahata'ya değinilmesi çok hoşuma gitti cidden ve Miyazaki'nin oğlu Miyazaki Goro'nun da bir yapımda emeği geçmesi cidden insanı merak ettiriyor.

Böyle büyülü bir Stüdyo'yu böyle yakından tanımak cidden çok güzeldi.İnsanı böyle farklı dünyalara götüren kolay kolay başka eserler bulamayacağız.

[Liz Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-written, detailed description of Studio Ghibli's work, perfect for the Miyazaki enthusiast and a great follow-up to the documentary "The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness" (available on Netflix, but be aware of subtitles). Perhaps not something a teen would go for, but an excellent, informative read non-the-less.

[RND · Rating 3 out of 5]

While interesting and informative, I still found myself wanting more. This felt slightly cold and academic, a bit rote and basic. I wanted deeper exploration of the themes and a more detailed examination of the oeuvres of both masters from the perspective of film critics and film language (this really felt more from the perspective of academics as opposed to film analysts).

[defne turul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Baya hevesle okumaya başlamıştım ama çok hayal kırıklığına uğradım, kitabın büyük bir kısmı filmlerin özetinden oluşuyor arşiv olarak güzel bilmediğim bazı filmleri öğrendim Ghibli stüdyolarına ait ama film özetleri kısmında pek kayda değer şeyler yoktu. Ghibli kurulmadan önceki olayların anlatıldığı bölüm ilginçti sadece.