World-renowned Japanese film and animation company, Studio Ghibli, is finally releasing a new film. This film will be the final work of the prolific Hayao Miyazaki, the co-founder, producer, and director of twenty-two feature length films. The film centers around a boy traveling to a magical underground world to save his family. The film was already released in July in Japan and earned the biggest ever opening for a Studio Ghibli production. The Boy and the Heron premiers in the Western Hemisphere at the Toronto International Film Festival next month. It will eventually make its U.S. premiere at the New York Film Festival in fall 2023. Studio Ghibli maintains secrecy with this film, and has publicly announced that there will be no trailers, advertisements or information prior to the release. The very few reviews rave about its visual beauty and vibrance, some arguing that it could be one of Miyazaki’s best creations.
Some other known Studio Ghibli titles include Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke. These movies have fantastical characters and plots but also concern for the world around us. Many of the themes touched on in the movies include nature vs technology, family, the power of dreams, violence vs peace, and the value of artistry. Studio Ghibli impacts an audience of kids all over the globe, because as Entertainment Weekly writes, “Growing up is not just a matter of discovering things about oneself, but also coming to understand one’s place in the larger world.” Each person who watches these movies takes away something different, something personal. When I watch these movies (especially my favorite, Spirited Away) I feel comforted as I resonate with the main character who must solve problems and explore her curiosity independently. She crosses the bridge from childhood to adulthood, which is the place I am at in life right now.
Studio Ghibli not only has an artistic impact, but also a cultural impact. There is an obvious connection between Japanese culture and Studio Ghibli movies. It helps its audience develop cultural identity and cultural pride. Even if viewers are not specifically Japanese, many Asian Americans appreciate the on screen representation. Coming from a non-western media outlet, it heavily portrays aspects of Asian culture for the rest of the world to consume. This creates a cross-cultural impact effect through cinema. The characters are not static or stereotypical like how Asians have been shown in films such as those created by Disney. They are not boring or flat, they are capable of going on adventures and saving the world. Studio Ghibli continues to shape the world’s perception of Asian culture and affirm Asians’ own identities.