For a few weeks I have really been struggling on what to say about Spirited Away. Its structure is so perfect to me. It begins with a definite problem (Chihiro's sadness and immaturity) and ends with a definite solution in a full circle. The adventure in the middle doesn't really leave any important loose ends. I finally realized that my thought process about this film was blocked by its status in my brain as a monolith. The film stands on its own and thus it is difficult for me to discuss it analytically. To me, all the questions and answers are already there. Answered in the films. I simply cannot think of any question I really need answered.
Without a question to ponder all I have to do is discuss the themes in the film the way I see them.
The most important thing in this movie to me is the idea of regaining the excitement for life and living it to its fullest. As a young person in a high energy society where much is already figured out for her, Chihiro has become comfortable in her lifestyle. We can assume she hangs out with her friends for the majority of her time and leads a shallow lifestyle gossiping about boys and pop idols. Once she meets Haku, who is a strong contrast to the average boy her age, she begins to understand that there is much more out in the world and waiting for her. As we discussed in class, she has much potential with no initiative to do anything about it. Once she realizes that the world holds so much more for her she expresses 500x the strength and emotion she had in the first scene. This is very important for today's society because there are many people who do not realize what to do with life. It should be cherished and lived to its fullest. This film is probably one of the reasons I value my life so much. I have very interesting talents and they are going to take me in such a unique direction. I find this individuality to be the point of living life.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Howl's Moving Castle
I have always loved this film. The main reasons I have always known - my love of the idea of magic, Victorian clothing, and Beautiful mountain landscapes. I always knew there was something more to this film that made me love it but I could never figure out what it was. I think I finally did.
Howl's Moving Castle always leaves me wanting more. so many things in this movie are unexplained and unfinished. I am always left wanting so much more. I feel as if the film is just a preview rather than a whole film. It seems so short in my mind.
That being said, I just realized which of Miyazaki's films are my favorite and why. It is the Magical Trilogy - Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle. All three of these films treat magic similarly. Gifted individuals (Kiki, Yubaba, Howl) use magic to their advantage and as a was to interact with society in a different way. Kiki and the other witches, use their magic to create a service business to help those without the gift of magic. Yubaba uses her power to efficiently run a giant bath house for spirits in need of revitalization. Howl uses his magic in the different towns to give charms to the people and also fights against the war efforts. This humanitarian treatment of magic is fascinating to me. In most films I have seen or games I have played, any magical individuals are untouchable. They seem to have no weaknesses (I'm thinking the fairy godmother from Cinderella or Glinda from the Wizard of Oz). The magical characters in Miyazaki's films have such great flaws that make them easy to relate to. Kiki's struggle for control over her environment speaks so strongly to me as a college student finding my way through the world. Yubaba's inability to let go of her love for her baby reminds me that it is absolutely impossible to sacrifice the things you love most. Finally, Howl's failure to be entirely self-sufficient reminds me that it is ok to look to my family and friends for help.
These three films speak to me in a different way than any of Miyazaki's other works. To me they do not stress the environmental issues that Miyazaki is so famous for. They define humanity and signify its importance to our world.
Howl's Moving Castle always leaves me wanting more. so many things in this movie are unexplained and unfinished. I am always left wanting so much more. I feel as if the film is just a preview rather than a whole film. It seems so short in my mind.
That being said, I just realized which of Miyazaki's films are my favorite and why. It is the Magical Trilogy - Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle. All three of these films treat magic similarly. Gifted individuals (Kiki, Yubaba, Howl) use magic to their advantage and as a was to interact with society in a different way. Kiki and the other witches, use their magic to create a service business to help those without the gift of magic. Yubaba uses her power to efficiently run a giant bath house for spirits in need of revitalization. Howl uses his magic in the different towns to give charms to the people and also fights against the war efforts. This humanitarian treatment of magic is fascinating to me. In most films I have seen or games I have played, any magical individuals are untouchable. They seem to have no weaknesses (I'm thinking the fairy godmother from Cinderella or Glinda from the Wizard of Oz). The magical characters in Miyazaki's films have such great flaws that make them easy to relate to. Kiki's struggle for control over her environment speaks so strongly to me as a college student finding my way through the world. Yubaba's inability to let go of her love for her baby reminds me that it is absolutely impossible to sacrifice the things you love most. Finally, Howl's failure to be entirely self-sufficient reminds me that it is ok to look to my family and friends for help.
These three films speak to me in a different way than any of Miyazaki's other works. To me they do not stress the environmental issues that Miyazaki is so famous for. They define humanity and signify its importance to our world.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Mononoke and Kiki
Certain circumstances have prevented timely posting.
Althought they are so different, Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service treat technology similarly. The end doesn't work out the same, but the attitudes portrayed are very close compared to Miyazaki's other films. In Nausicaa, for example, technology isn't blatantly shunned. Nausicaa uses her glider throughout the entire film and the only thing wrong with the Tolmekians is that they have a desire to destroy and conquer. In Castle of Cagliostro, Porco Rosso, and Totoro technology is hardly discussed. Castle in the Sky may be the only other film that discusses the use of technology. Very similar to Nausicaa, Castle in the Sky shows how greed and technology work together to conquer and destroy.
In Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service, technological development may improve the lives of humans but the lives of those in nature will be complicated if not ended. Kiki, her town, her family, and the other witches are heavily aligned with nature. Kiki seeks nature when she is feeling down, her town is contrasted with the technologically developed town, her family's house is covered with growth, and the other young witch she meets rejects Kiki's radio. Once Kiki arrives in her new town she is greeted by technology in a very dangerous manner - she almost gets hit by a bus! Right away, this shows how technology is going to complicate her life. Later, when she and Tombo go see the zeppelin fly Kiki slowly loses her magic power out of a lack of confidence. This is an appropriate time for Kiki to lose her power because man has just mastered that same power. This, and Kiki's upcoming trip to the forest define Kiki's need to mediate between nature and technology. Near the end, the disaster with the Zeppelin requires Kiki to use her powers and thus, they are restored. In the final moments of the film and in the credits, Kiki has realized that the world isn't going to stop developing, and that she needs to be able to mediate between nature and technology - this is showed by her use of her radio again.
In Princess Mononoke technology is much more obviously scrutinized. The first horrible image of the film (the cursed god) was caused by the development and implementation of technology by lady Eboshi. Affected by this demon, Ashitaka must go solve the problems in the west. He becomes a mediator between the beings of nature and the other humans. Because he values peace over technological advancement and nature, he rises above the dispute. This absolute division of nature and technology is similar to Kiki, but to the extreme degree - mostly because the technology is causing so much death in the forest. In the end, although neither San nor Eboshi can get along and live with each other, they both decide that peace and harmony is worthwhile. The one thing that struck me about the end of this film was that Ashitaka decides to live in the ironworks. I expected him to live in nature with San but instead he decided that Eboshi's people would need more help rebuilding and organizing a nature-preserving process. Although unexpected, this moment reminded me of Kiki's decision to advance alongside technology, instead of against it.
I think this is something Miyazaki is stating very clearly in these two films. Neither the preservation of nature nor the advancement of technology are worth dying for. Instead, the two should work together and all people should keep both in mind.
Althought they are so different, Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service treat technology similarly. The end doesn't work out the same, but the attitudes portrayed are very close compared to Miyazaki's other films. In Nausicaa, for example, technology isn't blatantly shunned. Nausicaa uses her glider throughout the entire film and the only thing wrong with the Tolmekians is that they have a desire to destroy and conquer. In Castle of Cagliostro, Porco Rosso, and Totoro technology is hardly discussed. Castle in the Sky may be the only other film that discusses the use of technology. Very similar to Nausicaa, Castle in the Sky shows how greed and technology work together to conquer and destroy.
In Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service, technological development may improve the lives of humans but the lives of those in nature will be complicated if not ended. Kiki, her town, her family, and the other witches are heavily aligned with nature. Kiki seeks nature when she is feeling down, her town is contrasted with the technologically developed town, her family's house is covered with growth, and the other young witch she meets rejects Kiki's radio. Once Kiki arrives in her new town she is greeted by technology in a very dangerous manner - she almost gets hit by a bus! Right away, this shows how technology is going to complicate her life. Later, when she and Tombo go see the zeppelin fly Kiki slowly loses her magic power out of a lack of confidence. This is an appropriate time for Kiki to lose her power because man has just mastered that same power. This, and Kiki's upcoming trip to the forest define Kiki's need to mediate between nature and technology. Near the end, the disaster with the Zeppelin requires Kiki to use her powers and thus, they are restored. In the final moments of the film and in the credits, Kiki has realized that the world isn't going to stop developing, and that she needs to be able to mediate between nature and technology - this is showed by her use of her radio again.
In Princess Mononoke technology is much more obviously scrutinized. The first horrible image of the film (the cursed god) was caused by the development and implementation of technology by lady Eboshi. Affected by this demon, Ashitaka must go solve the problems in the west. He becomes a mediator between the beings of nature and the other humans. Because he values peace over technological advancement and nature, he rises above the dispute. This absolute division of nature and technology is similar to Kiki, but to the extreme degree - mostly because the technology is causing so much death in the forest. In the end, although neither San nor Eboshi can get along and live with each other, they both decide that peace and harmony is worthwhile. The one thing that struck me about the end of this film was that Ashitaka decides to live in the ironworks. I expected him to live in nature with San but instead he decided that Eboshi's people would need more help rebuilding and organizing a nature-preserving process. Although unexpected, this moment reminded me of Kiki's decision to advance alongside technology, instead of against it.
I think this is something Miyazaki is stating very clearly in these two films. Neither the preservation of nature nor the advancement of technology are worth dying for. Instead, the two should work together and all people should keep both in mind.
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