Studio Ghibli
- Published on : 22/05/2026
- by : Clement
- Youtube
Chihiro's Journey
@picryl.com public domain
Studio Ghibli is one of the best-known Japanese animation studios in the world. Far from being content with creating films for children, the studio is known for its creations that skilfully tackle serious themes such as ecology, the relationship between man and nature, and pacifism. Discover this monument to modern Japanese culture with Japan Experience.
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli is Japan's best-known animation studio. Its most famous productions have spread far beyond the country's borders, becoming veritable classics of the genre, such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
The studio has developed a highly identifiable visual and narrative style, blending imagination, nature and reflection on the modern world. Its works are distinguished by the quality of their animation, which is still predominantly hand-drawn today.
In Japan, the world of Studio Ghibli can also be discovered at a number of dedicated sites, such as the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo's Mitaka district or Ghibli Park on the outskirts of Nagoya, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the wonderful atmosphere of the films.
The studio's key figures
As co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki is Studio Ghibli's indissociable personality. Born in 1941 in Tokyo, he is one of the leading figures in world animation. It is in part his work that has helped put Japanese animation on the international map. He currently directs 12 of the studio's 24 feature films.
Beyond his works, Hayao Miyazaki's personality is often cited as a source of inspiration for many directors and animators around the world.
On several occasions, he has confided in interviews that he wants to convey a reflection on the way modern societies treat nature and natural resources.
His films often deal with subjects such as pacifism, childhood, the passage to adulthood and the place of women in society. He has often chosen to depict female characters, and to make these heroines independent and courageous.
Hayao Miyazaki
@Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Joe Hisaishi, whose real name is Mamoru Fujisawa, is a Japanese composer born in 1950 in Nagano Prefecture. He is the emblematic composer of the music for most Ghibli productions.
His creations occupy an essential place in the emotional identity of the studio's films, to the point where they have today acquired great popularity even outside their original medium.
Over the course of his career, Joe Hisaishi has also established himself as one of the archipelago's most renowned composers, both for the cinema and for his concerts and personal works.
Joe Hisaishi
@Wikimedia Commons
Monuments of Japanese animation
The history of Studio Ghibli is marked by several films that have become monuments of Japanese animation. Even before the studio was officially founded, Hayao Miyazaki laid the foundations of his creative universe with the critically acclaimed Nausicaä: Valley of the Wind. A few years later came My Neighbor Totoro, whose main character gradually became the studio's mascot, appearing at the start of each film with the logo.
The studio went on to enjoy growing recognition in the 1990s with major releases such as Porco Rosso and Princess Mononoké.
Logotype
@www.ghibli.jp
The studio went on to enjoy growing recognition in the 1990s, with major releases such as Porco Rosso and Princess Mononoké.
2001 marked a new milestone with Spirited Away, which became an international phenomenon.
The film went on to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, boosting Studio Ghibli's worldwide reputation. The film is among the public's favorite feature films, as is Howl's Moving Castle, released a little later.
Ghibli has also enjoyed success with other directors, notably Isao Takahata, with works such as Grave of the Fireflies and The Tale of Princess Kaguya.
More recently, The Boy and the Heron marked Miyazaki's return to directing after several announcements of retirement.
Japanese poster Chihiro
@www.ghibli.jp
Take a trip to Yakushima, the Japanese island that inspired Princess Mononoké!
The Ghibli Museum
Located in Mitaka, west of Tokyo, the Ghibli Museum allows visitors to immerse themselves in the world of Studio Ghibli through an artistic and immersive approach.
Created under the supervision of Hayao Miyazaki, the museum is distinguished by its colorful architecture and rooms designed to evoke the spirit of the films, far removed from the experience of a traditional museum.
The permanent exhibition presents the creative process of animation in detail. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions devoted to specific works or themes related to animation.
Among the most popular elements are the giant robot from Laputa: Castle in the Sky and the "Cat Bus" from My Neighbor Totoro.
The museum can be reached in 30 minutes from Shinjuku. A shuttle bus will take you from Mitaka station to the museum (320 yen round trip, half price for children), while a cab ride will cost you around 750 yen one way. Otherwise, the walk will take you about twenty minutes.
A victim of its own success, you can't get there without booking your ticket in advance.
Ghibli Park giant robot
＠Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Ghibli Park
Opened in 2022 in Aichi Prefecture, Ghibli Park immerses visitors in the world of the studio's films through a series of themed areas inspired by its most famous works. It is divided into several zones dedicated to different universes: My Neighbor Totoro, The Cat Returns, Princess Mononoké and Kiki's Delivery Service
The park emphasizes nature and landscapes, with numerous paths, gardens and wooded areas integrated into the visit. More than just a theme park, Ghibli Park is an immersive walk through the aesthetics of the studio's creations.
Located an hour's drive from Nagoya, the park is as popular as the museum. Advance reservations are recommended.
Ghibli stores
If you can't make it to the Ghibli Museum or Ghibli Park, don't panic! You'll find Ghibli stores, called "donguri kyowakoku," in the Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto areas.
You'll find all kinds of merchandise, from plush toys and figurines to illustrated albums. A great souvenir to bring back from Japan!
In Tokyo, the main stores are located at the Tokyo Skytree and in the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza shopping malls in Odaiba and Sunshine City in Ikebukuro.
Ghibli Shop
@starry heavens on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Want more news on Japan and Japan travel? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram!
