Certainly you’ve all at least heard of an animated film or two by the famous director Miyazaki Hayao or Studio Ghibli. Right? Well, maybe a name like Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, or My Neighbor Totoro rings a bell? Of course if not, no big deal – these are just a few of the many wonderful films that originate with this director and studio. There are some differences throughout them and I have my favorites and not-so-favorites. Though my interest here is beyond that.
I foremost want to just say that if you are indeed a true fan of Studio Ghibli or other Japanese animation close to the works thereof in quality and style, you should most definitely go to the museum at some point in your life! It has a wonderful presentation of the works of Ghibli, how such things are made, and retains the amount of attention to detail present in all of the works presented by Ghibli. And furthermore contains just the same style and interests reflected by Hayao Miyazaki’s influence.
About a week ago I finally visited the Ghibli Museum with a few friends. There was a rule that said no pictures inside, so I respected that – especially after seeing the inside – but did take a few pictures outside. The building from the outside is a particularly strange style and rather reminiscent of a building you might expect to find in a Ghibli film. I’ll just let you all see from the pictures. To me it was just strange at first. At least it was until I got to see more and then it became awesome.
Inside I first saw a sort of museum room displaying basic ways of creating a film by moving multiple sequential pictures after each other – your basic flipbook. But in may cases it took this and did it in much more fascinating ways. The best example was a three dimensional figure set displayed on a rotating platform that would start spinning with a strobe light flashing on it to show basically a true three dimensional mini-film. My description couldn’t possibly do it justice. Aside from this there were many shadow boxes with multiple layers of depth, mechanical detail even in such things as the actual power-control panels, and the usual attention to detail. The museum in general had a very catered-to-children feel while still somehow maintaining a catered-to-adults feel. Small doors and windows in various places, spiraling staircases, decor and mechanical designs not typically fit for a bathroom in the bathroom, a very playset-like real fire alarm set up with a shiny metal helmet included, a huge cat bus filled with soot balls for the kids to play in (maybe you’d have to know more about Ghibli to get this one), amazing stained glass windows depicting characters from Ghibli films, and an amazing recreation of the working space of Miyazaki and the studio crew plus tons of other things you just have to see to be able to truly respect. A definite must see for the fans of Studio Ghibli. They even show you one of a few short films that can only be seen there at the museum.
It is, of course, possible to respect and understand the museum well even from an outsider point of view. For example, I think that if one had never seen a Ghibli film before going to the museum they would almost definitely want to afterward. It’s that good! I’d say for those who have seen the films it’s a lot like stepping into one of those very fantasy worlds. Enjoy the pictures.
Our first view of the building.
A brick stamped with the museum's seal.
Hand pump well in the courtyard. The sign says not drinkable.
Drain hole cover for the well water. Nifty.
The robot-thing from Castle in the Sky.
Writing from Koganei, Tokyo, Japan | February 27, 2009
