Studio Ghibli: Immersive Storytelling Through Animation

.⋆｡⋆༶⋆˙⊹

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation film studio created by Hayao Miyazaki. Whether centered around mythical beasts, war, or familial bonds, Ghibli films are, with lack of better words, magical. They allow us to take a pause in the chaotic whirlwind of our daily lives, even when dealing with the most fantastical of subjects. Take Spirited Away (2001) for example: while a world full of witches and soot sprites seems so far away from us, Miyazaki has made it closer through the use of animation and “immersive realism”. 

ANIMATION

Ghibli animation is delicate and picturesque, most notably in its landscapes. Characters are drawn with such simplicity that backgrounds take the stage, filled with the utmost detail. This is part of why its landscapes are so enthralling; you can pinpoint each wavering blade of grass to the tiniest ripples in the water. Ghibli’s emphasis on nature further grounds us in our reality, aiding in its comfort. So although these sceneries can be enchanting and surreal, they don’t seem too far out there to be considered impossible.

IMMERSIVE REALISM

Immersive realism is used to fully enthrall the viewer into its world building. Ghibli often emphasizes the beauty of the mundane, or shots where “nothing is happening”. Stills of rainfall that seem just a bit too long. A character walking… for forever. But even in these seemingly mundane tasks, Ghibli’s art always finds a way to make them captivating. This pulls us into the world Miyazaki has created, forming a bewitching sense of comfort and nostalgia.