From ‘Spirited Away‘ to ‘My Neighbor Totoro,‘ watching a Hayao Miyazaki film is always a spellbinding experience.
Even its most depressing film, Grave of the Fireflies, is something that will leave you in awe (but heartbroken). There is, however, one thing better than watching a Ghibli film—and that is enjoying a Ghibli film on the big screen.
On November 16 and 17 at the Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinema, we’ll have that rare opportunity to watch six of the famed animation studio’s most well loved films. “The Studio Ghibli Weekend” is presented by Studio Ghibli, Japan Foundation Manila, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, supported by Shangri-La Plaza and Fully Booked.
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All six films will be screened free of charge to celebrate the legendary Hayao Miyazaki being honored as one of the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, known to most as the Nobel Prize of Asia, last August 31. Miyazaki is the driving force behind Studio Ghibli and the genius responsible for some of the studio’s seminal works such as the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and most recently, The Boy and the Heron, also an Oscar winner.
For his work with Studio Ghibli, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation’s board of trustees recognized the 83-year-old filmmaker and animator’s “lifelong commitment to the use of art, specifically animation, to illuminate the human condition, especially lauding his devotion to children as the torchbearers of the imagination, to whom he has passed the light and spark of his own.”
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Why you should see a Studio Ghibli film
To those of you who have yet to dip your toes into the magnificent world of Studio Ghibli and are wondering, “Why bother?” The studio has rightfully earned a spot among the pantheon of greats in animation and filmmaking. It’s renowned for its films’ timeless appeal, drawing from universal themes such as love, loss, environmentalism, courage against adversity, and the search for one’s identity.
My all-time favorite Spirited Away, for instance, addresses identity and growth in a way that continues to resonate with viewers today. This is thanks to the studio’s exceptional storytelling that combines intricate plots with well-developed characters. The films impart lessons without sounding pedantic, but are engaging and thought-provoking, compelling viewers to do some pondering long after the credits roll.
Side-by-side its compelling storytelling is its near-mythical artistry. Studio Ghibli films are masterpieces of animation, characterized by groundbreaking creativity and painstaking attention to detail. In an article I wrote for The POST last year, I talked about how Studio Ghibli has inspired the works of other revered animation studios such as Disney and Pixar.
Other acclaimed creatives like who said they have been influenced by Miyazaki are Wes Anderson, James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro, Mamoru Hosoda, Bong Joon-Ho, Makoto Shinkai, Travis Knight, and Steven Spielberg.
These said, I hope I’ve convinced you to start immersing yourselves in Studio Ghibli’s fantastical worlds—starting with the ones featured on “The Studio Ghibli Weekend.“
Six films to be screened for free
No Studio Ghibli film festival is complete without a screening of its first massive hit Spirited Away. This iconic film needs little introduction. In a nutshell, it’s a coming-of-age tale that follows a young girl named Chihiro who, while moving to a new neighborhood, stumbles into a mysterious spirit world where she learns about courage, friendship, identity—and perhaps even love.
Spirited Away achieved worldwide success, raking in $395.8 million at the global box office. It was the highest-grossing film in Japanese history with a total of ¥31.68 billion ($305 million) for 19 years until it was surpassed by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train in 2020.
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Among its many accolades, Spirited Away is the first hand-drawn Japanese anime and non-English-language animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards. It is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time and has been included in various lists, including ranking an impressive fourth on BBC’s 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century.
A favorite among many Studio Ghibli fans, My Neighbor Totoro (1988) is also one of the films you can screen for free at the mini film festival. Set in postwar rural Japan, it tells the heartwarming story of two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who move to the countryside with their father while their mother is hospitalized. The girls befriend forest spirits, including the adorable Totoro, who helps them during distressing times This film is so whimsical and charming and is such a sentimental favorite, I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve watched it and of how much I’ve spent on merchandise.
Then there’s Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), which follows Sophie, a young woman cursed by a witch to age prematurely. Seeking to break the spell, she encounters the enigmatic wizard Howl and his magical moving castle. The film explores themes of love, self-acceptance, and the futility of war.
Another all-time fave is the endlessly adorable Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008) or simply Ponyo. The titular goldfish princess desires to become human after befriending a boy named Sosuke. The story follows Ponyo’s quest for acceptance in the human world while exploring themes of friendship, love, and the interconnectedness of all living things. This film will make you smile all throughout—and order a bowl of ramen after.
The last two films are not as well known as the aforementioned four, but are just as impressive. The post-apocalyptic Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) takes place in a world where toxic jungles are inhabited by giant insects. The brave titular princess strives to understand these creatures while protecting her valley from war and destruction. As in many of Studio Ghibli’s films, it addresses themes of environmentalism, war, and coexistence with nature.
Lastly, there’s Castle in the Sky (1986) that follows two young protagonists, Pazu and Sheeta, as they search for Laputa, a legendary floating island. Their adventure leads them through places filled with danger and wonder as they get to know more about friendship and the dangers brought about by technology.
How to secure tickets
Tickets are now available through The Japan Foundation Manila website. Guests may avail of only two tickets per screening. Tickets in the form of QR Codes will be sent via email upon registration.
You must then present the QR Code for scanning upon entering the cinema. Make sure to come early as tickets will be invalid 10 minutes after the start of screening. Seats are limited and are on a first-come, first-served, free seating basis only.
Remember, all tickets are free of charge and are not for sale! Tickets are only valid for the scheduled screening indicated on the ticket itself and may not be re-used. For more information and updates, click on this link.
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