7 REASONS  MAKES THE BEST MOVIES

• HAND DRAWN
  Hayao Miyazaki, the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, shut down the computer animation studio shortly after Spirited Away(2001) was released and shortly before the production of Ponyo(2008) began. Miyazaki wanted to keep the magical, hand drawn feeling to his movies.

• HIGHEST GROSSING ANIME FILMS

• • • Seven of Ghibli’s films are part of the 15 highest grossing anime films in Japan, with Spirited Away(2001) being second on the list. Many of their works have won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award, and four have won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.
      

• DRAWN OUT OF RETIREMENT

• • • Hayao Miyazaki announced he would retire on August 3, 2014. Therefore Studio Ghibli announced a halt in production as well. Miyazaki couldn’t stay away from his art; he came out of retirement in 2017 to direct a new movie, How Do You Live?, with Ghibli. He just couldn’t stand not making movies and sharing stories.

• MUSEUMS AND THEME PARKS

• • • In October 2001, the Ghibli Museum opened in Mitaka, Tokyo. It contains exhibits based on Studio Ghibli films and shows animations, it also houses Ghibli shorts that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. In 2022, a 
    • Ghibli theme park will be opening near Nagoya, Japan. There will be rides based on the movies, forest trails, and plenty of collectibles.

• “NO CUTS”

• • • After a corporation made cuts to Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind to premiere in America, Ghibli made a policy in licensing their films abroad. Harvey Weinstein suggested making cuts to Princess Mononoke to make it more ‘marketable’ in America and a producer from Ghibli was said to have sent him an authentic Japanese sword with a note that simple read; “No cuts.”

• FAMILY LINES

• • • Once Hayao Miyazaki announced his retirement, his son, Gorō Miyazaki, directed films such as From Up on Poppy Hill and Tales from Earthsea. If Gorō is as talented as his father (which, he has shown promise) then everyone has a lot of feature films and series to look forward to.

• INSPIRING GENERATIONS

• • Ghibli movies tell inspiring and heartfelt stories. They tell forgotten myths and folklore. They have inspired millions of young people to pursue their dreams – and that’s what they’re trying to do.