The History of Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli has elevated the reputation of Japanese animation to the status of art. Directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata have seen their works adapted by the Royal Shakespeare Company, featured in exhibitions as the Academy of Motion Pictures Museum in Los Angeles and also at the Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. These adaptations and exhibitions are just part of Ghibli’s deep connections to the worlds of art.

In this talk, Dr Rayna Denison guides audiences through Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata’s contributions to animation as an art form. She looks at how Studio Ghibli has worked to create animation art, taking in the influences that have shaped the look and feel of Ghibli’s many superlative animated films from My Neighbor Totoro (1988) to The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013).

Together we will explore the wide worlds of art that Miyazaki and Takahata’s films draw upon. From a range of real-world places to diverse forms of animation and fine art, this talk reveals the careful layering of imagery that is used to compose Studio Ghibli’s films.

At the same time, Rayna explores the work that underpins Studio Ghibli’s artistic reputation. She reveals the sometimes hidden landscapes of animation practice that have helped Miyazaki and Takahata’s Studio Ghibli become known the world over. Looking at Studio Ghibli through its art and industrial practices reveals surprising stories. From the women who have made Ghibli’s films through to the music videos and commercials that have acted as testing grounds for young animators, this talk considers the realities of working at the most famous animation studio in Japan.