There’s something undeniably special about the very best Ghibli films - their ability to transport viewers into worlds that feel spectacularly unique as filmgoing experiences, detailed in appearance and themes, and timeless in ways that have garnered such longstanding and widespread acclaim - that puts the studio and its releases on a tier above so many others. Let’s not forget Totoro had a cameo in “Toy Story 3” at Pixar’s request, an appearance that had to be approved by Miyazaki himself. Even if Pixar is the gold standard for computer animation, many of its most successful artists cite Ghibli as a major influence. Ghibli doesn’t operate from the need to manufacture mass-appealing, narratively straightforward franchises each of their monuments to imagination and craft blends hand-painted backgrounds with rigorously animated characters to convey philosophically intricate tales of wonder -some more adult-oriented than bulk of their output.

Carlos Aguilar The Wrap, MovieMaker, RemezclaĪs technically imposing as Pixar’s worlds are in their advancement of CG animation, the breathtaking hand-drawn artistry of Studio Ghibli exists on an unchallenged league of its own.

Edwards cinema studio ghibli