Sunday 28 April 2013

Studio Ghibli in Numbers

 

 
References:

Post by Chloe

Ghibli Gabble Special - The Dedication of Ghibli Fans and Fan Art

So why is this a Ghibli Gabble special? Well, it will gather people who live all around the world! First things first, not everyone knows what Ghibli is so I'd like to be your tour guide to show you around. Ghibli is a Japanese animation film studio based in Koganei, Tokyo, Japan which began in June 1985. Their animation is different from the kinds of anime which feature cute characters with big eyes or wearing sexy costumes.


My Neighbour Totoro
Miku



Fan Art

People are often inspired by what they see on TV. Sometimes we’re inspired by characters, sometimes costumes, sometimes scenery, or maybe just the storyline. This article showcases a huge collection of Ghibli fan art, from modern hits such as Howl’s Moving Castle , Spirited Away andCastle in the Sky, to some going a little further back in time such as Princess Mononoke and Kiki’s Delivery Service etc. The showcase is full of different kinds of art, from traditional pencil sketches to modern digital illustrations. These are sure to inspire!



Howl's Moving Castle














Spirited Away











My personal favourite - Kaonashi

















Laputa: Castle In The Sky









Fan art, which can be singular or plural, can be defined as graphic representations of various media forms that have numerous fans. Many types of fan art exist; people write stories, plays, or screenplays about characters or worlds that have already been created. As the name 'fan' suggests, those who are significant fans of a certain character, show, fictional world or the like usually produce this work. With fan art, instead of writing, artists usually paint, draw, or use other graphic forms to copy, represent, explore or extend the life of a created character or world.




Princess Mononoke














Some fans like to cosplay, dressing themselves to represent a character they like

There are many examples of fan art, and these may start when kids are little and want to draw their favourite cartoon character. Those gifted in art may learn exactly how to draw or recreate something beloved from a comic book, TV show, video game or movie. One common area of fan art is reproductions of art based on Japanese manga and on anime. People may use a combination of drawing and writing to create further adventures of a comic book character.



Kiki's Delivery Service








In addition to art inspired by manga or anime, very popular books and movies tend to be the inspiration for tonnes of fanart. For instance, the Star Wars series, Marvel series and others can stir up the souls of artists so that they create numerous representations of the characters or world. There are many online sites that feature fanart museums or galleries. Those who complete a piece of art may submit it to these sites for possible inclusion. Usually the only reward for them is sharing their love of a particular fictional thing with others.







References:

Wikipedia
Studio Ghibli Wiki
Online Ghibli
Google Images
Zero Chan


Post by Rex

Review of The Cat Returns


Background

The Cat Returns (猫の恩返) is a japanese animated drama film directed by Hiroyuki Morita of Studio Ghibli. The story based on the The Cat Returns by Aoi Hiiragi and reproduced by Studio Ghibli in 2002.Originally planned as a 20-minute short back in 1999, it was then turned into a manga by Aoi Hiiragi. After deliberations between Hayao Miyazaki and various other staff members, Morita became responsible for translating Hiiragi’s work into a film. It received an Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival.


In 1995, Studio Ghibli released a movie titled Whisper of the Heart (or If You Listen Closely), based on a manga by Aoi Hiiragi, about a young girl writing a fantasy novel. Although the girl's life had no magical elements, short fantasy scenes depicted what the girl was writing about. Those short scenes were so popular that fans demanded that a movie be made of the fictional girl's novel: that movie was The Cat Returns.

About


Haru is a teenage schoolgirl who saves a cat from being hit by a truck. It's not just any cat though, but Lune , son of the "King of the Kingdom of Cats". Things start to get weird for Haru when she's told that "the King is expecting Prince Lune to accept Miss Haru as his bride." She soon finds herself imprisoned in the Kingdom of Cats, with only her own wits and the dashing Baron Humbert Von Gikkingen to aid her escape.

Characters



Haru
A young girl and the protagonist of the film

Baron Humbert von Gikkingen
a cat statue with a soul and owner of the Cat Bureau. Previously appearing in Whisper of the Heart, he serves as this film's deuteragonist

 Muta
A fat, cynical cat who leads Haru to the Baron

Prince Lune
The Cat King's son. He shares his father's odd eyes, but unlike his father, he is a well-mannered and orderly person.
Yuki
A beautiful white servant cat of the Cat Kingdom


Toto
A statue of a raven who comes alive, much like the Baron. Though friends with Muta, he enjoys making cynical comments at the latter's expense. He shares a tritagonist role with Muta.

The Cat King
King of the Cat Kingdom and the main adversary. He is portrayed as rude and slightly demented. He is notable for his heterochromatic eyes and the cat eye opal he wears on his forehead.


Review

The Cat Returns is a short but sweet movie; it has a simple and exciting storyline and is suitable for everyone. The colourful and cute characters would attract viewers, especially children. The good use of colours creates a clear distinction between the ‘fantasy‘ elements and the ‘realistic‘ setting. The amazing soundtrack is another successful part of the movie, as it is a perfect match for the mood of the story and leads you to further immerse yourself into the movie. The story is pretty meaningful – the girl has to escape from the Cat Kingdom with her cat 'friends' – and it shows the importance of friendship, as they help each other to escape and try going back to reality. This is an enjoyable movie produced by Studio Ghibli and I recommend it to everyone.




References:
Wikipedia
Studio Ghibli Wiki
Online Ghibli
Youtube
Google Images




Post by Kenneth