After years of being available in hard copy only, the pioneering figure in animation, Hayao Miyazaki has finally granted Netflix the rights to stream his Studio Ghibli films, from ‘Grave Of The Fireflies’, to ‘My Neighbour Totoro’. Having broken box-office records as well as triumphing over ‘Spirited Away’ for winning The Academy Award for Best Animated Film and the Honorary Award of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, it would be no exaggeration to describe Miyazaki as the godfather of animation. The hallmarks of his films are its lush, detailed landscapes and its thoughtfulness in tackling the humanity’s relationship with technology, and the difficulty of maintaining a pacifist ethic in a violent world, with strong girls or young women often as his films’ leading roles.
For all the captivating stories, there's the mastermind behind the magical sounds, Joe Hisaishi. Whether it's the twinkling piano melodies of “Path of The Wind” in 'Spirited Away', or the swooping strings and swelling brass of “The Legend of Ashitaka” in 'Princess Mononoke'—it's the orchestral flow that conjures up the feeling of being suspended in time, and in a peaceful, miraculous place.
Here, BAZAAR rounded up some of the great works of Studio Ghibli, which have left an indelible impression on the cinematic landscape.
Pictures via of Hayao Miyazaki, Madman Anime
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