Anime movies that aren't "anime"

Anime movies that aren't “anime”

May 25, 2024

I recommend Miyazaki films to any and everyone, even if they don't watch anime on a regular basis (or at all). He just makes good films. I once told my mom Studio Ghibli is Pixar on steroids.

Recently a local cinema started a “Hayao Miyazaki Retrospective”, where they show one of his movies every Thursday at 7pm. So far they've shown – Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro – Nausicaä from the Valley of the Wind – Laputa: Castle in the Sky – My Neighbor Totoro – Princess Mononoke – Spirited Away – Howl's Moving Castle and upcoming are – The Wind Rises – Kiki's Delivery Service – Porco Rosso – Princess Mononoke (again) – Ponyo – The Boy and The Heron

Before this started I had only seen Totoro and Howl (and about a third of Ponyo). I knew I liked them, and I knew all his films are good, I just hadn't gotten around to it. I watched Totoro and Howl with my old “brass band” 15 years ago.

Then this year, before this particular cinema started this series, I watched Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke as special features at another cinema (Mononoke together with a colleague).

I watched Boy/Heron in January before all of this, twice, loved it. That probably also contributed to my current obsession.

I don't know how and if I can pick a favorite. Over on letterboxd I've picked Nausicaä because I really liked it and her (and her glider, and the message). (And I also want to limit myself on that site.)

I'm really looking forward to these next six weeks, it's holding my ~depression~ off quite well.