Studio Ghibl Pure Imagination

Studio Ghibl Pure Imagination

For decades, Studio Ghibli has broken mold after mold of what we expect films for kids to be.The Japanese animation house founded by the filmmakers Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki has spent 35 years telling winding, complex stories that stretch the bounds of what animation can do. In one, a treacherous battle rages between humans and the deities of a forest fighting to maintain the balance of nature. Another tale pits sorcerers against each other and questions the supernatural ethics of using magic in warfare. And one story opens up a transcendent and terrifying spirit world, in a work heralded by New York Times critics as one of the best films of the 21st century. as you can now watch these classic movies on hbo max. they are some amazing animated gems.I would call them the walt disney of the east. they make some of the best fantasy movies all time. 

Born in 1941, Hayao Miyazaki was a child of war: His father manufactured parts for war planes, and to avoid bombing, his family had to relocate to a new city not once, but twice. Miyazaki started out as a manga artist, learning from innovators like Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy, Black Jack, Kimba the White Lion), but his focus on animation drew him to the industry straight out of college. Hired to do laborious grunt work at the well-established studio Toei Animation, Miyazaki threw himself into his art and gradually moved up the ranks to become a chief animator and storyboard artist.While Miyazaki was strongly influenced by popular manga artists and animators, Takahata was heavily influenced by the French New Wave, a group of filmmakers who sought to deepen the artistry of cinema with experimental techniques and an emphasis on visual, kinetic storytelling as each of the creators of Studio Ghibli all are wonderful creators and animators that managed create wonderful gems.

Spirited Away seamlessly blends all its archetypal folkloric elements into a subtle commentary on the clash of traditional Japanese values and modern-day consumerism, all while leaving you with a sense of having been spirited away yourself as this wonderful fantasy classic. Spirited Away feels like a special gift It is a film of such startling imagination, originality, intelligence, and emotion that I feel inexplicable joy as the title music begins. Spirited Away is one of most amazing animted flims all time. It is a work-horse drama i feel that many can watch any-time.

Laputa: Castle in the Sky is Hayao Miyazaki’s greatest achievement as a director and the first film to be released by Studio Ghibli. It is a culmination of everything he learned from Castle of Cagliostro and Nausicaa and merged into a rollicking adventure story full of wonderful characters and unforgettable set pieces. Castle in the Sky is arguably one of the most enjoyable cinematic universes Miyazaki has ever created. It is a distorted interpretation of the industrial revolution featuring elaborate steam machinery, gravity-defying air craft’s and robot guardians. It is a world of flying pirates and islands as if born from the imagination of a fanciful child. Yet for all the fantastical embellishments the universe is entirely consistent as if, far beyond the clouds, we really might be able to visit these strange and beautiful lands. It’s truly an amazing animated fantasy classic.

My Neighbor Totoro is considered with good reason considered one of best animated flims all time. This touching story focus cuses on the sisters Satsuki and Mei, and the extraordinary characters they befriend outside their new home Hayao Miyazaki tenderly constructs both a coming-of-age tale as well as a statement on the longevity of innocence with whimsy that feels at home to watch any-time.  this wondrous piece of cinema is the little band of creatures. Sweet, gentle, and believable; these superb critters can make even the most cynical adult cry in the midst of their subtle power as their attenion to detail. The landscape of rural Japan is a character in and of itself. Vast and mountainous clouds, grand and detailed fields, small and haunted” homes all make this charming gem last ages. My Neighbor Totoro can suck you into its world and charm any-time. This animated flim is an enduring classic that you will enjoy for ages.

Kiki’s Delivery Service is a beautiful family film that just manages to walk the line that manages be such a profoundly moving classic. It is a coming of age tale tells about a young witch coming into her own in the world. an adolescent witch who leaves home, as all witches do at her age, to complete her magic training in a new town as this compeling coming of age fantasy tale thaty boldly fels so wonderful to watch form start to the end. Its a profoundly moving coming of age tale that you should watch any-time.

Ponyo. The dazzling animation had my inner child’s heart aflutter. There is so much creativity and inspiration in one reel of a Miyazaki film that it confounds me how so many Hollywood animated film as this tale is a re-telling of little meremaid. As a response to “The Little Mermaid”, I think it surpasses it easily with the complexity given here to Ponyo and Sosuke’s relationship with life and death. That final shot is just heavenly to me, pure happiness as this tale is such a enjoyable classic you can enjoy anytime.

Princess Mononoke is a perfectly beautiful film with an absolutely stunning story that is such an amazing fantasy flim that is one of Miyazaki’s greatest stories he crafted for the screen. Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke isn’t just one of the strongest feature films put out by the artistic filmmaker or Studio Ghibli as a whole but is a landmark in the world of animation as this profoundly moving classic. A period drama infused with elements of fantasy & set in early centuries of Japan, Princess Mononoke tells the tale of Ashitaka that  The main theme this film deals with is the effects of industrialization on nature, deforestation & how it affects the species who’ve inhabited these places long before man’s greed laid its eyes on it as this flim is such a moving classic. rincess Mononoke (also known as Mononoke-hime) comes off as one of best fantasy classics all time.

Studio Ghibli has broken mold after mold of what we expect films for kids to be as these classic as With all the films now on streaming platforms for the first time as these classic fantasy flims are truly classics that you can watch any-time.

the little mermaid 30th anniversary

the little mermaid 30th anniversary

The Little Mermaid is one of my favorite Disney movies. When it was first released in 1989 as i was a little boy as if i was to rank my favorite Disney movies i would say sleeping beauty is top of list. I seen this movie often over the years.  we can all relate to her rebellious nature as we eel that way a teenager as today i honor the 30th birthday of the The Little Mermaid.

the little mermaid 30th anniversary

In Disney’s beguiling animated romp, rebellious 16-year-old mermaid Ariel (Jodi Benson) is fascinated with life on land. On one of her visits to the surface, which are forbidden by her controlling father, King Triton, she falls for a human prince. Determined to be with her new love, Ariel makes a dangerous deal with the sea witch Ursula (Pat Carroll) to become human for three days. But when plans go awry for the star-crossed lovers, the king must make the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter.(plot:goggle) 

The Little Mermaid has always been one of my favorite Disney films for many years as simply i hold a fond place in my heart for this classic animated gem. It is fondly remembered as the first film of Disney’s Golden Age. A charming but slight musical fairy tale that helped bring back the Disney animated classic. The Little Mermaid was such a surprise hit that it allowed the animation department to keep tackling bigger and bigger projects, starting with the 1991 masterpiece Beauty And The Beast that led to many wonderful classics even today for Disney.

“The Little Mermaid’s” lead character, Ariel, is the youngest of seven royal daughters, as well as the most passionate and outspoken one. Instead of lying around the palace without purpose, Ariel spends her days poking around shipwrecks and chatting up seagulls, rarely staying still for a moment, learning more about human inventions and human society as she is bit of a rebel as what can many relate to Ariel as all feel like Ariel would be as teenagers as we rebel againist parents to find our own way in the world.

I would fondly recall back to begin little boy i would fondly watch Ariel singing along to the songs as i would simply find something so charming with it. I would feel a connection that would build for a lifetime.  it was the begining of a new discovery of a new world as i would find a brave new world of movie magic as i would say like Ariel i found a magical new world that i wanted be part of that magical world.

The Little Mermaid has plenty of amazing songs, song by Ariel or Sebastian. And I love them all. During the song Under the Sea, the sea becomes so colorful and all the fish get exciting, it makes you feel happy as well. The first line, “The seaweed is always greener, in somebody else’s lake” is so recognizable with our very own world. It’s a line adults will recognize sooner than children, and that’s also a remarkable thing of Disney animations: for every different stage of life, there are hidden messages. Like the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Despite that The Little Mermaid is not made with computer but by hand drawings, the original way, the film still looks amazing to me. Of course things are way better in this modern time, but this classic is amazing without the use of special effects and stuff. The animation quality in The Little Mermaid” is really astounding.

The film successfully captures the feeling of weightlessness with characters like Ariel, Sebastian and Ursula effortlessly gliding across the ocean floor and propelling themselves forward in a way that lends the movie a real sense of physicality with its wonderful landscapes that capture the lovely ocean floor so greatly as also when it changes to man’s world form Ariel’s point of view as she has fun in world you get real sense of fun and discovery she is learning of the world while trying get him fall in love as the sense of wonder she has about it is such a an amazing trait of her. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken contribute the songs and score for the film, and their collaboration is legendary with amazing acting by its cast of voice actors give such remarkable acting as the real star is Jodi Benson whose Ariel is the defined role of her life as she simply is Ariel and she brings all the charm we adore about her to her voice acting of the role as simply this movie is a charming classic for the ages. “The Little Mermaid” is quite the powerhouse film and an incredibly touching movie about love, friendship, prejudice and the hard choice of conforming to what others want for you or following the path that you know will make you happy in the long term as its simply a must see classic movie.

Chuck Jones:The Evolution of an Artist

Chuck Jones:The Evolution of an Artist

You can’t force inspiration. It’s like trying to catch a butterfly with a hoop but no net. If you keep your mind open and receptive, though, one day a butterfly will land on your finger. –Chuck Jones  Chuck is best known for directing hundreds of Looney Tunes short films. Yes, he was the mastermind behind a lot of them as the powerful traits of him was his powerful nature to bring gag based story-telling to the medium that made it form a simple cartoon medium to something truly amazing for the art of animation. .

If you grew up watching Looney Tunes, then you know Chuck Jones, one of all-time masters of visual comedy with  ingenious framing and timing that makes his work stand test of time. so today i honor his works.

Looney Tunes, Rabbit of Seville

Directed by: Chuck Jones

The cartoon starts with an open air opera theater setting with the Elmer-Bugs chase quickly entering the scene. When Elmer hits the stage, Bugs quickly opens the curtains, prompting the orchestra to play ‘The Barber from Seville’ by Gioachino Rossini. This leads to a wonderful aria by Bugs, and even Elmer joins in.

The best part of the film is the silent comedy that follows on the music of the opera’s overture. During this sequence Bugs Bunny’s expressions are priceless, and the action is beautifully staged to the music, leading to a great finale in which Elmer and Bugs get married.Throughout the picture Jones’s timing and staging are perfect. It improves on both Charlie Chaplin’s barber scene in ‘The Great Dictator’ (1940) and on the vaguely similar Woody Woodpecker cartoon ‘Barber of Seville‘ (1944). The result is no less than a masterpiece.

bugs’ (and Blanc’s) preternatural verbal dexterity is soon on display as Bugs improvises lyrics to Rossini’s music, spiriting a bewildered Fudd to a barber’s chair for a shave. The way Bugs utters words like “daintily, daintily” and “you’re so next” is inexplicably delightful—Bugs and his audience are in on the joke together, but he will sell his pretend profession just enough to bamboozle his dimwitted foe. Yet unlike some of Bugs’ outings, “Rabbit of Seville” relies less on the hero’s linguistic gymnastics than on sight gags and cleverly escalating action. Bugs dresses as a temptress to woo Fudd (“What would you want with a wabbit?”) a gambit that proves consistently effective against the love-starved hunter.

But after this ruse, Jones and Maltese transition to silence, save for a closing stinger by the ever-victorious Bugs. Fortunately for the viewer, Bugs need not rely solely on his wit to outwit his nemesis. The density of Jones’ work, the multiplicity of targets, the erudition combined with silliness is unrivaled. Bugs as barber/señorita/snake charmer and Fudd as blushing bride poke fun at Count Almaviva’s many disguises in The Barber of Seville as well as the fundamental goofiness underlying so many highbrow works. Bugs plies Fudd with red paint, cement, and fertilizer in an absurd send-up of the lengths to which aestheticians will go to create a look often no better than leaving well enough alone

.The traditional climactic wedding is role-reversed and pops up nearly out of nowhere, as it often does in classical comedies. The Great Dictator’s escalating barber chairs are loosed from the bonds of physics to soar to ridiculous heights.Its truly very much a fun spoof of this story but done in  Chuck Jones starts to re-imagine operas to suit his own hyperactive style with Bugs Bunny behind the slapstick vehicles! What an enchanting delight; these were truly innovative animation reinventions with no concerns of what Rossini could have thought as its simply a marvel of animation.

 Looney Tunes: Hair-Raising Hare (1946)

The plot is simple: Bugs is lured to a mad scientist’s castle to be dinner for the aforementioned monster. When Bugs gets wise to this plan, he makes a break for it and the chase is on for the rest of the short as he out runs the monster and outsmarts them all in the end.

This cartoon has one of Bugs Bunny’s best known gags: at one point he stalls the monster by pretending to be a stylist who declares the monster needs a manicure. Suddenly Bugs whips out a table, chairs and begins to file the monsters nails, all while holding a conversation that you might hear in a nail salon. This is Bugs in pure mischief mode; once he gets over his initial fright, the monster doesn’t stand a chance at all.

Even for Merrie Melodies standards, I would call this expressionistic slice of comedic horror with inventive tropes as “landmark”: the use of shadows and meta-jokes are exquisite, the nameless monster (later “Rudolph” and later “Gossamer”) is one smart creation with effective parody effects enough to sustain both a scare and a laugh. Peter Lorre as a mad scientist is only something that Merrie Melodies could conceive and the jokes are endlessly clever: a rare fusion between visuals, slapstick and fourth-wall breaking, completely unprecedented, that you wouldn’t see again in many decades at least in the animation world as its truly a marvelous animated gem.

Released: February 9th, 1957. Directed by: Chuck Jones

Of the many achievements Chuck Jones accomplished during his lengthy career, one of them was raising the pairing of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck into a comedic art form that has yet to be truly matched in animation. Bugs and Daffy tunnel to Baghdad where they find caves full of treasure and a guard named Hassan who wants only to “chop” them.  Ali Baba Bunny is a famous example of this pairing and one of my many personal favorite cartoons all time as its simply comedy gold watching them together.

This cartoon features Daffy during his “greedy beyond all reason” phase and it is used to great comedic effect as often he is greedy and always wants to have everything. Daffy is almost instantly mesmerized by the giant pile of treasure in front of him, while Bugs is completely oblivious. This leads to one of my favorite Daffy Duck lines:Daffy: It’s mine you understand? Mine, mine, ALL MINE! Get back in there! Down! Down! Down! Go! Go! Go! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mwahahahahahahaha!! *zooms off to the treasure*

Daffy keeps getting on the guard’s bad sideespecially when he makes a run for it with a giant diamond! This leads Bugs to finally corner Daffy and demand to know (“What is it with you anyway?” to which Daffy replies “I can’t help it, I’m a greedy slob, it’s my hobby. its basically telling of his nature but likely honest answer due fact he is under threat to be killed. Daffy duck is truly always by nature a greedy person in some manner.  

I would say I adore this cartoon because it has one of the greatest twist endings ever seen in a cartoon: Daffy appears to have it made. Hassan is gone; the treasure is loaded up ready to go, when the greedy duck finds a mysterious lamp in the back of the cave. Some reason, when a genie appears (and even calls Daffy “Master”!!) The duck explodes with rage and accuses the genie of wanting his treasure. This is why I say Daffy is greedy beyond all reason, because wouldn’t you think the duck would be happy to have a magic genie at his disposal? I suppose not, and boy does the duck pay for it! As at end bugs bunny finds him and tosses him to side in the shell wanting a piece of treasure. Ali Baba Bunny, as I’ve said before, is one of my favorite Chuck Jones cartoons that is very much a fun piece of animated history.

Broom-Stick Bunny  review

Broom-Stick Bunny has long been one of my favorite Looney Tunes cartoons, as it features the debut of June Foray in the role of Witch Hazel (Bea Benaderet performed the voice in Hazel’s first appearance in Bewitched Bunny). This is actually Foray’s second time playing a character by this name (with this voice no less) as she originated the character in the 1952 Donald Duck cartoon Trick or Treat (and in truth she was initially reluctant when Chuck Jones invited her to play his version of Witch Hazel, but she eventually came around to the idea.In this cartoon, it’s Halloween night and Bugs Bunny is out trick-or-treating disguised as a witch

Witch Hazel is brewing up a potion while frequently consulting her magic mirror to make sure she’s still the “ugliest of them all” as she’s terribly afraid of getting pretty as she gets older. One of my favorite running gags in this cartoon is Witch Hazel’s obsession with ugliness and talking about beauty in opposite terms that makes her seem affaid of it. The story starts as a comedy of errors when Bugs Bunny appears at Witch Hazel’s door and the befuddled witch thinks the rabbit is a REAL witch that leads to comedy gold and many moments that showcase chuck’s remarkable skill of story-telling of his gags. but it quickly turns serious when Hazel realizes that not only is Bugs a rabbit, but he’s also the last ingredient needed to complete her potion, leading to a wild chase throughout the house that of course ends up with bugs bunny winning as you know she wont get him. we’re treated to seeing what a pretty Witch Hazel looks like in the ned. (fun fact: according June Foray’s commentary, the animators modeled the pretty Hazel on her actual appearance, particularly in the hairstyle as it was one she liked to wear at the time). It’s so funny to hear the now-pretty witch say in the sweetest sounding voice “Magic mirror on the wall, who’s the ugliest one of all?” The gag is heightened when the genie in the magic mirror gives chase on a flying carpet and the pair go flying off into the night.Of all the Witch Hazel cartoons, Broom-Stick Bunny remains my favorite as it showcases his style of gag story-telling that keeps on making gags seem lesser at times but smart and funny and witty. its the power of his animated story-telling.

Oh, the reminiscence! We could watch these cartoons again and again and still laugh like the first time Chuck’s animations delighted our eyes. Did you love the Looney Tunes as something truly remarkable about them and his style of gags and story-telling to capture the natures of such vastly interesting characters and ideas.  I will put this video here to help talk about so many more of his works.

 

happy 76th anniversary to dumbo

happy 76th anniversary to dumbo

Dumbo is a favourite flim among Pixar’s brain trust as it features all the hallmarks that would characterize the studio’s own flims it has great characters  and a story full of warmth and a lot of heart. This movie turns 76 years old today as it has not only inspired countless pixar flims over the years.  Dumbo was the flim was the little flim that did big things much like dumbo  the movie’s hero as the studios past efforts of Pinocchio and Fantasia were flops upon their release as this movie was made a b-picture on cheaper budget it became a huge hit as their frist hit animated movie snice snow white.  Its a simple story of the ugly duckling retold in a new way.

Dumbo is an elephant with freakishly large ears discovers that the thing that makes him different is also the thing that makes him truly special as he can fly via them and use of a feather he holds on him. It is revealed in ending the feather is a gag as he can fly without it as his ears gave him power to fly. Dumbo is one of the studio’s greatest character creations he never utters a word or speaks in any form but you can’t help but fall in love this little guy. His relationship with his mother is beautifully captured from their playful moments during bath-time to their heartbreaking and fleeting reunion it’s all so moving and heartfelt as it does somewhat really feel so emotionally moving. In a matter of minutes you understand their love for each other their unwavering love for each other. You are fully invested in Dumbo’s own personal journey. His odd couple relationship with Timothy Mouse is equally moving whilst every cameo and he is unforgettable.

Dumbo is the shortest feature films Disney produced it arguably possesses more memorable moments than any of their other movies form this period of disney movie. from the stork delivering newborn babies which we see baby mine song playing as you feel for dumbo and its mother as both suffer so much on screen to dumbo flying in wonder on screen we see so many moments in one movie. Dumbo has some of best songs of the period compared to the cloyingly sweet music of the other Disney films made in the 1940s the songs all possess an infectious and poppy lightness such as When I See an Elephant Fly, Elephants on Parade and Song of the Roustabouts are all numbers that will be bouncing around your head for days afterwards.

 

Dumbo’s animation is less technically polished than the films it succeeded as it has a lightness and freedom looking more cartoony. This film is bold and bright with simple but striking watercolor backgrounds and a strong cartoon aesthetic that really draws you into its world. Dumbo has so much emotion, warmth and nuance are conveyed in the tiniest little details, particularly Dumbo as its charm can melt any heart. The animation is playful and experimental form it’s from the map view of the United States to the pink elephants there is always something always something exciting or touching in every frame of this flim to stand out for you to watch on the screen. It is films like Dumbo that made me fall in love with animation in the first place as this classic is a classic animated gem you will adore to see anytime.

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