Introduction to Studio Ghibli

What is the course about?

This online film studies course serves as an introduction to the history, films, and legacy of Studio Ghibli, the creators of celebrated animations like Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro. From the meeting of the founding directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata at Toei Animation to the studio’s current status as world leaders of the anime industry, each session will provide insight into a different era of Ghibli, using both films and other elements of Ghibli’s brand as case studies.

What will we cover?

Before Studio Ghibli was stablished, its three founders – Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki, and Hayao Miyazaki – were already involved in successful filmmaking ventures that would have a notable impact on their future work at the studio. Therefore, before delving in to the studio itself, week 1 will focus on the careers of its founders, specifically examining the not-Ghibli-but-Ghibli film Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind. Week 2 will then examine the establishment of the physical studio and its staff, exploring Kiki’s Delivery Service and how it represents some of the studio’s most common creative and thematic tropes. To finish the first half of the course, the distinct auteur filmmaking styles within the studio will be examined, using Isao Takahata’s Only Yesterday as a key case study.

The second half of the course will expand to Ghibli on the global stage, beginning with an examination of Spirited Away’s runaway international success and how it opened the door for anime outside of Japan. We will then investigate how Studio Ghibli director Hiromasa Yonebayashi reinterpreted The Borrowers into Arrietty in his first directorial work for the studio, establishing an adaptational habit that would eventually lead to the creation of Studio Ponoc, a possible successor. Finally, we will finish the course not with a film text, but with an examination of Ghibli’s other ventures, including the Ghibli Museum, Ghibli Park, and their many international exhibitions to investigate how their brand lives on beyond their films.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Understand the history of Ghibli as a studio and their significance as filmmakers
• Gain a deeper understanding of some of their most significant texts
• Analyse the films of Studio Ghibli with a greater knowledge of their cultural context
• Understand their practices beyond creating feature films.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is for all levels – Studio Ghibli films are highly accessible and the course is suitable for anyone who enjoys films that provoke thought and discussion. Please note that the films viewed and discussed will be in a combination of Japanese and English, therefore they will sometimes utilise subtitles and sometimes be the dubbed versions.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Each week will consist of a two-hour session – the first half will be a lecture covering the information for that week, while the second (following a 5-minute break) will be a structured discussion encouraging learners to share their thoughts. There will be short, selected readings to complete on some weeks prior to the session (these being non-academic and in accessible language), while other resources including clips and academic articles will be included in the lecture and discussion.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Everything required for the course will be provided within the lectures and in materials shared before the session – while watching the films will likely give you a greater opportunity to contribute to discussions, this is not mandatory to engage with and enjoy the course.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Look for other culture courses on our website at www.citylit.ac.uk under History, Culture and Writing/Culture.