Studio Ghibli-The Wind of Animation

The world of animation is a fascinating place held up by the pillars of imagination. When someone hears the word, animation, do images of Disney or Pixar movies flood your mind? Does the nostalgia transport you back to your first movie (Snow White) and first song you learned (how does she talk to to those birds?)? The reason why I'm even talking about animated movies in the first place is because of stigma. There is a stigma that the targeted audience of animation, in general, is for kids. There's nothing wrong with that, but that statement generalizes and stereotypes ALL animated movies which isn't right.Which brings me to...Studio Ghibli.

Studio Ghibli animated movies break the stereotypes of Western Animation-animated movies are mainly for kids- and Eastern Animation-animation expressions have to overly expressive, use of fanservice, etc- simultaneously. I didn't grow up watching their movies nor have I watched all of their productions, but from the movies I have watched, the movie soundtracks I've heard, trailer's I have seen, and numerous articles I've read I think it's safe to say the uniqueness of Studio Ghibli cannot be overstated.

So here are only the top 10 reasons why you should watch a Studio Ghibli movie:

 
1)  The characters run the story. There are no "good" or "evil" characters. There are only humans built on shades of gray.
 

2) It's not just for kids. The movies are something adults will want to invest their time in rather than watching it for the sake of watching it with their niece or daughter.


3) The animation. See examples below! It's amazing, realistic, and fantastical all at the same time <3

4) The music. Joe Hisashi is comparable to Hans Zimmerman. The music is made for the movie and if you're listening to the songs on shuffle, you can pick out this movie is for this song by the way sound feels. The music is an essential part of the Studio Ghibli package experience.

 

5) The nostalgia. No matter which movie you watch, the mannerisms of the characters, the setting, the plot situation, whatever it is will have an inkling of semblance to your own life. It is so easy to imagine yourself in the movie.

6) The life lessons you learn aren't always so clear. A person doesn't live from A-Z stepping up a life lesson each way, but they are imbued in the movies as a natural part of characterization rather than the end goal.

Spirited Away

7) The endings. In a Disney or Pixar movie, a happy ending is the staple, the expected, and what is gifted to the audience on a yearly basis. However, a Studio Ghibli movie is not always served on a platter satisfying. It's thoughtful and intended.

Princess Mononoke

8) The connection between the creator and the audience. One of the main creative minds of Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, expresses his own political and religious views in his movies like environmentalism, anti-war sentiments, the spirtual balance of nature and humans,etc... This connection strengthens an audience's understanding of the movie and the person who made it.

 

9) The balance of emotions and genres. It's impossible to characterize any Ghibli movie

to one genre (i.e. romance, action, comedy) or an emotion (i.e. lighthearted or emotional af). There's always a little bit of everything. The comedy never overstays its welcome nor does the seriousness.

The Wind Rises

10)The plot. The plot isn't very complicated most of the time, but like I said before the characters run the plot and therefore each Studio Ghibli is a journey the audience takes with the character. At the end of the movie, the gray character doesn't become necessarily "good" or "evil", but they have come to terms with the world around them.

*11-the worlds. The setting and the world building in each Studio Ghibli movies makes it an immersive movie experience. (I couldn't even keep it to 10!)

I would suggest watching the Oscar Winning, Spirited Away, as your first venture into Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki land, but personally I don't think it matters. I watched Princess Mononoke first, then Howl's Moving Castle, and then From Up on Poppy Hill, and the rest is history.

From Howl's Moving Castle

July Flys By

All you anime watchers would realize this song in an instant if Clannad and Clannad After Story left you with some tears left to pour go check out Your Lie in April-it's on Netflix :)

I haven't finished watching it though, but anime aside I really appreciate Goose House. Their YouTube channel is heart-warming. It's so natural and Hikaru Nara (the song above) is one of their originals and the entire 4 minutes and 18 seconds is uplifting.

Guess I'll be sharing quite a few videos today :) I know I'm not the only stoked for the Summer Olympics. I'm especially looking forward to the swimming, but there's always a variety of events and sometimes I watch what's on right before and after, thereby discovering a love for watching an entirely new sport. The Summer Olympics are definitely a ray of light in international cooperation this year.

Thomas Bach, IOC(Intenational Olympic Committee) President

If you haven't already check out their website: https://www.olympic.org/rio-2016
Especially when the Olympics do start-it'll keep you updated on the results, who got which medal, what event is happening when, etc...

The Olympics itself is a wonderful idea and event, but what goes into making the Olympics in our flat-screen TV's is a truth akin to worn-out, discarded cassette amidst the shiny medals.

A close friend of mine recently shared this video on Facebook and it really struck a chord with me-2016 Olympics: What Rio doesn't want the world to see

 

 People constantly tell others not to "judge a book by it's cover", but why do humans,when fed something, automatically assimilate in our minds that one single truth is full and final? I'm not saying the Olympics should be canceled. However, I do wish I wasn't living in a world where life gets polished over into a final product without the dents, the mishaps, and bruises. The world is far from perfect, but if voices in  media, governments, propaganda, international cooperation and corporations don't even acknowledge that a problem exists, how are we going to fix it?

 People always say that anybody can make a  difference-no matter what age, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, and sexuality...but isn't it hard for common people in everyday lives (who maybe read the news once a day) to discover truths in small places that are shrouded with lies. Poverty isn't problem you can wish for to go away eventually like a drought. It isn't going to fix itself. 

Common people and the important voices in our world-media, governments, etc...-need to work together to create a solution. I acknowledge the fact that many people aren't even aware what's going on around the world half the time or they couldn't care less about issues that don't affect them. You can call me idealistic or unrealistic. Is it so hard to believe countries cooperating and raising awareness of the problems before hiding them like an virus? Do the 7.4 billion people in our world, Earth,really have no answer? No solution?

 

 

  TOP 5 SUMMER VIBES PLAYLIST:

1.  Rest in Peace, Christina Grimmie. I used to watch videos of singing on YouTube when I was younger with Kurt, Sam, and other YouTube artists. Then, I saw you on the Voice. I loved your voice.

 

Just a Dream-Nelly cover by Christina Grimmie, Sam Tsui, and Kurt Hugo Schneider 

 

 

Sam Tsui's cover of Just a Dream by Nelly (For Christina)

2. Dark Necessities- Red Hot Chilli Peppers

3. Tears-Clean Bandit ft. Louisa Johnson

4. The Manual-Eddy Kim

5. (Tie) Wonder Girls-Why So Lonely(check out the original MV)

5. (Tie) Wherever you Are- ONE OK ROCK

       

All Summer Long

Public Service Announcement?

While I would love for this blog to remain completely anonymous, I know that isn’t a realistic possibility with me posting the link in some of my social media outlets. On more than one occasion, a friend or even a fellow classmate that I don’t really talk to has come up to me because of my blog. That experience has always been like a bag of MnMs for me. The primary feeling is the red-not for anger, but for embarrassment. There’s always this false sense of security when being tied into social media. You think it’s a mirror and you’ll be the only person looking into it, but the reality is a two-way glass that infinitely stretches no matter how many undo’s  or deletes. I don’t regret writing on my blog because I’ve always valued honesty above all else and I will stand by my beliefs. Just always read over what you wrote or look over what you’re about to post. I’m not saying only post motivational quotes and HD natural landscape photos, but don’t ever forget that social media is a representation of who you are. Be honest to yourself always.

 

Spring or Summer? Tortoise or Rabbit?

As usual, I haven’t posted in a while, but I will be working very hard this summer (the rest of this summer) to remedy my vices. After all it’s a new year. It’s not January 1^st I know. I don’t know what day it is, but I know the season-it’s really hard to distinguish with the schizophrenic weather- or do I? I’m kidding, it’s summer! If I ever forget, I’ll just go back High School-what time is it? Add a musical because real high school isn’t like that. Did y’all know High School Musical is coming out with a 4^th movie? They have most of the original cast except Zac Efron. The real question is: Didn’t they graduate? How are they still in high school? Not going to lie, my friends and I when the movies came out in 06’ or 07’ we used to fantasize about the Troy and Gabriella in college. College School Musical. Hmmm…it really doesn’t have the same ring to it does it? That’s a trend for me. Whatever I see first or have first, I just like better. It’s comfortable and snug. Some people might say I’m really possessive, but I think I’m more just lazy when it comes to sticking by things. For example, when I go clothes shopping, if I see something that I like-I’ll find my size, try it, buy it, and get out of the store ASAP. I usually settle on one store and buy everything I need from there.  I’m a steady customer. Hey! I’m lazy and loyal J Honestly, I’m lazy when it comes to repetitive, mundane tasks like buying clothes or organizing rooms. I put it off, but once I decide to do that task, then I complete it efficiently in the shortest amount of time possible.

Celebrating Legally Blondes 15th Anniversary

 

The first part turned into a Public Service Announcement while the second turned into a Personal Statement. I’ll label it. Maybe. This is just going to be random fluffs of happiness.

Summer Vibes Playlist:

 1)We Don't Talk Anymore-Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez

 

 2) I Took a Pill in Ibiza- Mike Posner (Seeb Remix)

3) Cheap Thrills-Sia ft. Sean Paul

4)Alexandros- ワタリドリ

5) Infinite-Hey,Hello