The Studio Ghibli Collection
The Films of the Great Japanese Animation Studio: 1986 - 1995
The films of Studio Ghibli continue to delight audiences of all ages.
Following the success of their collaborative film, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Studio Ghibli was formed in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. Studio Ghibli is one of the most successful animation studios ever, with its films being watched and loved by audiences worldwide.
Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)
The 1986 Animage Anime Grand Prix winner. Young orphan Sheeta inherits a mysterious crystal that links her to the legendary sky-kingdom of Laputa. With the help of resourceful Pazu and a rollicking band of sky pirates, she makes her way to the ruins of the once-great civilization. Sheeta and Pazu must outwit the evil Muska, who plans to use Laputa's science to make himself ruler of the world.
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
The saddest of all the Studio Ghibli films and the only one which Disney declined to distribute, Grave of the Fireflies tells the story of an orphaned fourteen-year-old Japanese boy and his four-year-old sister as they endure violence, starvation and the indifference of their surviving family members in World War ravaged Kobe.
My Neighbour Totoro (1988)
A joyous parable of friendship written and directed by Hayao Myazaki. As their mother recovers in hospital from a serious illness, sisters Satsuki and Mei settle in to a new life in the country. Far from the noise of the city, they discover a mysterious place of creatures and magic and the friendship Totoro, the spirit of the woodland.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Kiki is a witch just like her mother and, as her thirteenth birthday arrives, it is time for her to leave the family home and journey to a new town to spend a year establishing herself as an independent witch. Accompanied by black cat Jiji, Kiki arrives in the seaside town of Koriko and, seeking to make herself useful, sets herself up as a one broomstick delivery company.
Only Yesterday (1991)
Taeko is twenty-seven and has spent her whole life in Tokyo until, bored with her mundane existence, she travels to the country to visit her elder sister’s in-laws. The trip sparks memories of her childhood hopes and dreams, causing Taeko to wonder if she has really been true to herself.
Porco Rosso (1992)
During World War One, an Italian pilot transforms into Porco Rosso, part man, part pig, after witnessing the deaths of other pilots in his last air battle. Under this spell, Porco Rosso survives by taking odd jobs, and finds himself in one comic situation after another as he romances women, rescues the innocent, and seeks to undo the spell.
I Can Hear the Sea (1993)
A made-for-television film set on the Japanese island of Kochi. A love triangle develops between two lifelong friends and an arrogant new girl from Tokyo who has transferred to their school.
Pom Poko (1994)
An environmental fable from the director of Grave of the Fireflies, Isao Takahata. A group of tanuki, (Japanese racoons), live in peace until the development of the nearby town begins to intrude on their land. The tanuki are faced with a dilemma regarding the human beings, for their homes are being destroyed, but they still rely on the human community for scavenged food and goods.
