Director: Hayao Miyazaki

16 years in the making, Princess Mononoke is a landmark in the world of animation. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, one the creators of Studio Ghibli, Mononoke Hime is the story of a brave warrior, Ashitaka. He is attacked by a demon one day and unfortunately gets infected by a curse from the demon. Ashitaka is destined to die. But before that, he must find the truth behind the demon's attack. This leads him straight to an ancient forest where Gods rule the Earth, Beasts are large in size. Here Ashitaka witnesses the battle between nature and humans. While this happens, we watch spellbound!

The most interesting thing is that this movie has extensive character development. The details are very rich, the visuals stunning and the live-action scenes more than satisfying. That's not all. Joe Hisaishi's world famous score makes this movie more elegant. Watch Princess Mononoke and have a wonderful 2 hours of your life.. Highly Recommended...

5/5

After Nausicaä of the valley of the wind, Castle in the sky, Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki returns with Spirited Away and he just doesn't disappoint. Miyazaki put's all his heart and effort in making the film and he does it so well that we forget the foolishness of the plot (In this case the story is about a girl who gets lost in a spirit world and her parents are turned to pigs...) Wait, I don't want a kiddish movie like that! Yeah OK you don't want to. But then what makes Spirited away especially brilliant?

Miyazaki was on a holiday with his friends when he noticed one of his friend's daughter who caught his attention. That girl had an I-don't-care kind of expression and Miyazaki decided to make a film for these kind of people who just don't care about anything interesting that happens in their lives. The opening scene itself proves this when we see Chihiro, our heroine, sitting in the back-seat of a car whilst moving to a new place. But she just doesn't care about her new home, her new school and her new life... Miyazaki also made Chihiro look dull, in short not very pretty or beautiful. So the magic actually begins here: The audience too has that kind of the same emotions like Chihiro does (that's the case every time you go to a film). And then suddenly the film becomes kinetic, full of energy. Chihiro is filled with fear as she becomes trapped in the world of spirits and her parents gone (not dead). And then what follows is a rich story full of interesting characters, an amazing score from Joe Hisaishi, incredible animation that no one can deny and lastly numerous thrilling moments that made my heart pound really fast.


The characters especially have been given a royal and complex treatment, making the film quite unpredictable. Ubaba, the owner of a bath-house for spirits who employs Chihiro, is the antagonist and her face itself tells us that easily. Haku is the one who helps Chihiro survive in the spirit world. The Boiler Man is another character who becomes a good friend of Chihiro and in another way helps her too. Then there's the most trickiest character, No Face or Kaonashi, who is a spirit. All these characters are the driving forces. They play their part perfectly and if this was a live-action film, I wouldn't have been surprised if the actors playing these characters were Oscar nominated. Though the film did win an Oscar for Best Animated film in 2002, the only anime to have done so...

So don't wait long and watch Miyazaki's magical masterpiece. It's so wonderful that we human beings can create so beautiful things using the same old techniques. Miyazaki is one of these artists (Even Joe Hisaishi, the composer) and they never stop making such stuff! Hat's off to the entire team of Studio Ghibli!

5/5

If it wasn't for John Lasseter's (creator of Toy Story) love for Japanese anime, we would probably be in the dark still without the knowledge of the existence of Studio Ghibli, the next best animation studio after Disney Pixar. He helped in introducing to the world Ghibli's fantastic films. Hayao Miyazaki, Director and Screenwriter, contributed more handsomely to the studio's achievement and success. And My Neighbor Totoro is one of his greatest achievements, probably in the entire cinematic world. This was the first time I saw what they call "True Art" in any animated movie. The story is of two sisters, Mei and Satsuki, who with their father move to a new home. The two of them then happen to meet Totoro, a forest spirit who helps grow plants in the nearby forest.

What unfolds next is a gentle heartwarming film experience that surprising leaves us nostalgic. Although the film seems to concentrate on a very young audience, it was an experience like Toy Story. What I love about this film is the way it takes time and allows to get lost in Totoro's world. One scene I recall the most is the scene when the two girls and Totoro are waiting, just waiting, at a bus stop taking shelter in umbrellas from the rain. Miyazaki captured the calmness so perfectly that it made me think,"You don't get to see this even on Winnie the Pooh". That scene truly is one the greatest moments in all of cinema and is one of the reasons why I love his films so much. In this way, Miyazaki is extremely skilled at creating a lovely environment in his films, in this case the environment is more nature oriented. Joe Hisaishi's score too is great as always, he has scored almost all Miyazaki films.

Miyazaki is well-known for his signature style of feminism, environmentalism and aviation. He uses all of these in Totoro. After Mickey Mouse, Teddy Bear and Winnie the Pooh, you will always find Totoro as the most favorite children's character. The innocence of Totoro is delightful for kids but more surprising thing is that the adults found it more moving and more meaningful and as I said earlier, Nostalgic...

5/5

In 2008, the animation world eagerly awaited for another film from the Oscar Winning Mastermind. Yes, the film is Ponyo. Although the general audiences found this film not one of his bests, but critics like Roger Ebert tagged it a true art film for all ages. Boy he was right! The film tells the story of a goldfish who wants to become a human. She befriends Sosuke, a boy of 5 and the one who names her Ponyo. The film is about this friendship and a love that sprouts between the two eventually.

Yeah I know, same old film cliche of love and friendship. But this is where you are wrong. Miyazaki is expert in capturing the emotions and the movements of the characters. When you see both the kids playing, they are not just playing, you seem to be there too witnessing their beautiful friendship. There are scenes of great details like the way Ponyo sits uncomfortably in the boy's house because she's not used to human life that turns a crazy story line in to a magical one. As 90% of the film takes place in the ocean, get ready for a magical ride with sea creatures so beautifully drawn that it feels like a painting coming to life... Miyazaki is so great. I still wonder to this day how he controls the characters and the environment so perfectly? It becomes so real that even his films made for 5-year-old's entertains adults equally. Ponyo is certainly a great addition to the world of animation that Miyazaki has created and this 19 year old just enjoys getting lost in this world.

While the world is awaiting Brave that comes out from the brilliant studio of Pixar in a few months, I am more interested in what this guy is going to do next. Even after being 70 years old, this little man still has a child inside him. Ponyo proves that point once again. Get ready to be dazzled by his incredible artistry seen in Ponyo and you won't regret it.

5/5

Miyazaki continues to surprise with this coming-of-age tale of a young witch who leaves her home for her training according to the tradition and after taking refuge in a beautiful city she starts her own delivery service. As is with other Miyazaki films, this anime too isn't artificial in its emotions even when Kiki is equipped with the same old movie clichés. Kiki is an interesting character: she is optimistic, energetic and smart but at the same time she covets, she is proud making her sound a little foolish at times. Miyazaki's portrayal of young girls has always been perfect in every sense (e.g. his other films like Totoro, Spirited Away). Thus our Kiki is the hero and the villain both at the same time. She is that kind of person whose true goal is not to face life but is to face herself and her pride. Honestly, we all have gone through this phase, haven't we? Thus the portrayal of the lead character itself is so strong the film engages the audience like a thriller film does. Secondly, the people around Kiki were captured equally powerfully. She befriends a boy of her age, Tombo (he kind of looks like Waldo from Where's Waldo), then a pregnant woman and her husband who runs a bakery.

If you watch Kiki then one will realize that Miyazaki has used a variety of characters in Kiki who actually are the real juice of the movie. The early 20th century city itself has a character of its own and adds to the sweetness of the film without making it “too” sweet. The animation itself is another surprising element. Miyazaki has taken care of all the intricate details so powerfully that it’s impossible for us not to notice them and the hidden meaning behind it. Over the years critics and fans have debated the age in which the story actually takes place. Miyazaki deduced later in an interview that the story takes place in a different universe where both the World Wars never took place!

Another surprising masterpiece from Miyazaki with lovely imagery, interesting characters, an engaging story and most important of all: a thought-provoking conclusion that we never probably get to see in any other animated films. Highly recommended for animation fans and non-fans alike.

5/5

In the far future, man has destroyed the Earth in the "Seven Days of Fire". Now, there are small pockets of humanity that survive. One pocket is the Valley of Wind where a princess named Nausicaä tries to understand, rather than destroy the Toxic Jungle...

The Film:
Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaa has flaws, but there's so much to learn about humanity in this film. Nausicaa is a princess of the Valley of the wind and she's probably the only one who understands Nature. Her will to establish peace is the whole point of the film, something we all can learn from and is the most beautiful element that made me overlook some errors.

The animation is stunning, Joe Hisaishi's score renders me speechless, the story is rich and who can forget the characters? Miyazaki always usually uses elements like Feminism, Aviation (Nausicaa flies on her Glider in the film majority of the time) and Environmentalism. This is his first anime to make use of these elements and blend in so beautifully. The film has many magical moments that brings out the epic feeling out of it.

This is the only anime where I found Disney's English dub legit, they are not perfect all the time but this one had so much heart. But I still prefer the original Japanese dub. And if you ever find it's alternate cut "The Warriors of the Wind" please don't watch it as it completely changes the meaning and morals of the original Nausicaa of the valley of the wind, including the story.

Highly Recommended...

4.7/5

One of Studio Ghibli's masterpieces, Laputa is the story of a boy who is determined on the fact that his father once saw a floating castle in the sky but none believed him. During his daily chores, he happens to meet a girl with a magical pendant that made her float when she fell. As the story advances, we meet many interested parties who come looking for the girl and all of them have one thing in common: They are searching for Laputa. As the mysteries unfold, we are taken more closer to Laputa. And while this happens. We Watch Spellbound! Although Laputa sounds like a children's fairy tale, it is actually the tale of bravery and keeping your promises. While the adults in the movie rely on hatred, piracy and greed, the two children rely on each other and finally succeed to defeat the bad. It's the ultimate Good vs Bad film that is rarely made these days... Laputa deserves more attention also because of the fact that it was crafted by one the most innovative artist of our time, Hayao Miyazaki, who is an expert in bringing out the child out of us... Highly Recommended...

4.2/5

It's funny how renowned directors like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are extremely well-known for their works and still some of their finest, critically acclaimed works go unnoticed by audiences and the die-hard fans. In Scorsese's case, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore could be a perfect example and in case of Spielberg it's The Color Purple. And in case of Hayao Miyazaki's, it's Porco Rosso (Meaning "Crimson Pig" in Italian).

At the time of it's production, this film was going to be a short film for the Japanese Airline that tells the story of a middle-aged ace pilot from 1930's Fascist Italy who was cursed to become a pig. As it turns out, the film became a full-length feature. After seeing all 9 out of 10 Miyazaki films, this was my final one. What I felt during Porco Rosso was that Miyazaki tackles more bold issues, much bolder than his other films. Porco is not a children's character but one of those guys who drinks a lot, smokes a lot i.e. he represents perfectly an old dead beat pilot trying to find nothing but peace in his life. He is not a character you could learn something from, not a usual theme in Miyazaki's films. What is his role then? In the film it's chasing pirates, running away from the air-force, getting involved in ridiculous fights, etc. Miyazaki offers a different point though by saying that every middle-aged man is a pig and Porco Rosso in this film is simply resembling to that fact.

So this was about Porco Rosso (His real name is Marco Pagot). The other characters like Gina his love, the pirates, the American aviator who challenges Marco to a combat and there's Fio the cute girl who repairs Marco's plane were captured as usually marvelously by Miyazaki's lavish brushstrokes. The story takes place after World War 1 in the Adriatic sea. Thus Miyazaki was challenged to draw a totally different culture which he pulls off successfully. What more lovely about this film is that it stays completely true to history (The war, I mean) and uses this as one of the driving forces in the film. It's just wonderful as it is with all Miyazaki films. Though I have to say that this film is more confusing and subtle in it's way of storytelling. Because Miyazaki also tackles completely newer themes that are even different from other animated films in the world, both fans and non-fans are in for a treat.

My conclusion is that Miyazaki triumphs yet once again in his stellar career and has made the most "unique" animated film I have ever seen proving why I am a very huge fan of his. The Most underrated Studio Ghibli film yet Highly recommended.

4.2/5