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It’s been almost a year since Studio Ghibli’s last film opened in Japan, and it’s not looking like we’re getting a new one anytime soon, if at all. But that doesn’t mean the fabled anime production house’s employees have all given up the art form for which they have so much talent.
Recently, we’ve seen a number of commercials created by Ghibli artists, with beautiful animation being used for a bakery in Kyushu and train travel to western Japan. And now, Toshio Suzuki, Ghibli’s most accomplished producer, has put together this short anime to promote Bandai Namco’s "Taiko no Tatsujin" video game series.
When the very first "Taiko no Tatsujin" title was released in Japanese arcades, no one really expected it was the start of a long-term franchise. Unlike other musical rhythm games that simulated dancing, being a DJ, or strumming a guitar, "Taiko no Tatsujin" was based on playing a traditional Japanese drum, which seems like it should have a far narrower appeal.
But the simple joy of the straightforward concept and controls (hit the drum in rhythm with the beat) meant that not just the musically gifted, but the young, inexperienced, and even inebriated could all enjoy "Taiko no Tatsujin." Fifteen years later, the series is still a Japanese arcade mainstay, and has been ported to a multitude of home consoles, portable systems, and mobile devices.
Featuring a mouse getting swept up in the festive spirit of sentient taiko drums Don and Katsu, if the 30-second short seems to have an excess of charm, you can thank Suzuki for serving as producer, the same role he held for anime classics such as "Princess Mononke," "Spirited Away" and "The Wind Rises," and who thought up the mouse character in the video himself. Handling the animation was Katsuya Kondo, a veteran Ghibli animator of close to a dozen of the studio’s films, stretching all the way to "Castle in the Sky Laputa," the very first movie produced under the Studio Ghibli name.
It’s good to know that even if Hayao Miyazaki isn’t making any anime these days, the rest of the Studio Ghibli family is still giving fans a little something to smile about.
Source: IT Media
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Master drummers are lurking in Japanese game centers -- F1 driver visits Japanese game arcade, burns pixels on Mario Kart -- Ghibli tribute video impresses again — this time as amazing flip book animation!
© Japan Today
2 Comments
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harvey pekar
It’s not that kids can’t handle emotional depth, but I think it’s more important to enjoy being kids. Recently, Ghibli is just tedious with emotional depth and short on the joy and wonderment and adventure. Ive seen the Ghibli movies in theatres with young kids, and Kaguya bored them out of their minds. One kid near me even said boring! Others were sleeping.
I mean, Ghibli brought on its own demise with their recent films. Since Ponyo, I think they stopped making movies with children really in mind. Arrietty, Poppy Hill, Wind Rises, Kaguya, Marnie (spellcheck), none of these movies could really be enjoyed by what was the core audience, kids and families. Life lessons don’t have to be taught through slow burn drama to kids. Early Ghibli taught you a lesson without you even knowing it because the story and the spectacle was so engaging.
While Pixar kept finding fresh talent, Ghibli relied on two men who as they aged became more bitter and cynical about the world and it showed in the stories they chose. I love Miyazaki, LOVE Miyazaki, but he became too agenda based and lost the attention of the children.
I know it’s trendy to have adult themed anime or anime with heavier emotional themes, but what about doing this with a little adventure or a lighter hand.
Tel Porter
Poppy Hill was one of the kindest most lovely films I have ever seen. The young people I know who saw it really loved it too.