MovieChat Forums > Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2003) Discussion > Disney vs. Studio Ghibi

Disney vs. Studio Ghibi

posted 10 years ago by retro4
5 replies | jump to latest

I notice that fans of Miyazaki classics such as Spirited Away like to compare, contrast, and strongly criticize his western animated counterparts. v

Starting out as a "be careful what you wish for" cautionary tale as a young girl ventures excitedly into a magical realm after her parents are turned into pigs, the film becomes more peculiar, more fanciful and more ambiguous as it goes on, becoming the polar opposite of the kind of patronising simplification and moral black-and-whites that mar the family film genre elsewhere.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-25-best-animated-films-of-the-21st-century-so-far-20150319?page=5

Although, it's true that the animated films of Studio Ghibi are much more intricate and thought provoking than Disney animation. I don't think it's far to call the films from classic Disney patronizing. Sure, the author doesn't overtly single out Disney but it's pretty obvious that's who they're talking about. Not to mention that I've many people make the same conclusion about the differences between films of Disney and Studio Ghibi. However, I don't believe this has to be competition as I think both animation studios complement each other. The animated films of Disney are more ontological while the animated films of Ghibi are more epistemological. There two ways to tell moral story a) that there is an ontological dichotomy (i.e. right and wrong, good and evil) b) that life is complicated and confusing and it's hard to know what the right answers are (i.e. moral epistemology). Both of these ways of telling a story are important especially to children. You want them to know right from wrong but you also want them know that life isn't always simple. So what I'm basically saying is if you're raising kid (or just like good animated films) watch Cinderella then when it finished watch Spirited Way. Both films are saying something important about the human condition.

[–] tommylawson2 10 years ago

Well I'll be the only person to answer this reasonably until you get all the "disney is overrated! Ghibli films are the only good films! Everything else is overrated and too mainstream! Frozen was the worst movie ever made!" I'd say ghibli probably have some better and more mature films, but Disney are more influential and important to the history of film. I'd say they're about even.

But I'm giving the edge to Disney because anime fans are just the worst.

[–] retro4 10 years ago

But I'm giving the edge to Disney because anime fans are just the worst.

Well, to be honest I have yet to meet a fandom that isn't the worst. If there is book, film, tv show, medium, etc. that has a cult following they tend to be the most obnoxious, annoying people you every want to meet. I think anime haters are even worse than anime fans, because let's face anime haters are just as much as a cult as anime fans. I just come to realize that is just part of human nature when ever there is a coalition they tend to be the worst people.

[–] tommylawson2 10 years ago

I don't consider myself an anime hater, I like anime. It's just the fans that suck. But you do have a point, I can't think of any fandom that doesn't suck.

[–] Unvoiced-Apollo 10 years ago

t I've many people make the same conclusion about the differences between films of Disney and Studio Ghibi. However, I don't believe this has to be competition as I think both animation studios complement each other. The animated films of Disney are more ontological while the animated films of Ghibi are more epistemological. There two ways to tell moral story a) that there is an ontological dichotomy (i.e. right and wrong, good and evil) b) that life is complicated and confusing and it's hard to know what the right answers are (i.e. moral epistemology). Both of these ways of telling a story are important especially to children. You want them to know right from wrong but you also want them know that life isn't always simple. So what I'm basically saying is if you're raising kid (or just like good animated films) watch Cinderella then when it finished watch Spirited Way. Both films are saying something important about the human condition.

I was going to say why I believe appreciating one doesn't mean you can't appreciate the other, but you do a very good job of laying out everything I would have said, only better.

Something important to note, but rather tangential and offtopic, is that it's Disney that is currently distributing the home releases of Ghibli movies.

If you're happy and you know it, go sit in the corner and think about your life.

[–] Xator_Nova 10 years ago

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-25-best-animated-films-of-the-21st-century-so-far-20150319?page=5

Ugh... I hate that article. x___x
I don't think that the makers of that article watch a lot of animation to be honest, and are extremely biased.

However, I don't believe this has to be competition as I think both animation studios complement each other. The animated films of Disney are more ontological while the animated films of Ghibi are more epistemological. There two ways to tell moral story a) that there is an ontological dichotomy (i.e. right and wrong, good and evil) b) that life is complicated and confusing and it's hard to know what the right answers are (i.e. moral epistemology). Both of these ways of telling a story are important especially to children. You want them to know right from wrong but you also want them know that life isn't always simple. So what I'm basically saying is if you're raising kid (or just like good animated films) watch Cinderella then when it finished watch Spirited Way. Both films are saying something important about the human condition.

THIS IS SUCH A VALUABLE COMMENT, well done, mate!

"Citizen Kane" fan, "Frozen" fan, and "Boyhood" fan. ;)