Discover how Studio Ghibli productions served as inspiration for one of the animated films that receive the Pixar seal
Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Toshio Suzuki and Yasuyoshi TokumaStudio Ghibli has released more than two dozen animated plots over the almost forty years of its existence, becoming a cinematographic reference due to its 2D hand-drawing technique style and stories full of symbolism, such as, for example, “The Spirited Away”, which in addition to the aforementioned feats, also became the first non-English-language animation to win the Oscar ceremony in the Best Animated Feature category.
As a result, it is common for other animation studios to consider Studio Gibli’s titles as references, as happened with Pixar, which took into account an aspect that is repeated in the Japanese company’s stories when creating characters for one of its animations and a specific title for the development of the aesthetics seen in that same title.
The Time Studio Ghibli Inspired a Pixar Animated Film
This happened with “Luca”, a 2021 film by Enrico Casarosawhich follows the title character and his best friend, Alberto, on several adventures on dry land, especially when they meet Giulia, as the trio enjoys their days in Italy with fun trips and lots of food. The only problem is that the pair keep a secret that could put them under threat: beneath the surface, they are true sea monsters!
The feature film is largely set in the fictional city of Portorosso, inspired by the Cinque Terre region, which is located in Liguria, in Northern Italy, and brings together the villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.
Portorosso is a mix of all five, it’s as if we had created our sixth village. Certainly, the most striking and famous in the region is the pesto sauce. We try to show this in the film, the family’s relationship with this dish, in addition to port life, fishermen and the entire culture that revolves around this relationship with the sea”, Enrico Casarosa told oGlobo.
More than that, the place also gains inspiration from the animation “Porco Rosso: The Last Romantic Hero”, released in 1992. In this case, the allusion to Studio Ghibli’s production appears through the name of the city where Luca and Alberto live adventures like humans. Furthermore, the protagonist is, like the “Luca” duo, only half human.
“Pirates of the skies decide to terrorize the Adriatic Sea and only a brave pilot, half man and half pig, has the courage to face them”, says the synopsis of the animation, available in the Netflix catalogue.
Another point that unites Studio Ghibli’s productions with “Luca” is the way in which the female characters are portrayed, since they are not defenseless girls, in fact, they emerge through strong personalities and very well resolved with who they are, like Giulia, who is a curious and energetic girl, like many of the Japanese studio’s protagonists, such as Chihiro from “Spirited Away”, Sophie from “The Animated Castle”, and San from “Princess Mononoke”.
“Luca” is available to Disney+ subscribers.
Source: Recreio
