Totoro, Porco Rosso, San , No Face … are the icons that Studio Ghibli used to give fans around the globe.
If Pixar animation studio “storms” in North America, Studio Ghibli is an animation empire in the land of the rising sun. Founded in the summer of 1985 in Japan, Studio Ghibli has enjoyed tremendous success at home and in the international arena, culminating in the Oscar-winning Oscar for Spirited Away in 2003.
Faithful to the hand-drawn method that requires patience and high-levelness, filmmakers at the studio such as Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata have brought to the audience beautiful works and many personalities. We review the most memorable cartoon characters that Studio Ghibli has released with fans.
Totoro in My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
The usual Totoro character is called “Japanese version of Winne the Pooh” because of its iconic loveliness. After debuting in My Neighbor Totoro, Totoro character immediately became a symbol of Japanese animation. Appearing under various items such as toys, learning tools, stuffed animals …, it is not exaggerating to say that Totoro is the character who helped Ghibli dotted the name of the Japanese animation on the international map.
In the movie, Totoro is not only a cute, adorable figure but also a character so that children can send their beliefs, dreams and hopes. That is also the reason why Totoro has strong vitality and conquered many generations of audience after nearly three decades.
See more : My Neighbor Totoro Merchandise
Porco Rosso in Porco Rosso (1992)
Porco Rosso, the protagonist of the film of the same name released in 1992, was an Italian pilot and became a bounty hunter targeting the Adriatic sea hijackers.
Because of a curse, Porco Rosso had to carry the face of a pig, but that didn’t bother him too much. Hidden deep inside the character is a true gentleman: polite, hate hijackers and fascists. Although it is just an animated film, Porco Rosso has an implicit message that connecting people together is soul beauty, not fleeting looks.
San in Princess Mononoke (1997)
As a character that reflects the feminist spirit of director Hayao Miyazaki, San in Princess Mononoke brings together the usual traits of an independent girl and makes her fans unforgettable.
Beautiful, talented, strong, wild, San is a completely different model of princess than what Disney has ever given to the cartoon world. Princess Mononoke’s character San has actually gone beyond the standards of a princess and became the idol of many generations of audiences not only in Japan.
Buy now : Princess Mononoke Merchandise
Susuwatari soot in My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Spirited Away (2001)
These great creatures are a testament to Hayao Miyazaki’s diligence when the director not only focuses on creating the main characters but also invests heavily in the supporting characters.
Susuwatari soot is the creature that lives in the public bath corner controlled by the witch Yubaba in Spirited Away and also appeared in the previous My Neighbor Totoro. This soot is quite lovely, funny and even useful when helping the Chihiro character in Spirited Away.
Yubaba in Spirited Away (2001)
Yubaba is a greedy witch, owner of a public bathhouse and ruled over the soul land in Spirited Away. Yubaba brings an impressive appearance to “scary” to many audiences.
Although considered a villain, the audience still could not hate Yubaba because, after all, she also had the love of a human being, a mother who loved Boh’s son. This makes Yubaba character an unforgettable mark in Spirited Away.
No Face in Spirited Away (2001)
Another character in Spirited Away was also remembered and admired by many audiences as a strange ghost without a face. No Face is a resident in the spiritual land where Yubaba governs and represents a human bad habit: greed.
In the end, No Face was touched by Chihiro, becoming gentle. At the end of the film, No Face became Zeniba’s servant also a witch and sister of Yubaba.
Buy now : Spirited Away Merchandise
Howl in Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Howl is the main character in the animated film based on the literary work of the same name by writer Diana Wynne Jones. In the film, Howl is a handsome, mysterious and somewhat frightening mage. Besides, he also has many shortcomings such as promiscuous, like teasing girls, grooming …
But in the end, Howl is still a talented magician, and like the heroine Sophie, he always aspires to freedom, seeking happiness and conquering his dreams. Despite his appearance, Howl also possesses a warm and kind heart. The film Howl’s Moving Castle later received an Oscar nomination in 2006.
Buy now : Howl’s Moving Castle Merchandise
