Studio Ghibli’s Whisper of the Heart (1995)
A Masterpiece of Adolescent Self-Discovery and Artistic Aspiration Released in 1995, Whisper of the Heart 『耳をすませば』 is a quintessential example of Studio Ghibli’s prowess in creating heartfelt and thought-provoking animated movies. Based on the eponymous manga by Hiiragi Aoi 柊 あおい (born 1962), directed by Kondô Yoshifumi 近藤 喜文 (1950-1998) and written by Miyazaki […]
The Prince of Sun: Horus’ Great Adventure (1968)
Takahata Isao’s Artistic Manifesto The Prince of Sun: Horus’ Great Adventure (『太陽の王子 ホルスの大冒険』 Taiyô no Ôji: Horusu no Daibôken, 1968) emerged at a moment when Japan was trying to re-write its postwar history and to re-locate itself within the world community. This animation film has turned ever since into a classic masterpiece of animated […]
The Truman Show (1998): A Philosophical Exploration of Love, Consumerism, and Identity
The Truman Show (1998), directed by Peter Weir and featuring a music by Philip Glass, remains in the history of cinema as a movie which intricately investigates the human condition through its protagonist, Truman Burbank, memorably played by Jim Carrey in one of his most fascinating roles, while displaying a rich tableau of complex […]
Miyazaki Gorô’s From Up On Poppy Hill (2011): The Power of Imagined Nostalgia
Introduction From Up On Poppy Hill 『コクリコ坂から』 was released in 2011 as Miyazaki Gorô’s 宮崎吾朗 (born 1967) second animation movie after Tales from the Earthsea 『ゲド戦記』 (2006). It is based on the 1980s serialized eponymous Japanese comics in the category of shôjo manga (namely, comics targeted at female teenagers) illustrated by Takahashi Chizuru 高橋千鶴 […]
The Grave of the Fireflies (1988): Brutal Realities
「昭和20 年9 月 21 日、夜、僕は死んだ。」: “In the evening of 21. September 1945, I died.” In this manner, the animation film which marks off the climax of Takahata’s disenchantment process begins: The Grave of the Fireflies 『火垂るの墓』 Hotaru no Haka, released in 1988. Carefully avoiding any pro-war or anti-war stance, Takahata moves beyond the topos […]
Encanto (2021): Exploring Inter-Generational Trauma and Dysfunctional Families through Animation Movies
Introduction The 2021 Disney animated movie Encanto has garnered widespread acclaim for its vibrant storytelling, memorable music, and deep exploration of complex themes such as family dynamics, inter-generational trauma, and personal growth. Set in a magical Colombian village, the movie centers on the Madrigal family, each member endowed with unique gifts except for Mirabel, the […]
The Invisible War: Cannon Fodder (1995)
Ôtomo Katsuhiro’s Cannon Fodder (1995), the third segment of the acclaimed animation science-fiction anthology Memories, stands as a compelling and allegorical work which poignantly delves into themes of militarism, human alienation, and societal indoctrination while visually arresting exploration of a dystopian, militarized society. Unlike the anthology’s other two segments – Magnetic Rose and Stink […]
Steampunk and Love: Miyazaki Hayao’s Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)
Introduction Released in 1986 as Studio Ghibli’s first feature-length production and directed by its co-founder Miyazaki Hayao 宮崎駿 (born 1941), Laputa: Castle in the Sky 『天空の城ラピュタ』 is a 124-minutes animated steampunk fantasy-adventure movie and one of the most iconic works of animated cinema in the history of the genre. Through the animation movie’s intricate […]
Ponpoko: The Heisei Tanuki War (1994): Nostalgia and Humanism
In Ponpoko: The Heisei Tanuki War (『平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ』 Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko) released in 1994, Takahata Isao chooses tanuki 狸/たぬき/タヌキ (Nyctereutes Procyonoides Viverrinus) as main protagonists to deliver powerful, profound messages to audiences already insensitive to current challenges and upheavals. At first glance, the main theme seems to be the destruction of the furusato as […]
Fatherhood, Self-Sacrifice and Alternative Futures: A Postfeminist Reading of Interstellar
Love, Hope and Faith in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar (2014) Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar (2014) is a cinematic epic which delves into the vastness of space-time and the depths of the human condition. Beyond its scientific and philosophical musings, the film intricately weaves themes of love, sex, marriage, single parenthood, and gender dynamics, and the survival […]