The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness is a fly-on-the-wall style documentary, observing the life of Hayao Miyazaki as he was creating The Wind Rises. But there’s an uncomfortable aura when you look at the studio in a new lens upon seeing the fascinating documentary, The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness. Anime would not have the same worldwide reputation if not for these titans of the craft. Miyazaki and Takahata have wanted to retire for years now, but they have a cultural, workaholic mentality that keeps them in the industry. The founders of Ghibli including the two iconic directors and producer Toshio Suzuki, are all in there 70s. This leaves us anime fans in a quandary, wondering if When Marnie Was There is worthy of being Studio Ghibli’s swan song. Instead, the film’s creation was brought about by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who previously worked with Ghibli before creating The Secret World of Arrietty.

But it’s surprising this film is not from the mind from Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata. When Marnie Was There is indicative of so much of what the company stands from the English origin, the female protagonist, and the relatable themes of maturation and isolation. There are several animation fans who love Ghibli beyond the likes of Disney and Pixar for the iconic, breathtaking animation, reflective atmosphere, and the moral complexity ingrained into every one of their films. When Marnie Was There is possibly the final film to be released from the prolific studio, you have to think about what has made this company so special compared to the American heavy-hitters. As we conclude our coverage of the Annecy International Animation Festival, we’ll be focusing on the most beloved animation company in all of Japan: Studio Ghibli.

Ghibli when marnie was there