Studio Ghibli

Yesterday Megan and I made a fun investment - we bought a twelve-movie box set of Studio Ghibli animated films, in the original uncut Japanese versions with subtitles. This did not come cheaply but seemed worth it. During Megan's exploration of Japanese animation over the past year or so, we have discovered the films of Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli. Normally I have very little patience for animation (particularly the banal Disney offerings that are churned out every year or so) and it takes a really good story to draw me in. Miyazaki seems to have an eye for a GREAT story and can bring it to life in a beautiful way. A few nights ago, a cable channel showed a couple of his films and I had the opportunity to watch Laputa: Castle in the Sky - a twenty-year-old film - for the first time. I was really moved by this film. In a way, watching something like this makes me feel like a better person, like my life has been enriched. I felt the same way when watching another Miyazaki film, Kiki's Delivery Service, recently. They are wonderful tales with strong female characters and an equally strong message about friendship and selflessness. If you get the chance, I recommend you check them out.