A Japanese studio that took the film industry by storm

When it comes to film, there are countless studios that have created beloved fan-favorite movies. While the film industry is primarily dominated by American studios, like Warner Bros and Walt Disney Pictures, Studio Ghibli refuses to be overshadowed. 

Studio Ghibli opened its doors on June 15, 1985, in Tokyo, Japan, and was founded by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and Yasuyoshi Tokuma. After the production and success of the film “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” in 1984, Suzuki and Miyazaki sought to create their own formal studio together. 

Miyazaki and Suzuki chose to work together due to their collaboration on the mentioned film, but they were not the only ones involved in the creation of the studio. Miyazaki and Takahata had previously worked together on countless projects that date back to the 1960s. Due to their pre-existing relationship, Miyazaki ultimately invited Takahata to join.

While the four men founded the studio together, Miyazaki is the one who came up with the name “Ghibli.” The Italian noun describes a ferocious hot wind, which alludes to the studio and its plans to become a new wind that would blow through the animated film industry. 

For nearly 40 years, Studio Ghibli has released numerous highly acclaimed films that have found themselves as a staple in Western pop culture. Through the attention to detail that comes with Miyazaki’s hand-drawn animation, they were able to set themselves apart from other studios in a unique way. The studio gained popularity in Japan following the release of its first film “Castle in the Sky” in 1986 but did not gather much Western attention until the late 1990s following a deal with the Walt Disney Company. 

As time has gone on and more films have been released, Studio Ghibli continues to command the attention of millions. The studio has received endless critical and popular praise due to Ghibli’s high-quality artistry and filmmaking.  Their most notable films are titles like “Spirited Away”(2001), “Howl’s Moving Castle”(2004), “Ponyo”(2008), “the Secret World of Arrietty”(2010), and “Princess Mononoke”(1997).

Throughout decades of success, Studio Ghibli has helped pave the way for animation and won multiple awards in the process. It has won three Anime Grand Prix Awards for “Castle in the Sky”(1986), “My Neighbor Totoro”(1988), and “Kiki’s Delivery Service”(1989). In addition, the studio has won four Japan Academy Prize Awards for Animation of the Year with “Ponyo”(2008), “the Secret World of Arrietty”(2010), “From Up on Poppy Hill”(2011), and “the Wind Rises”(2013). Studio Ghibli has also won an Oscar for its film “Spirited Away”(2001) as well as five different Academy Award nominations overall.

Studio Ghibli has continued to grow and become more popular throughout the world and will remain a common name for years to come. Fans will continue to flock to these films far after they have been released due to the whimsical and high-quality animation, unlikely heroes and protagonists, as well as iconic soundtracks.