“I will not say that my artistic step is animist or Shintoist. Commentators, critics, and academics may agree that the director’s work is developed from a deeply entrenched framework of Shinto belief, yet turn to the man himself and he’ll be quick to deny any personal attachment to the Japanese belief system. OK, so this is the least helpful way to open an article postulating on Miyazaki’s cinematic relationship with the spiritual, yet there’s no purpose served in stumbling onwards in blissful ignorance. “This movie has nothing to do with that or any other religion.” – Hayao Miyazaki (Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation by Helen McCarthy) ![]() “Back then, man and trees were friends.” – Professor Kusakabe (My Neighbour Totoro) ![]() This article was originally published in 2014. With Studio Ghibli films now available on Netflix UK, we delve into our archives to look back at what makes them so magical.
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