French animation site Catsuka has posted a reel of footage from the new Hayao Miyazaki short films commissioned by the Studio Ghibli museum. The design work is simplified compared to his recent work - no doubt because of time and budget restraints - but these are clearly the work of the master ... very nice ...
Studio Ghibli Shorts Reel (Downloadable Real Video)
I saw one of these shorts during my New Year's break. It was a cute little story about a girl leaving the noisy city for the countryside. All the sounds in the film, from a gurgling river to the rumble of traffic to the pitter-patter of footsteps, were made by human voices, probably the Ghibli staff. Sort of like that Honda TV commercial, but more, uh, tongue-in-cheek.
It was good, and very much a Miyazaki story, all of his characters appreciate simple pleasures. Roughing it in a mountain cabin, enjoying hot noodles on a cold and rainy night. Nothing like Naucicaa or one of the feature films, in terms of tone or style, but definitely carrying the same message. View yourself as a part of nature and the spirit world, not separate or above it.
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