Scenes From a Ghibli Movie
Joseph H.
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This animation reel, “Scenes From a Ghibli Movie,” contains four animations I completed throughout 2023. I have always been fascinated with the film composition of Studio Ghibli movies—their whimsically mute colors and a magical simplicity so grounded in reality. Studio Ghibli sparingly uses computer animation techniques, instead illustrating by hand with acrylic. Since my freshman year in high school, I have been exploring Blender 3D’s vast variety of styles, from photorealism to toon. This year, I felt compelled to learn through the challenge of imitating 2D in 3D. Currently being explored, I believe 3D has untapped potential for complementing the beauty of traditional art! Studio Ghibli’s The Wind Rises inspired the fourth and final scene, one I named “The Wind Phone.” It is a partial homage to the film’s secondary main character, the protagonist’s love interest who dies of tuberculosis in 1920s Japan. Revolving around the production of planes, a breeze of wind indicates to the protagonist that she has passed away—hence the wind that moves through the scene. After the 2011 Tohuku earthquake, designer Itaru Sasaki built the wind phone, an unconnected telephone booth for visitors to speak to their deceased loved ones. I modeled this booth on the scene’s hill. The composition takes on a cheerful tone, and just as a blooming garden surrounds the Tohuku wind phone, perhaps it can offer a new perspective on life and death.
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Creativity is freedom. It allows one to tell the world a story and to teach others a lesson. In 3D, the simple shift of a camera changes perspectives. In the reality of addressing challenges through cooperation, creativity allows one to develop these new perspectives, empathizing with others and driving innovation.
