Studio Ghibli’s art is taking the internet by storm, it seems to be everywhere. While many admire the technology behind it, others are raising concerns about originality, credit, and the future of creative artists whose livelihoods depend on their craft. But, did we forget to appreciate the design details and intricacies in Studio Ghibli movies that evoke interest and elevate this art to the level it’s at?
Beneath Studio Ghibli movies, their stunning visuals, and the magic of dreamy worlds, there’s an often overlooked aspect—the architecture. This blog dives deep into the architectural intricacies of Studio Ghibli movies, which is an art form of its own.
Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli is a legendary and one of the most celebrated Japanese animation studios in the world and has delighted audiences for over 30 years with enchanting visuals and evocative stories. Founded by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, the studio has produced many classic Studio Ghibli movies of all time. Its films have also received many international awards, including the Academy Awards and multiple nominations for the Oscars.
1. My Neighbor Totoro – A Display of Japanese Traditional Houses
This iconic home in the Studio Ghibli movie ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ is a simple and inviting rural house with an easy connection to its natural surroundings. It has wooden beams, large windows, and rustic details that create a feeling of comfort and nostalgia. This home reflects traditional Japanese Minka (farmhouses), echoing ideas of nature, family, and childhood magic. Moreover, it becomes a character in itself.
- Architectural Reference: Japanese Minka (traditional rural houses).
- Design Features: Wooden beams, large sliding windows, and a strong connection between inside and outside spaces.
2. Spirited Away – A Symbol of Japanese Shinto Shrines
The bathhouse from ‘Spirited Away’ is an impressive amalgam of traditional Japanese architecture and fantasy elements representing the character’s journey. It is large and luxurious in comparison to the simpler buildings in the film and shows the difference from innocence to adult maturation. The bathhouse design has references to Shinto shrines along with Japanese traditional bathhouses that feature lavish wood carvings, wide staircases, and water sources throughout, all having to do with the themes of purification and renewal.
- Architectural Reference: Traditional Japanese bathhouses and Shinto shrines.
- Design Features: Lavish wood carvings, wide staircases, water sources, and a blind variety that mixes traditional and fantastical elements.
3. Howl’s Moving Castle – Dynamic and Quirky Changing Structure
In the story of ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, the quirky, ever-changing castle represents the strange and unpredictable nature of the wizard Howl himself. The building combines architectural styles ranging from cottages to industrial structures. The irregularities and motion give it a distinct character. The appearance of the castle shows Howl’s emotional ups and downs and also uses a form of steampunk with mechanical features like gears, pipes, and chimneys.
- Architectural Reference: Steampunk, Victorian architecture, whimsical fantasy.
- Design Features: Asymmetry, movement, mechanical, and whimsical mix of styles.
4. Castle in the Sky – Floating European Classics
In ‘Castle in the Sky’, the floating city of Laputa serves as an impressive example of blending an imagined futuristic realm with satellite European castle architecture. Laputa’s character derives from the grand scale of its structures and the integration of nature, massive trees, and monumental gardens of growing foliage are placed harmoniously against and alongside crumbling ruins as lightning relates technology to nature. The openness of the spaces, vertical and growing gardens, and grandeur of halls suggest an inviting while offering a tranquil vision of utopia.
- Architectural Reference: European classical palaces, futuristic design, and harmony with nature.
- Design Features: Floating structures, vertical gardens, large courtyards, and technology integrated with nature.
5. Ponyo – Aesthetic Village Architecture
‘Ponyo’ movie’s seaside village reflects the interplay of human settlements and the oceans. The brightly colored, whimsical houses that rise to a sloping roof and face the sea help evoke the charm of a simple storybook. The water-inspired elements are coherent with the fluidity or connection to the water. As the town becomes flooded, the conflict and harmony between architecture and nature are examined.
- Architectural Reference: Coastal village architecture, whimsical, and colorful.
- Design Features: Sloping roofs, bright colors, maritime influences, and connectivity to water.
6. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – Raw, Rural, & Organic Houses
In ‘The Tale of the Princess Kaguya’, the animation’s hand-drawn look also defines the film’s organic, developing architecture. The rural dwellings resemble simple structures with few details, while the city buildings become regimented and orderly in shape, demonstrating how the character has shifted from the carefree lifestyle of the village to the structured life of a noble. The juxtaposition between an organic simplicity and the regimented grandeur of the palace emulates the internal struggle of Kaguya.
- Architectural Reference: Traditional Japanese rural dwellings and palaces.
- Design Features: Organic forms, minimal ornamentation, the contrast between rural simplicity, and urban regimented structure.
7. The Wind Rises – A Blend of Modernism and Industrial Styles
In ‘The Wind Rises’, the architecture serves to showcase early 20th century Japan as its world advanced into modernity and industrialization. The angles and graphs seen in the homes of farmers or sleek factories where planes were constructed suggest an ascent into elegance, symbolizing a forward-thinking agenda even when foreshadowing the tyranny of war. The contrast between form and function captures the film’s overarching theme.
- Architecture Reference: Early 20th century modernism, industrial architecture.
- Design Features: Clean lines, minimalist designs, steel and glass materials, and functional spaces.
8. The Cat Returns – A Journey to European Castles
In ‘The Cat Returns’, the enchanting cat kingdom is characterized by whimsical and elegant architecture with soaring buildings, elaborate arches, and inviting staircases. The castle of the Cat King is fairytale-like in its details, architecture, and inclusive lush gardens. This dreamlike landscape enhances the film’s light-hearted, fantastical vibe while hosting all of the twisted mysteries of the plot.
- Architectural Reference: European castles, whimsical fantasy.
- Design Features: Elaborate arches, lush garden, grand staircases, playful details.
9. Princess Mononoke – Reflecting Traditional Japanese Villages
In ‘Princess Mononoke’, the unassuming wooden huts signify man’s aspiration through the impractical design of unadorned structures while the colonizing units which promoted industrial processes through horrific anthropocentric practices reflect an urban world’s growth and scales of human endeavor. Ultimately the village presents the design of survival, belonging, and the interconnectedness of nature and man.
- Architectural Reference: Traditional, Japanese Villages and Agricultural Design.
- Design Features: Simple, functional, natural, and sustainable materials.
10. Kiki’s Delivery Service – A Glimpse of European Coastal Towns
The coastal community of Koriko merges the old-world European charm with a familiar, urban quality in ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’. The town features cobblestone streets, brick-and-timber houses, and a town square that provide a warm, friendly atmosphere perfect for Kiki’s journey of independence and growth.
- Architectural Reference: European coastal towns, quaint seaside villages.
- Design Features: Cobblestone street, brick-and-timber houses, central town square, and quaint balconies.
Conclusion
Architecture in Studio Ghibli movies is more than simply a setting, it is a fundamental component of the storytelling process. From the warm, nature-inspired homes to the majestic kingdoms, Ghibli’s architectural elements express the characters’ themes, emotions as well as journeys. Ghibli chose to merge the extraordinary with the regular to provide a different lens on how different buildings and environments can influence our perceptions and relationships with the environment surrounding them.
When looking at this architecture, we see that Studio Ghibli movies are not just about magic and adventure, but about the spaces that influence experiences and how architecture can elevate narrative in a way that feels imaginative with a deeper connection.
Content Writing and Research: Ar. Anusha Sridhar
