(Japanese: 株式会社スタジオジブリ; Romaji: Kabushiki-gaisha Sutajio Jiburi) is a Japanese animation film studio that was formerly part of the Tokuma Shoten publishing company. The animated films from this studio are filled with imagination, evoke emotions, and have gained worldwide acclaim. The name “Ghibli” is derived from a reconnaissance plane used by Italy in the Sahara Desert during World War II. This term originates from a Libyan word meaning “a hot wind that blows through the Sahara Desert,” symbolizing the studio’s aim to bring a new breeze to the Japanese animation industry. The company’s logo features the character “Totoro” from the film My Neighbor Totoro.
Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by director Hayao Miyazaki, along with his colleague and mentor Isao Takahata, and long-time executive producer Toshio Suzuki. The origins can be traced back to 1984 with the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, which gained popularity from a serialized manga published in the Animage magazine of Tokuma Shoten. After the original script was rejected, the film was produced by Topcraft, and its success prompted the formation of the Ghibli group. Tokuma served as the parent company of Studio Ghibli and granted Disney the rights to distribute eight films worldwide, including Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. The film Howl’s Moving Castle was based on a book by British author Diana Wynne Jones, which was published in several countries, including Canada and the United States. The composer Joe Hisaishi has been responsible for composing the music for all Miyazaki films at Studio Ghibli.
The most famous and critically acclaimed film from the studio that was not directed by Miyazaki is Grave of the Fireflies, directed by Isao Takahata. It tells the tragic story of two orphaned siblings during World War II in Japan. Over the years, there has been a close relationship between Studio Ghibli and Animage magazine, evident from the “Ghibli Notes” section, where artwork from various films and other Ghibli works often graces the magazine’s covers.
Ghibli is well-known for its “no edits” policy in the licensing agreements for their films abroad. This stems from the poor experience of additional voiceovers in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind when it was released in the United States, where it was cut and altered to fit an American audience. Therefore, the licensing agreement for Princess Mononoke emphasized the “no-editing” policy in every document.
In 2024, Studio Ghibli received the Honorary Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, alongside Meryl Streep and George Lucas, becoming the first film studio to receive this award.
