Whenever such a humongous portion of cinematic history is given such a prestigious spotlight, this editor has to say “Well it is about bloody time.” The 77th Festival de Cannes also breaks another mold by honouring an actual film-making studio rather than one particular individual (bravo Meryl Streep by the way) with their Honorary Palme d’or for the majestic, masterful Japanese animation giants Studio Ghibli. The maestros behind the flourishing curtain – Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata – have helped craft an unwavering, vibrant wave of cinema story-telling for 40 years, and will continue to do so beyond this glorious recognition.
From their opening Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, right to last year’s Oscar winner, The Boy and the Heron, the incredibly appetising Studio Ghibli Inc. have created wondrous animation films that have touched all corners of the world. Okay, it took the American Academy 20+ years to bestow Ghibli with some attention when the Spirited Away won Best Animated Feature, but part of the beauty of such a collaborative marvel is the continuous growth of their audience. You’ve all heard of the other household masterpieces Grave of the Fireflies, Princess Mononoke, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro – the latter title character has become the studio’s logo. But let’s not forget The Castle of Cagliostro, Ponyo, When Marnie Was There, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – oh the list goes on. Timeless.
That said, the great Miyazaki announced another retirement last year, but the glorious ship of artistic bravura will sail on.
