Latest news with #Howl'sMovingCastle
SoraNews24
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Totoro, Howl, and Spirited Away earrings and brooches ready to add Ghibli touches to your look
Artisan-painted pieces ensure that no two accessories are exactly alike. Totoro himself has a pretty casual sense of fashion, seeing as how the closest thing to an article of clothing we ever see him wearing is the makeshift hat he creates by putting a leaf on top of his head to try to keep the rain off it. That doesn't mean that the Studio Ghibli anime icon isn't ready to help you spruce up your ensemble, though. Donguri Closet is the accessories sub-brand of Ghibli specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku. Not only do their creations capture the cute and beautiful aspects of Ghibli's artwork, each piece is personally painted by a craftsperson, making its exact unique coloring something just for you. Donguri Kyowakoku has recently restocked a number of designs starting with the napping Totoro earrings seen above. As is sometimes the case with character earrings in Japan, they're available in two types, one for wearers with pierced ears and the other an ear-clip version. Also ready to dangle from your ears are Spirited Away's Boh and Yu-Bird, in their transformed states. Yu-Bird spends a good portion of the movie carrying Boh around, and the design of the earrings lets you recreate those friendship-deepening scenes every time you turn your head. Boh and Yu-Bird are available as a necklace too… …while the napping Totoro also comes as a brooch. However, if the dozing Totoro and his Soot Sprit buddy are a bit too colorful to go with the rest of your outfit, and you'd like a brooch that's more cool than cute… …the marque magician of Howl's Moving Castle can fill that need, in his raven-like winged form. Both Totoro earring types are priced at 6,050 yen (US$42), while Boh and Yu-Bird's pair is 8,030, and their necklace 7,040, and the brooches 7,480 yen each. They're all available through the Donguri Kyowakoku online shop here, and would pair nicely with Uniqlo's new line of Ghibli tops, if only those were being sold in Japan. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
06-06-2025
- Climate
- SoraNews24
Studio Ghibli umbrellas bring anime joy to Japan's rainy season
Experience the pitter-patter of raindrops like Totoro in the forest. June and early July are the rainiest times in Japan, when continual days of grey skies tend to dampen the mood as much as they do the streets. There's a way to make the cloudy days a little more bright, though, thanks to a trio of umbrellas from Studio Ghibli, which have been restocked just in time for the rainy season. The first umbrella bringing a smile to our faces is dedicated to Howl's Moving Castle, with a design called 'Hoshi no Ko' ('Star Children'), in reference to the magical beings that appear throughout the film. You can summon the shooting stars like Madame Suliman every time you open the umbrella. The umbrella comes with a matching case so you can easily pop it into your bag while it's not in use. The next design is 'Full of Flowers', featuring Jiji and his lookalike offspring from Kiki's Delivery Service. ▼ The cute cats adorn the matching ivory-coloured case. The final design in the lineup is 'Running Race', featuring characters from My Neighbour Totoro. Totoro is pictured holding an umbrella, like some sort of Ghibli-style inception, with Soot Sprites and the Small and Medium Totoro nearby. The Catbus can be seen racing along the edge of the umbrella, towards its forest friends. ▼ The black-and-white colourway gives this design an elegant look. The umbrellas are a charming way to stay dry during the rainy season while adding some much-needed fun and excitement to dreary days. Available at Donguri Kyowakoku stores and online (links below), each umbrella is priced at 5,940 yen (US$41.51). Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Hypebeast
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hypebeast
A Whimsical Studio Ghibli x UNIQLO UT Collaboration Is on the Way
Summary UNIQLOis set to launch a magical newStudio GhibliUT (Uniqlo T-shirt) collection, bringing the enchanting worlds ofHayao Miyazakiand Isao Takahata to wearable art. This collaboration, teased recently and appearing on various Uniqlo international sites, is generating significant excitement among fans worldwide. The collection features designs inspired by eight beloved Studio Ghibli films, including the latest release,The Boy and the Heron, alongside classics likeMy Neighbor Totoro,Kiki's Delivery Service,Howl's Moving Castle,Spirited Away,Princess Mononoke,The Tale of The Princess KaguyaandPom Poko. What makes this collaboration particularly unique is the inclusion of original character illustrations and artwork by Thai artist Kanyada Phatan, known for her contributions to Studio Ghibli's monthly publication 'Neppu.' These fresh artistic interpretations, alongside direct film stills, offer diverse designs for fans. The collection will include a range of items such as unisex T-shirts and sweatshirts, as well as kids' sizes. Pricing is set at approximaely $24.90 USD for adult shirts and $29.90 USD for sweatshirts. While the collection has started appearing on some international Uniqlo sites (like Thailand), the official global release is anticipated in mid-July 2025online. This collaboration promises to be a captivating way for fans to carry a piece of Ghibli's magic with them.
SoraNews24
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Beautiful covers make Studio Ghibli vinyl soundtracks and image albums look as good as they sound
Gorgeous artwork graces the jackets of LP releases of the work of Ghibli's greatest composer. Some audiophiles insist that vinyl recordings sound better than digital ones. You can make a pretty strong argument, though, that they sound better too, Because of their size and scratchable material, records need jackets, and those jackets can have beautiful artwork. Serving as stunning examples of that are these vinyl records for the anime films of Studio Ghibli, on offer from specialty shop Donguri Kyowakoku. There aren't just rectangular croppings of their respective movie posters or DVD covers, either, but artwork specially chosen for the LP jackets. Pictured above is the soundtrack for Princess Mononoke, which comes on two double-sided records containing 33 songs from Jo Hisaishi, the long-collaborating composer behind all of the Ghibli anime music we'll be looking at today, including Spirited Away. The perspective and sense of scale on the 21-song soundtrack's cover makes the bathhouse of the gods look both unsettling and intriguing, which describes the tone of many of the film's scenes. Ghibli's memorable anime architecture is also on display from a fresh angle in the jacket for the 26-piece Howl's Moving Castle soundtrack. Though Hisaishi has composed the scores for just about all of director Hayao Miyazaki's theatrical anime, he worked only one time with Isao Takahata when the late Ghibli co-founder was in the director's chair, making the 37-piece soundtrack for The Tale of the Princess Kaguya a once-in-an-artistic lifetime collaboration between the two. And last, we come to what was supposed to be Miyazaki's last feature-length anime, The Wind Rises, and its 32-piece soundtrack. All of the above soundtracks are two-record sets, although only the Princess Mononoke one uses both sides of both records, with the others using only one side of their second. Meanwhile, the Kiki's Delivery Service Soundtrack Music Collection is a more modestly sized one-disc, 21-piece selection of music from the only anime produced, directed, and written by Miyazaki. And if you want even more beautiful Ghibli record jacket art, it can be found on the covers for the film's 'image albums.' Image albums are what the Japanese music sphere calls musical compositions inspired by the setting, story, and characters of an animated work, but which aren't heard within the anime itself. In the case of the Kik's Delivery Service image album above, for example, Hisaishi's aim was to recreate the feeling of how Miyazaki described the setting to him, 'A vaguely European town, somewhere near the Mediterranean sea,' in musical form, in much the same way that the beautiful cover artwork of Kiki getting ready to depart her parent's house isn't taken directly from the film. That same philosophy is behind the image albums for Spirited Away , Howl's Moving Castle , and Princess Monoke . Each of the image albums are single-record, with 10 pieces of music and priced at 4,180 yen (US$29), as is the Kiki's Delivery Service Soundtrack Music Collection , while the two record soundtracks are 5,280 yen. Several of them were sold out and unavailable until recently, but they're all restocked and can be ordered through the Donguri Kyowakoku online store here. Source: Donguri Kyowakoku Top image: Donguri Kyowakoku Insert images: Donguri Kyowakoku (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Express Tribune
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Ditch AI filters, consume real art
If you're an artist or just someone who admires the effort that goes into drawing and animation, you must have strong feelings about the heaps of AI-generated art that's been plaguing social media for a long time now. The recent trend of AI-generated images that has beguiled netizens recreates the visual style of Studio Ghibli's signature 2D animation. And if there are any doubts as to where the studio's founder — Hayao Miyazaki — would stand, here are his views on machine-created art that resurfaced after OpenAI launched its update: "I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself." In case you're not aware of what Studio Ghibli films are, I — first and foremost - express my deepest sympathies that you had to learn through this trend, but I am also happy to inform you that you've come to the right place. If your curiosity is pushing you to find out what life looks like through the Ghibli lens, you need not wait any longer. Here are four of the studio's films to introduce you to the painstakingly hand-drawn and remarkably emotive world of animation — or, if you're a fan, to trick you into a binge watch. 'Howl's Moving Castle' It has become culturally imperative to begin your Ghibli journey with this one. Howl's Moving Castle follows Sophie, a young woman cursed by a jealous witch to transform into an old lady due to the witch's affection for Howl, a vagabond wizard who crosses paths with Sophie in the beginning. As the curse makes our protagonist forget her identity, she accidentally moves in with Howl's motley crew and helps them out with domestic duties, oblivious to the fact that the solution to her problem is nearby. If the found-family trope is an easy way to your heart, this film will win you over no sweat while serving you an extra slice of tender romance. Although a stunningly serene film, it strikes a fine balance between wholesome moments and gut-wrenching reality that'll have you aching for more. 'Kiki's Delivery Service' If you like witchcraft in your media and are looking for more magic after Howl's Moving Castle, you'll find it all in Kiki's Delivery Service. This coming-of-age fantasy story follows Kiki, a young witch who heads out of home to fulfill her desire for self-exploration. Aside from flaunting the picturesque world of Studio Ghibli, this film is your reassurance that hardships are a necessary part of growing up on your own. From introducing animal companions to unexpected friends, it reminds you that every step out of your comfort zone is worth the anticipation. 'The Secret World of Arrietty' If you grew up adoring Thumbelina or illustrated tales of a similar nature, it might be time to indulge your inner child with this heartwarming film. The Secret World of Arrietty follows its titular character in a miniature world as she "borrows" from the world of the much-larger humans for a living. Everything seems to be working in her family's favour until they are discovered by the humans and must fend for themselves. Packing compelling visuals that every Ghibli film is decked with, this feature stands out for its immersive look into the world that exists around us, just much bigger. If you're in the mood of a story that champions hope and courage, you wouldn't want to miss this one. 'Spirited Away' Ever wondered what your most inexplicable dreams would look like onscreen? Spirited Away is your answer. It focuses on Chihiro, a ten-year-old girl who visits an amusement park with her family but soon realises that something is off, though her protests are dismissed by her parents. After a mysterious meal turns them into pigs, it is up to Chihiro to bring them back by stepping into the world of uncanny supernatural beings. Released at a time when animation was seen as a form of entertainment reserved only for children, Spirited Away would sooner be a kid's nightmare than a fond core memory to look back on. But for grownups who don't mind being unnerved, the film's appeal lies in its unsettling elements and melancholic storyline. Does hope prevail in the end? Find out for yourself.
