Studio Ghibli films take us on awe-inspiring journeys to other realms where cutesy animals and cozy vibes intersect with religion, environmentalism, and Japanese history. But this mix of child-like curiosity and mature contemplation doesn’t totally account for the studio’s sizable queer fanbase. And still, there’s something about Ghibli specifically that resonates with queer people, despite there being little obvious representation to speak of across the studio’s forty-year history.
On the face of it, much of this appeal can be chalked up to Ghibli’s fiercely strong female protagonists. Although the likes of Kaguya, Arrietty, and Nausicaä don’t actively identify as queer, gay audiences will happily follow them to hell and back. Like flying machines and delicious food porn, gay icons in this vein are woven throughout the studio’s tapestry, but only if you’re actively looking for them. Thankfully, LGBTQ+ fans are well-versed in spotting “secret” queer characters,...
On the face of it, much of this appeal can be chalked up to Ghibli’s fiercely strong female protagonists. Although the likes of Kaguya, Arrietty, and Nausicaä don’t actively identify as queer, gay audiences will happily follow them to hell and back. Like flying machines and delicious food porn, gay icons in this vein are woven throughout the studio’s tapestry, but only if you’re actively looking for them. Thankfully, LGBTQ+ fans are well-versed in spotting “secret” queer characters,...
- 12/13/2023
- by David Opie
- Indiewire
When we think of the term “auteur” or “auteur theory” we usually include directors such as Alfred Hitchcock or Stanley Kubrick given the diversity in their work, the amount of creative control they had and the recurring themes in their features. Especially the latter is interesting because Kubrick has managed to leave his footprint in the world of film, even though he has only produced a small number of films, in comparison to Hitchcock that is. Given this definition, director Satoshi Kon, although he helmed even a smaller number of features, should deserve the title as well, especially since features like “Paprika” or “Perfect Blue” are considered masterpieces of the genre and remain influential sources for filmmakers all over the world. In his documentary “Satoshi Kon, The Illusionist” French director Pascal-Alex Vincent, who previously made “Miwa, A Japanese Icon” about actor Akihiro Miwa, tells the story of arguably one of...
- 8/14/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
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Seeing is believe, but fantasy films are a special genre that will push your imagination to the limit and maybe even open up a part of your mind that you didn’t know existed. The good thing about fantasy movies is that they typically have a deeper subtext that will give you a deeper appreciation for life, and film.
For those who love streaming a variety of movies, signing up for streaming platforms is the easiest way to get access to tons of titles from plenty of different genres. If you’re not already signed up for at least one of the major platforms, it’s quick and easy to join, and you...
Seeing is believe, but fantasy films are a special genre that will push your imagination to the limit and maybe even open up a part of your mind that you didn’t know existed. The good thing about fantasy movies is that they typically have a deeper subtext that will give you a deeper appreciation for life, and film.
For those who love streaming a variety of movies, signing up for streaming platforms is the easiest way to get access to tons of titles from plenty of different genres. If you’re not already signed up for at least one of the major platforms, it’s quick and easy to join, and you...
- 4/2/2021
- by Latifah Muhammad
- Indiewire
Mubi is showing Pen-ek Ratanaruang's Last Life in the Universe (2003) in the United States from August 13 - September 11, 2016.“Let’s not know too much about what we’re going to do, let’s just look for the film.” —Pen-ek RatanaruangThere are films that you sleep through and films that guide you through sleep. Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s 2003 film Last Life in the Universe falls under the latter category, invoking that lull between wake and slumber. That slow-motion moment when your eyes are still open as you’re dreaming, where the most nonsensical fantasies make perfect sense. It is also a film labeled as quintessentially “art-house” and “Thai New Wave,” known as the hit that propelled director Pen-ek Ratanaruang into the international spotlight once dominated by his friend and colleague, Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Yet with each viewing Last Life in the Universe ceases to be anything at all. Maybe that is the point,...
- 8/26/2016
- MUBI
Howl’S Moving Castle (Studio Ghibli)
Stars: (Japanese) Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa, Tatsuya Gashuin, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Haruko Kato. (English) Emily Mortimer, Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, Lauren Bacall, Billy Crystal, Josh Hutcherson, Blythe Danner | Written by Diana Wynne Jones & Hayao Miyazaki | Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
“From the creators of Spirited Away and Ponyo and available for the first time on Blu-ray in stunning high-definition comes the masterpiece Howl’S Moving Castle. Directed by the Oscar®-winning Hayao Miyazaki, Howl’S Moving Castle is set in a magical world of wizardry and spells. Follow the adventures of Sophie and her incredible odyssey to lift a witch’s curse, whilst being swept off her feet by the handsome and mysterious wizard Howl who offers Sophie refuge in his magical moving castle. Based on the popular book by British author Diana Wynne Jones. The English language version features the voices of Jean Simmons,...
Stars: (Japanese) Chieko Baisho, Takuya Kimura, Akihiro Miwa, Tatsuya Gashuin, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Haruko Kato. (English) Emily Mortimer, Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, Lauren Bacall, Billy Crystal, Josh Hutcherson, Blythe Danner | Written by Diana Wynne Jones & Hayao Miyazaki | Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
“From the creators of Spirited Away and Ponyo and available for the first time on Blu-ray in stunning high-definition comes the masterpiece Howl’S Moving Castle. Directed by the Oscar®-winning Hayao Miyazaki, Howl’S Moving Castle is set in a magical world of wizardry and spells. Follow the adventures of Sophie and her incredible odyssey to lift a witch’s curse, whilst being swept off her feet by the handsome and mysterious wizard Howl who offers Sophie refuge in his magical moving castle. Based on the popular book by British author Diana Wynne Jones. The English language version features the voices of Jean Simmons,...
- 6/30/2012
- by Baron Fornightly
- Nerdly
While I now, of course, appreciate the full genius of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli – I’m only human – it wasn’t exactly love at first sight.
Having caught Spirited Away as a teenager, complete with pig parents and a rather spiritless American voice-over, I was clearly ill-equipped to take it in – distracted as I was by Pixar and their at that time peerless pixels. All that changed, however, when I discovered Howl and his absolutely enchanting moving castle.
For those of you who, like a younger me, haven’t discovered Studio Ghibli yet (there’s always one), Howl’s Moving Castle follows the various misadventures of Sophie (Chieko Baishō/Emily Mortimer), a beautiful 18 year-old hat-maker with confidence issues. Unintentionally attracting the attention of Howl (Takuya Kimura/Christian Bale), Sophie invokes the jealous wrath of the Witch of the Waste (Akihiro Miwa/Lauren Bacall), who curses the young haberdasher with...
Having caught Spirited Away as a teenager, complete with pig parents and a rather spiritless American voice-over, I was clearly ill-equipped to take it in – distracted as I was by Pixar and their at that time peerless pixels. All that changed, however, when I discovered Howl and his absolutely enchanting moving castle.
For those of you who, like a younger me, haven’t discovered Studio Ghibli yet (there’s always one), Howl’s Moving Castle follows the various misadventures of Sophie (Chieko Baishō/Emily Mortimer), a beautiful 18 year-old hat-maker with confidence issues. Unintentionally attracting the attention of Howl (Takuya Kimura/Christian Bale), Sophie invokes the jealous wrath of the Witch of the Waste (Akihiro Miwa/Lauren Bacall), who curses the young haberdasher with...
- 8/1/2011
- by Steven Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
TOKYO -- The hair is startlingly yellow, the nose slightly large and the fingers a little too chubby. And while the clothes are fashionably feminine for a woman in her 70s, the voice is a shade too deep. All in all, Akihiro Miwa is not very convincing as a woman. That has not stopped him from having a successful television and movie career in Japan, however, where he and fellow heirs to the "onnagata" tradition are in great demand as respected commentators on issues ranging from spiritual sustenance to fashion and the latest political brouhaha. Onnagata are men who dress as women and specialize in women's roles in kabuki theater. Miwa, Kenichi Mikawa, Kaba-chan, Sakuraduka Yakkun and others have brought that up to date with their daily appearances on television. And they revel in their ability to be outspoken, catty and downright rude about politicians, movie stars, others in the TV profession and pretty much anyone in public life. "These people can get away with more than the average 'talent' on Japanese TV shows because they're viewed as being ditzy old ladies," Japan Times TV critic Philip Brasor said. "By wearing dresses, they have placed themselves outside conventional society, and they can say things that others can't."...
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