Studio Ghibli is probably the most famous animation company in Japan. They've produced a huge number of anime, including directors like master Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, whose worldview draws you in. Have you ever wondered what the original source material for such a Ghibli film is? Rather than following the original source material exactly, they sometimes change the content and characters in a Ghibli-style way. Here we'll introduce you to some of the original works that have captivated Ghibli!
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: A Studio Ghibli Original
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
"Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" is famous as the first film made before Studio Ghibli was established. The original story was written by Hayao Miyazaki himself, who also served as screenwriter and director. At the time, it was common knowledge that a film wouldn't be made without an original story, so Hayao Miyazaki quickly serialized the original manga in Animage. It's still rare, even today, to have a manga original created for a film. However, it's thanks to director Hayao Miyazaki's dedication that we have the masterpiece "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind"!
The Original Studio Ghibli Film: Laputa: Castle in the Sky
No Original Story
Studio Ghibli's first film is the hugely popular "Laputa: Castle in the Sky." In fact, this film has no original story. Director Hayao Miyazaki actually developed a fictional story he imagined as an elementary school student, crafting it into a film. Coming up with such an epic story as an elementary school student is nothing short of genius. Bravo!
My Neighbor Totoro: A Studio Ghibli Original
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
This is another hugely popular Studio Ghibli masterpiece, and the original author of "My Neighbor Totoro" is Hayao Miyazaki, who also served as director and screenwriter. This is a work that Miyazaki wrote while he was still employed at Nippon Animation and Telecom Animation in the 1970s. Miyazaki has always been ambitious, and since founding his company, he has been releasing the works he wanted to write. I admire him.
Grave of the Fireflies: The Original Story of a Studio Ghibli Film
Novel
Director Isao Takahata wrote the screenplay, and the original story was written by Akiyuki Nosaka, a multi-talented writer who has worked in many fields, including as a television writer, stand-up comedian, singer, and rakugo performer. It's an autobiographical story based on his own wartime experiences. He had two younger sisters, and while he showered his older sister with love, financial difficulties led to the younger sister's death by starvation. Given this past, some say that portraying a brother who cares for his younger sister in this work is a way of atonement for his younger sister. Hearing stories like that makes me sad all over again.
The Original Studio Ghibli Story: Kiki's Delivery Service
Written by Eiko Kadono
Another hugely popular work, "Kiki's Delivery Service" is based on a children's book written by Eiko Kadono. On the cover of the original, Kiki's hair is long, but the rest of the story has been faithfully recreated. The title hasn't changed, and the atmosphere of the original Kiki's Delivery Service remains the same, but the film is bright and fun, typical of Ghibli.
Only Yesterday: The Original Studio Ghibli Story
Shojo Manga
"Only Yesterday," directed and written by Isao Takahata, became a hugely popular story about a fleeting romance. The original story was co-written by Hotaru Okamoto and Yuko Tone. The illustrations in the original work are even cuter than expected, which is a bit shocking, but as you know, the story is heart-warming. The original story is told through the recollections of Taeko, a high school student. Apparently, director Isao Takahata found it easier to work with a 27-year-old office lady.
The Original Studio Ghibli Story: Porco Rosso
The Flying Boat Era
"Porco Rosso," which depicts the cool lifestyle of a flying boat pilot, is based on a short manga by director Hayao Miyazaki that was published in a magazine called "Zaso Note." And it's only 15 pages long. The fact that he adapted it into a roughly 90-minute animated film likely means he included scenes that weren't fully captured in the manga. Director Hayao Miyazaki said that this film was a hobby, but perhaps it's a work that makes everyone yearn for airplanes and the sky.
Ghibli Original Story: Ocean Waves
Bible
"Ocean Waves" is based on a girls' novel that was serialized in Animage from 1990 to 1992. Directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata were not involved in the work, and it was broadcast on television. While it is a lesser-known Ghibli work, the original story was written by the renowned author Saeko Himuro. She has also written many other romance novels, all of which have influenced active authors today.
Ghibli Original Story: Pom Poko
A touch of director Isao Takahata
"Pom Poko" is directed by Isao Takahata, with both the original story and screenplay. I remember that there were a lot of yokai stories on TV during this time. So I imagine the chemistry of this raccoon dog was fascinating and made it a hit with audiences. It still airs regularly on Friday Roadshow. This is the first Ghibli film to have a director other than Hayao Miyazaki as the original author. It's a heartwarming film that makes you think no matter how many times you watch it. The theme song, "Itsudemo Dareka" (Always Someone), became so popular that it's even heard on various TV shows.
Whisper of the Heart: The Original Studio Ghibli Film
Shojo Manga
"Whisper of the Heart" is based on a hugely popular manga magazine. As expected, since it's based on a shojo manga, the heart-fluttering moments were endless. The author, Aoi Hiiragi, was inspired by "Whisper of the Heart," a long-running series she had planned, but it didn't prove popular and was eventually discontinued. Director Hayao Miyazaki took a liking to her and Studio Ghibli commissioned her to write the original story. This was the only work she was ever commissioned to write by Studio Ghibli. Considering that, it was a fateful encounter.
The Studio Ghibli Original Story: Princess Mononoke
A Masterpiece
Director Hayao Miyazaki wrote the original story, screenplay, and directed the film. It's a true masterpiece that took 16 years to conceive and three years to make, and naturally it was the highest grossing film of the year. It beautifully expresses director Hayao Miyazaki's thoughts, drawing audiences in with the conflict of pitting two justices against each other. The opening sequence, in typical Hayao Miyazaki style, creates a sudden surge of excitement that really expresses the worldview of the film. It remains a hugely popular film to this day.
The Studio Ghibli Original: My Neighbors the Yamadas
4-Panel Comic
"My Neighbors the Yamadas" is based on the four-panel comic strip Nono-chan that appeared in the Asahi Shimbun morning edition. Written by director Isao Takahata, it's a heartwarming comedy that's the polar opposite of Princess Mononoke. The story unfolds in an anthology format, showcasing the unique characters of the Yamada family as they navigate their hectic daily lives. It's a work you'll never get bored of, no matter how long you watch it (lol). The timing, movements, and short lines will have you laughing!
Studio Ghibli Original: Spirited Away
1st Place
"Spirited Away," the highest-grossing film of all time in Japan, was written, scripted, and conceived by director Hayao Miyazaki. It's genius! The world, setting, story, and characters all exceed expectations. Chihiro's grand adventure, so modern, is truly moving. Apparently, it was conceived as a way to please the 10-year-old daughter of film producer Seiji Okuda. And of course, the model for Chihiro is her daughter, who is very charming and clearly a good friend.
The Cat Returns: The Original Studio Ghibli Film
Sequel
"The Cat Returns" is Studio Ghibli's first sequel. This work, which tells the story of Tsukishima Shizuku, the protagonist of Whisper of the Heart, is, of course, the work of Aoi Hiiragi, the original author of Whisper of the Heart. While the original title was originally "Baron: Baron the Cat," the story remains largely unchanged. Since cats appear frequently in this film, it's a must-see for cat lovers.
Studio Ghibli Original Story: Howl's Moving Castle
A Long-Awaited Original Author
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, "Howl's Moving Castle" is based on the novel "Howl's Moving Castle" by British author Diana Wynne Jones. This is Miyazaki's first film based on a novel by someone else in about 15 years, but the story and ending appear to be slightly different. There are no war elements whatsoever, and the characters' ages and appearances have been slightly altered, so I highly recommend reading the original work.
The Original Story of Studio Ghibli: Earthsea
American Author
"Tales from Earthsea" is based on a novel by American author Ursula K. Le Guin. It is a fantasy work in the English-speaking world, and is as popular as "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Wizard of Oz." Originally, Hayao Miyazaki was scheduled to direct the film, but his son, Goro Miyazaki, took over. In fact, director Hayao Miyazaki had long wanted to adapt this work into a film, and after seeing Goro's artwork, which was also used as a poster, he gave up the opportunity to direct.
Ghibli Original Story: Ponyo on the Cliff
First Time in Seven Years
"Ponyo on the Cliff" is Hayao Miyazaki's first original story in about seven years. The theme song is also incredibly popular, making it truly feel like a children's film. In fact, Ponyo's real name is "Brunhilde." Although it wasn't mentioned in the film, it feels a bit strange since I remember it as Ponyo (lol). The film's deliberately analog animation style showcased Ghibli's animation techniques.
The Original Ghibli Story: The Secret World of Arrietty
A Huge Hit
"The Secret World of Arrietty" is based on the novel "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton, a famous British children's author. The story was originally planned by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata over 40 years ago, but in 2008 Miyazaki planned it again and made it into a film. The film was directed by Yonebayashi Hiromasa, who had worked as an animation and animation staff member at Ghibli, and despite it being his first film, it was a huge hit! There are still sequels to the original work, so if you're interested in finding out more, be sure to read it.
From Up on Poppy Hill: The Original Ghibli Film
A Different Image
The original work, "From Up on Poppy Hill," is based on a shojo manga by Tetsuro Sayama. It's surprising how different the character designs are from the Ghibli film, but the artwork really conveys the era. The hair color in the original is vibrant, which is different from the Ghibli film. Ghibli films tend to have a more subdued image, so perhaps they made some changes to make it more Ghibli-esque. In true Ghibli style, even if it's not faithful to the original work, it doesn't change the colors too much, making it even better.
The Original Ghibli Film: The Wind Rises
A Tale of Illness
The Ghibli adaptation of "The Wind Rises" was based on the original work "The Wind Rises," which depicts the real-life experiences of the protagonist, Tatsuo Hori. It was originally planned because director Hayao Miyazaki was a fan of the author. The protagonist's wife, Nahoko, is, of course, modeled after Hori's wife, Setsuko, with whom he was married for only about a year. Setsuko also contracted tuberculosis, and the two lived to the end. As the tagline suggests, this film centers on the theme of "living." Director Hayao Miyazaki announced his retirement after this film, but in 2017 he took on a new feature film!
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya: A Studio Ghibli Original
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
The original story of "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya," director Isao Takahata's final film, is, of course, based on the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. The film took eight years to produce, with a production budget of 5 billion yen. Director Takahata Isao's previous work was "My Neighbors the Yamadas," and this work makes use of the same technique used in that work, the line drawings. This perfectly matches the image of The Tale of Princess Kaguya, and differentiates the worldview from existing anime. The drawings are soft, yet gripping in tense scenes.
When Marnie Was There: The Original Story of Studio Ghibli
British Author
"When Marnie Was There" is based on a novel by British children's author Joan G. Robinson. First published in 1967, it is a well-known children's book in the UK. It remains so popular that revised editions are still being released. The book is divided into two parts, making it a satisfying read. It attracted attention as the first Ghibli film to feature a double cast.
You Should Read the Original Ghibli Works at Least Once
What did you think? [Ghibli] We've introduced a list of original works that have captivated Ghibli. They range from works by other people to works by director Hayao Miyazaki, but as an author, I'd love to be selected. While there are some changes in content and characters between the original work and the anime, I think that adds to the Ghibli flavor. I don't think it's necessary to be faithful to the original work (although permission from the author is required as a matter of etiquette). I can't wait to see what original works will be selected in the future!
