Adult Animation Revolution: Guillermo del Toro on Studio Ghibli
by Tito W. James
If you are new to anime and want an introduction/overview, I would implore you to watch Guillermo del Toro‘s masterclass on Studio Ghibli. Del Toro exhibits an in-depth knowledge of the history, craft, and soul of director Hayao Miyazaki‘s films. Del Toro explores Ghibli’s signature style within Castle in the Sky which has many archetypes and themes that recur in Miyazaki’s later films. Del Toro even discusses the influence Metal Hurlant and CAZA had on Miyazaki’s art.
Del Toro references how Osamu Tezuka explored darker and more sexual subject matter in his adult manga like The Book of Human Insects. While not lacking in mature themes, Miyazaki’s films have maintained a childlike sense of wonder and idealism. The discussion contrasts Miyazaki’s nature-based nostalgia with Mamoru Oshii‘s cyberpunk iconoclasm. Even as someone who’s more critical of Miyazaki’s sentimentality, I can attest that Castle in the Sky is excellent.
This conversation with del Toro originally took place in 2013 and much has changed since then. Anime has taken over the world and there is more openness to narratively sophisticated animation that explores complex mature themes. However, kids animation in America is still primarily lagging behind Studio Ghibli in terms of challenging its audience. The desire for more complex female characters is as urgent as it ever was. There is still much work to do and Del Toro’s passion for animation’s creative potential is infectious. It’s wonderful to see a master filmmaker talk so passionately about another master filmmaker.
Castle in the Sky and the rest of Studio Ghibli’s films are now streaming on HBO MAX.
