To celebrate the release of Tales from Earthsea and Howl’s Moving Castle on Blu-ray in stunning high-definition for the first time, we’ve picked out our favourite magical moments from Studio Ghibli.
> Buy Howl’s Moving Castle on Blu-ray on Amazon.
> Buy Tales from Earthsea on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Fighting dragons in Tales from Earthsea
It may not be as highly regarded as its stable mates (and it’s certainly not in the same league as most), but the start of the 2006 adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel of the same name is a visually arresting introduction to the world created by director Goro Miyazaki on screen.
Beautifully realised, the ocean is eclipsed by the sight of a dragon flying from the depths, enchanting sailors on a passing boat. But another appears in pursuit ending in a surprisingly violent yet brief encounter where one falls to its death in the sea below. The sailors regard this as a bad omen and it sets the mood for the rest of this morbidly downbeat film.
Brunhilde’s jellyfish escape in Ponyo
On the flip side of the doom and gloom of the Earthsea ocean is the fantastically colourful, brilliantly bright and warm tones of the undersea world in Ponyo. The opening few minutes are simply gorgeous and, coupled with a magnificent soundtrack, makes for an absolute delight on the eyes and ears.
As we move down in the watery environment that spawned Brunhilde (later named Ponyo), we witness her father Fujimoto, a Doctor Who-like character, mixing potions and interacting with the sea-life from his Captain Nemo-esque bubble. Surrounded by the many aquatic creatures, he doesn’t notice his daughter make her escape in a jellyfish.
The attention to detail is extraordinary. Repeat viewings enrich the Miyazakian world as the various crabs, lobsters and jellyfishes appear to all have some task to perform, engaging the eye at every turn. With no dialogue to intrude, it’s the heavenly sounds from Joe Hisaishi and the imagery that leaves us breathless in admiration for such a true visionary. Perhaps Ghibli’s greatest opening.
The Catbus appears in My Neighbour Totoro
If there is a cuter moment in the history of cinema, then I’m yet to see it. This more child-friendly offering is a real gem and, aside from proffering a number of solid family values, the 1988 film introduces us to two of the most unusual, yet adorable, characters to celluloid – Totoro and the Catbus.
Whilst awaiting their father’s return at a bus stop, young girls Satsuki and Mei are joined by the bottom-scratching and hugely huggable Ghibli icon, Totoro. Amidst a downpour, the eldest of the girls gives the titular neighbour an umbrella.
Much to his astonishment, the sound of the rain hitting the brolly and the subsequent vibrations give him such a noticeable thrill, causing his eyes to enlarge and mouth to embiggen. Keen for more titillation, the gentle giant performs and a standing jump, resulting in all nearby drops and rain to cascade down upon the trio.
And if that hilarity weren’t enough – enter Catbus; a creation quite like any other in movie history (and perfect for all kinds of odd merchandising). For the uninitiated, Catbus is a bus, that’s also a cat.
On this occasion his solitary passenger is Totoro whose own sizeable grin is outmouthed by the frontage of his feline vehicle. The girls, like the audience, watch in astonishment as the two ride off into the dark night, with the cat’s eyes beaming into the horizon. And all this is watched by a solitary frog – Miyazaki’s eye for depth, even in his most childlike moments, is sublime.
Sophie visits Howl as a child in Howl’s Moving Castle
Like many Miyazaki films, there are simple, short scenes which not only encapsulate the entire story beautifully but also hold the key to its meaning. 2005’s Howl’s Moving Castle is no exception.
Amid the chaos of war, a house on legs, a talking fire and witches galore comes one of these moments as Sophie, the lead character of the piece, unlocks the key to the mystery of Howl. It’s almost like a Steven Moffat trick from Doctor Who as the young/old girl travels back in time to see the exact point when Howl gave his heart away, after a fire demon fell to Earth.
“Find me in the future!” Sophie shouts as she’s pulled back into the present, setting off events that would start the story in the first place (perhaps). The quietness of the scene amongst the numerous memorable and lively set-pieces, is exquisite, as are the wonderful colours and tones used to portray such a tender moment.
Chihiro’s train journey in Spirited Away
There are so many, many magical scenes from Hayoa Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning 2001 film that this top five could have easily been made up of moments from this marvellous piece of work. The havoc wreaked by No Face in the bathhouse is worth mentioning but it’s the aftermath of his greed orgy that engages the mind and soul so vividly.
Chihiro, the heroine of the film, travels to Swamp Bottom in order see Zeniba (twin sister of Yubaba, the nasty cow that runs the bath house) and has to take the train. A train journey may sound a tad dull but the coach is populated with ghost-like shadows as is the station where it briefly stops (presumably on their way home, weary from work). Rather chillingly, at said stop, there is one little girl, one of the shadows, alone; unclear if she’s waiting for someone and or just watching.
Allusions and metaphors run rampant during these few minutes. Chihiro has to work hard to pay for this journey (which she shares with her friends), leaving the decadence of the bathhouse behind. She has to grow up within dreamlike landscapes, houses and shadows of people left to face the uncertain future.
As always, the score from Joe Hisaishi is beyond sublime. The melodies and sparse orchestration, for this particular scene, are heartbreaking – in perfect unison with images on screen.
Miyazaki may well be remembered for his fantastical characters, colourful set pieces and whimsical worlds but it’s the man’s soul and storytelling that ultimately shine through, and never more so apparent than in this truly remarkable and illuminating scene.
What’s your favourite Studio Ghibli moment? Let us know below…
> Buy Howl’s Moving Castle on Blu-ray on Amazon.
> Buy Tales from Earthsea on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Watch the trailer for Studio Ghibl’s Arriety…