Come and follow the green signs towads some truly wonderful experiences. For today we were among the few, very proud, visitors, and in the kind words of the creators, main protagonists of the Museo D’arte Ghibli. For those who are not familiar with Studio Ghibli and their creations, aside from full heartedly recommending it’s movies to you, I can elaborate a little on what it is they are so famous for. Compare them, if you will, to the Disney Studios, only this time around were talking Japanese animation combined with outer-worldly fairy tales filled with tons of adventure, cuteness and moral values. For anyone looking for a peek into a no so alternate universe, look no further.
It so happens that the incredibly creative minds that make up Ghibli Studios decided to build a museum, a place perhaps described best in the words of the creator Hayao Miyazaki himself as being:
“A place that stimulates a wealth of ideas, while avoiding worn out displays covered in dust”
It so happens that the incredibly creative minds that make up Ghibli Studios decided to build a museum, a place perhaps described best in the words of the creator Hayao Miyazaki himself as being:
“A place that stimulates a wealth of ideas, while avoiding worn out displays covered in dust”
“An interesting place but one capable of putting you at ease”
“A place where various things can be discovered”
“A place through which air and light can freely flow”
And above all…
“A place where children are treated as if they were adults”
Considering the last remark, I immediately felt right at home. And that is possibly the greatest power of the place: It makes one enjoy being a child again, truly filling you with dreams. For if you have seen one of their movies, you will amazingly feel as being part of those worlds, and this not only because of the accurate recreations of the most memorable moments of their movies in real size, but mainly because of the added touches like scent, light and music. Every corner is a joy to be admired let alone to be explored and touched. Fittingly this kind of behaviour is proudly encouraged. The latter comment being clearly enforced by actively encouraging every visitor to put away their cameras and video equipment, to turn of their mobile phones and to simply ease themselves through the many secret (and small) corridors and winding staircases found throughout this picturesque manor and its garden.
Another aim of this museum is to show the techniques that go into animating the movies themselves. This process is started by first giving you a quick visual lesson on the history of animation, later walking you through faithful recreations of the animators quarters and ending up in the cutting room where you are given various possibilities of editing short pieces of movie yourself.
Sadly (and obviously), I cannot ad many images, the few I made were from outside the building, and while seeing everything in person is priceless, the trip towards this country is not, so if you have the time and means (and cannot wait before ever going yourself), I will gladly show you the books I bought, showing all the rooms of this fascinating place. In the end the nicest experience of all was one granted by a small Japanese boy who, contrary to most of his age, confidently sat down next to me to admire and explain the various names of the characters at a colourful display, this mix of English and Japanese combined with the right atmosphere really made me feel of a similar age, allowing me once again to successfully feel truly innocent and worriless again.
“A place where various things can be discovered”
“A place through which air and light can freely flow”
And above all…
“A place where children are treated as if they were adults”
Considering the last remark, I immediately felt right at home. And that is possibly the greatest power of the place: It makes one enjoy being a child again, truly filling you with dreams. For if you have seen one of their movies, you will amazingly feel as being part of those worlds, and this not only because of the accurate recreations of the most memorable moments of their movies in real size, but mainly because of the added touches like scent, light and music. Every corner is a joy to be admired let alone to be explored and touched. Fittingly this kind of behaviour is proudly encouraged. The latter comment being clearly enforced by actively encouraging every visitor to put away their cameras and video equipment, to turn of their mobile phones and to simply ease themselves through the many secret (and small) corridors and winding staircases found throughout this picturesque manor and its garden.
Another aim of this museum is to show the techniques that go into animating the movies themselves. This process is started by first giving you a quick visual lesson on the history of animation, later walking you through faithful recreations of the animators quarters and ending up in the cutting room where you are given various possibilities of editing short pieces of movie yourself.
Sadly (and obviously), I cannot ad many images, the few I made were from outside the building, and while seeing everything in person is priceless, the trip towards this country is not, so if you have the time and means (and cannot wait before ever going yourself), I will gladly show you the books I bought, showing all the rooms of this fascinating place. In the end the nicest experience of all was one granted by a small Japanese boy who, contrary to most of his age, confidently sat down next to me to admire and explain the various names of the characters at a colourful display, this mix of English and Japanese combined with the right atmosphere really made me feel of a similar age, allowing me once again to successfully feel truly innocent and worriless again.
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