The Art of Miyazaki

     It was once controversial to consider movies to be art, yet, this time has passed and movies are now largely considered art. However, my first personal enocunter with a movie that I considered to be a work of art was when I was 14 and watched the film, Spirited Away; effectively introducing me to, and enamoring me of, Studio Ghibli. Studio Ghibli is a Japan based animation company with the genius Hayao Miyazaki at the helm, and since 1985 they have created 18 feature films using all hand drawn animation techniques.

Spirited Away (2001)

     
     Each movie has a unique art style and sensibility, yet all hover around the theme of nature, its beauty, and its due reverence. This theme is gone about by portraying nature in as detailed a way as possible, by inhabiting each and every forest with chimerical creatures, thriving plant life, and effectively giving the environments life. This beauty is established through detailed painting and drawing techniques, that when put in motion are truly unbelieveable. Most everyone who has seen Spirited Away or Castle in the Sky can probably relate to the feeling I am talking about, as it's really quite impossible to miss out on since the art is so evocative that it reaches a level of universal appeal.

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

     In addition to evoking reverence for nature and its beauty, the beautiful movies from Studio Ghibli explore other milieu as well, such as wartorn countries, mossy forts, and rustic villages. Each and every scene is carefully painted or drawn in such a way as to evoke some sort of emotion in the person vieiwng it. Perhaps a feeling of rustic nostalgia, a glimmer of hope, or even a sense of dread and terror.

Castle In The Sky (1986)

     Whether it be Spirited Away, or Nausicaa, each Ghibli movie manages to utilize artwork in such a way that it effectively brings about emotions and clearly states themes for the viewer to take in, and this is exactly what I feel that art ought to do.

 Nausicaa of the Valley in the Wind (1984)

     

     Overall, these movies are important to me because I feel they've inspired me to revere and appreciate the natural world, as well as inspired me to make art. The way that these movies utilize artwork to evoke emotion is quite the phenomenon in itself; however, when paired with the themes presented, the movies quickly enter the realm of the vividly artistic.

Princess Mononoke (1997)