Studio Ghibli is one of the most successful animation companies ever to emerge from Japan. Studio Ghibli has released such an iconic work that it recently opened a park called Ghibli Park, where visitors can see recreations of popular landmarks and icons from the movie, such as Mei and Satsuki's house in My neighbor Totoro. Ghibli has made a name for itself as an influential anime studio.
Like Disney, Studio Ghibli has become known for bringing magic to the little things in life, bringing a new appreciation to things that are normally forgotten. Considering that many of the films are based on Japanese folklore, magic is a must-have in all of their films. Here are the 10 best magical creatures in Studio Ghibli movies, ranked.
10 Soot Sprites - My Neighbor Totoro / Spirited Away
The soot ghosts are the only magical creature to appear in more than one Studio Ghibli movie. Occurs in both My neighbor Totoro And Spiritually gonethe soot sprites, or susuwatari, are little black specks of soot that wander through empty houses, leaving behind dirt and dust. In Spiritually gone, they can be seen working in the bathhouse; in the meantime My neighbor Totoro, they run around the house until they are scared off. They love konpeitoa Japanese sweet, and have proven to be just as iconic as some of the main characters.
9 Kodama - Princess Mononoke
The Kodama are spirits that live in the trees Princess Mononoke. Originating from Japanese folklore, seeing Kodama among the trees is a clear sign that the forest is healthy. With white skin with blackish glowing eyes, these little guys look like little figurines, with no obvious facial features. Thousands of Kodama are seen throughout the film, symbolizing how strong the forest is, and although the forest is eventually destroyed, a single Kodama is shown, promising new life to the forest.
8 Pony - Pony
Ponyo is a goldfish character born of a sea goddess and human and serves as the main protagonist of the film Pony. Physically, Ponyo takes on two forms: a goldfish form and a human form. Acting like an ordinary five-year-old, she enjoys ham and has a crush on her friend Sōsuke. While Ponyo isn't like a sooty ghost or a Kodama and is still part human, she is one of the most magical creatures in the Studio Ghibli franchise.
7 Catbus - My neighbor Totoro
One of the most iconic creatures ever to come out of Studio Ghibli is the Catbus My neighbor Totoro. The Catbus is a hybrid of bus and cat that has a total of 10 legs and has super speed that makes it impossible to see. With bright yellow eyes that double as headlights in the dark, the Catbus takes Mei and Satsuki where they need to be. Although the relationship with Totoro is not explained, the two seem to know each other very well.
6 Haku - Spirited Away
Haku is a dragon/river spirit Spiritually gonethat helps Chihiro return to the human realm and also to remain human in the spirit realm. While Haku first appears in his human form, his connection to Chihiro is explained when he remembers he is the spirit of the Kohaku River, where Chihiro almost drowned when she was younger. Haku's dragon form is a white dragon with teal fur, bird's feet, and long whiskers, while his human form is a boy with short black hair. Although he serves Yubaba, it's for a good cause.
5 Teto - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is often neglected in Studio Ghibli's repertoire, but it is a masterpiece nonetheless. One of the best magical creatures in the movieis Teto, the fox squirrel of Nausicaä found at the beginning of the story. With brown and yellow stripes all over its body, Teto really does look like a Pokémon. While he doesn't seem like a big, powerful creature, this is a creature we all wish were real.
4 No Face - Spirited Away
Arguably one of the most iconic symbols to ever emerge from Studio Ghibli is No-Face. No-Face is a ghost that swallows up other individuals to gain their personality as well as their physical attributes. Throughout the movie, No-Face is determined to take Chihiro and follows her around, but instead of wanting to harm No-Face, she sees the good in him and takes him to Zeniba, where he fulfills his own goal and find identity. Many viewers sympathize with No-Face as he struggles with his own sense of self, instead finding it in other people.
3 Forest Spirit - Princess Mononoke
The most powerful spirit is without a doubt the Forest Spirit of Princess Mononoke. The forest spirit is in charge of the forest and has the power to give and take life as they see fit. Since the Forest Spirit is a god, it has different forms. The Forest Spirit first appears as a deer with more antlers and a humanoid face, then transforms into a translucent humanoid called the Night-Walker. The Forest Spirit is to be both feared and respected.
2 Calcifer - Howl's moving castle
Howl's moving castlefeatures some wacky characters, including Calcifer the Fire Demon. Calcifer, voiced by Billy Crystal in the English version of the movie, is under contract with Howl when Howl caught Calcifer when he was just a star before he could be extinguished. Calcifer is responsible for controlling the moving castle and brings a great sense of humor throughout the movie. Appearing like a tiny flame in a hearth, he can't get out of bounds because if he does, he'll die out.
1 Totoro - My neighbor Totoro
The most iconic and best magical creature is without a doubt Totoro My neighbor Totoro. Totoro's appearance is instantly recognizable and friendly that he is the official mascot of Studio Ghibli. While this magical creature's origins are up in the air, we do know that he is a warm and friendly spirit who helps Mei and Satsuki adjust to their new circumstances. While Totoro is amazed at things in the human world, like rain falling on an umbrella, he is still willing to show us how to enjoy the simplest things.
Comments
Post a Comment