#equally ponyo and totoro

[welivetodream]

The Curse of Creativity and the suffering of artists:

"There are tons of people who are just as good as me." - Seiji Amasawa, Whisper of the heart (1995)

Ghibli movies have always had a huge impact on me. Full of quiet sensibilities and easily understood complex concepts; Ghibli movies made my childhood and the person I am today. And despite the cuteness of Totoro, the innocence of Ponyo, the quirky weirdness of Howl's moving castle (the themes of that movie are so intricate too) or the message about hardwork and burnout in Kiki's delivery service, there is one movie that remains in my heart (no pun intended)

"Whisper of the Heart" has taught me so much about myself and the path I am headed. It is the most beautiful, soul-crushing movie I have ever watched not because it has wars and the death of loved ones but because it is relatable and grounded. I can see myself in Shizuko and Seiji, I understand their struggles and dreams. I smiled with them and I cried for them. I related to Shizuko's struggle to see her writing as anything good and Seiji's belief that despite his achievements he isn't anywhere near as good at his skills as some other people.

This movie made me think about the saying I so often hear "Don't suffer for your dreams". While I scoffed at it when an adult said that to me first, now that I am much older and hopefully wiser, the words struck me not as nagging but as a warning.

Suffering doesn't equal great art, some people think that only those who are depressed and mentally ill can make great art, which is completely false. (Although I don't blame those people as many great artists and writers were actually mentally ill, it's not the only thing that makes one a great artist!) You don't have to suffer to be a great artist, you just have to be creative and work hard, there's nothing more to that.

When I was in my most depressed state during the last two years of high school, I wasn't writing or working hard on my book. I was staring at the wall wishing I would disappear. Overcoming that depression led me to write better, work harder, chase my dreams with passion.

During the times where I am stuck in a chapter I can't get through and my brain goes blank, I think to myself if I am actually a good writer or I have been just treading the waters of talent that I don't have. When people call me talented, it makes me squirm, it takes away my hardwork and effort.

Being a creative person is not easy, it's not all sunshine and rainbows where you are constantly getting new ideas. Sometimes it makes my head hurt. Acting on your ideas is not easy. I can think all I want but when it comes to actually writing that idea, I freeze.

Being an artistic person makes you feel self conscious. If anyone will like what I do? Will someone criticize me? What if no one likes my work? What if they judge me? There's someone who is better than me, why should I even bother?

Creativity isn't just a blessing, it's also a curse. It's a double-edged sword.

You should try to achieve the best but not make it your end goal. Life is so much more than success, fame and material goods. I don't write for any of those things, I write for myself and the people I care for. Even if I don't end up publishing any of my novels, I would still write. Never stop dreaming and become monotonous, you don't have to make sure your hobbies earn you money, they should give you peace and happiness.

There are times when I spend too much time in front of my computer typing out another new story when I stop and think back at those words, I don't feel dispassionate, suffering won't make me happy, writing whatever I want would. So I type ahead for some more minutes and take a break. I indulge in the world that I create in my books and make characters that I love more deeply than human beings, but I don't want it to become my life. I would still do normal everyday things and talk to normal everyday people. Work-life balance is utter bullshit and too idealistic, but making sure your work doesn't consume your life is what matters.

Even if I do end up getting an ordinary job and not making my hobby a career, I would not be disappointed.

I am ready to live a life of rationality and pragmatism but I will never accept monotony.

#writers on tumblr #writers #books #life lessons #life #real life #hope #book writing #writing novels #novels #authors #dark academia #light academia #inspo quotes #inspiring quotes #inspiration #inspo #artists on tumblr

[pinpampoom-blog]

Totoro, Teto, The Robot, Calcifer, Kodama, Ponyo and Susuwatari. . . .....................................link in bio . . . . #totoro #myneighbortotoro #princessmononoke #ponyo #nausicaa #calcifer #movingcastle #studioghibli #hayaomiyazaki #etsy #anime #manga #spiritedaway #chihiro #haku #enamelpin #pins #sale #kawaii #equality #princessmononokepins #totoropins #animepins #chibiki #ichiban (at Studio Ghibli) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2pqgohlEzE/?igshid=174ffdath838h

#totoro #myneighbortotoro #princessmononoke #ponyo #nausicaa #calcifer #movingcastle #studioghibli #hayaomiyazaki #etsy #anime #manga #spiritedaway #chihiro #haku #enamelpin #pins #sale #kawaii #equality #princessmononokepins #totoropins #animepins #chibiki #ichiban

[violettierre]

You didn't reblog this shit so I made up my own question.

420? (Translates to: what is your favorite movie and why)

This is kinda giving me "this sign can't stop me cuz i can't read" vibes for some reason lol

Mmmmmmmmmmm that's a hard one cuz i have many comfort movies and all of them are my faves

and very specifically mentioning my admiration for all ghibli studio movies that i finished tons and tons of them and all pf them are my faves : Howl's moving castle, Spirited away, My neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo, Kiki's delivery service, The wind rises, When Marnie was here (this movie had me on tears bro wHY IS IT SO FUCKING SAD ??????)

I also really like Disney movies (not disney itself) they also are all equally favourites to me (no need to name them cuz they are too many)

Also honorable mentions to my faves that doesn't go under a Category : The Addams family (both movies), The sound of music, Little women, The theory of everything, Far from the madding crowd, etc cuz i realised there are too many...

But who is my ultimate fav movie then ????? Welllllllll :

Charlie and the chocolate factory; this might sound a bit childish of me but i really love that movie i rewatched it endless times i almost memorize it now, at first i just watched it cuz...Johnny depp. He was (and still is) my favourite actor so i wanted to just watch all his movies until i reached to this one and it was disturbingly AWESOME it had really weird vibes and kind of deep one (just like all Tim Burton's movies tho) yes alot of poeple will say im exaggerating when i say that it was really off limits so it made me feel stuff since let's be honest we don't see a movie fucked up and kid friendly like this one everyday, that movie somehow kept pkaying on the thin ice of something dark yet it never broke which is... idk how to describe it.

#i was just asked for my fav movie tf is wrong with me... #i can't be shuted up (was that even a word) #take a shot for every movie i said it was my fav #wow me i get an award for being a clown

[ghibli-collector]

Anime fans, rejoice! If you’ve watched the iconic classics, My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away as a kid, you will be ecstatic to discover that the soundtracks of these films, along with 36 other original Studio Ghibli albums, will be available on Spotify, Apple Music and Youtube starting 1st March 2020!

Don’t worry hardcore Studio Ghibli fans, it’s not just a handful of famous soundtracks that are going up on these streaming platforms, in fact, Sora News reports that there will be a whopping total of 693 tracks made available starting next month.

While the Japanese animation studio is known for its beautiful visuals and heartwarming scenes, fans find the soundtracks of these films equally as memorable, instantly perking up when they hear the first 5 seconds of their favourite Studio Ghibli theme song.

For those of you who are wondering which movies these prized 38 albums are from, you’ll be glad to know that the first 23 are the soundtracks for every studio Ghibli movie ever made except Grave of the Fireflies and French co-production, The Red Turtle. Among the soundtracks that will be made available are:

● Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Soundtrack-To the Far-off Land

● Castle in the Sky Laputa Soundtrack-Mystery of the Levistone

● My Neighbor Totoro Soundtrack Collection

● Kiki’s Delivery Service Soundtrack Collection

● Only Yesterday Original Soundtrack

● Porco Rosso Soundtrack

● Ocean Waves Soundtrack

● Pom Poko Soundtrack

● Whisper of the Heart Soundtrack

● Princess Mononoke Soundtrack

● My Neighbors the Yamadas Original Full Soundtrack

● Spirited Away Soundtrack

● The Cat Returns Soundtrack

● Ghiblies Episode 2 Soundtrack

● Howl’s Moving Castle Soundtrack

● Tales from Earthsea Soundtrack

● Ponyo Soundtrack

● Arrietty Soundtrack

● From Up on Poppy Hill Soundtrack

● The Wind Rises Soundtrack

● The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Soundtrack

● When Marnie Was There Soundtrack

● The Red Turtle Soundtrack

But that’s not all. 14 image albums that include music from some of Ghibli’s most well known movies and a double-sized collection of vocal songs will also be available:

● Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Soundtrack-Bird People

● Castle in the Sky Laputa-The Girl Who Fell From the Sky

● My Neighbor Totoro Image Song Collection

● Kiki’s Delivery Service Image Album

● Only Yesterday Image Album

● Porco Rosso Image Album

● Pom Poko Image Album

● Whisper of the Heart Image Album

● Princess Mononoke Image Album

● Spirited Away Image Album

● Image Symphonic Suite Howl’s Moving Castle Soundtrack

● Ponyo Image Album

● From Up on Poppy Hill Image Album-Piano Sketch Collection

● The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Soundtrack-Songs for Female Chorus Trio

● Studio Ghibli Songs-Expanded Edition

Time to add these timeless tracks into your playlist! Share this with the biggest Ghibli fan you know.

#ghibli #studio ghibli #joe hisaishi #spirited away #howls moving castle

[lamentations-imaginations]

Hey I was just wondering how the brothers, plus maybe Diavalo and Solomon, would react if out of no where they were turned to kids and MC had to take care of them. Please?

Satan should really label or lock his magic books away, because with one accidental touch and a wish The House of Lamentation had been babified!!!

Lucifer

• The Avatar of Pride as a helpless child. Oh dear, it hurts his ego badly.

• He'd still try to boss his brothers around, but the effect is lost on them.

• He refuses for MC to talk down to him and insists on standing on things to talk on equal height.

• You two compromise on you holding him to talk, saving some dignity he has left.

• Being a kid he can't have his favorite melancholy coffee or poisoned apple, but apple slices and chocolate milk will suffice.

Mammon

• Oh God if he didn't have sticky fingers before, he sure does now.

• If it's shiny it's his now. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. If you try to take it from him he will cry.

• Thankfully he's the easiest to entertain. You put a cookie clicker on your DDD, kids home settings enabled, and he's a happy little camper.

• He follows you everywhere, clinging to your pants leg. He will gladly force himself into any situation where you're praising his brothers for more attention.

Leviathan

• Thankfully he's still enticed by games and anime, but dear God you have to lock most of it away for its less than family friendly ratings.

• Mostly it's My Neighbor Totoro, Sailor Moon, and Ponyo for TV and Super Mario Galaxy for video games.

• You do play Dragon and Royal where he pretends to burn away any knights that threaten to take you away.

• While Mammon has one pants leg, Leviathan has his tail wrapped around the other.

Satan

• Hope you have biker boots, cuz he takes ankle biter literally.

• Tiny ball of wrath having temper tantrums beating his tiny fists against the floor when he doesn't want his nap time.

• Thankfully he loves to be curled up on your lap as you read fairy tales. Sometimes he'll insist on sounding out a page to show off how smart he is.

• He can't have his melancholy coffee either, but a warm slice of pie settles him down and makes him sleepy.

Asmodeus

• Being tiny won't stop him from being the most beautiful of the bunch.

• Sadly he looks like a baby boy who got into his mom's closet and make up drawer. Lipstick, eye shadow, oversized heels, and his favorite scarf.

• He might be the Avatar of Lust, but now he is the Avatar of Pleasure. Wanting to curl up in the most comforting fabrics, satisfying his sweet tooth, and being the center of attention.

• Thankfully you have a lot of devil candies, and let him take all the selfies he could desire.

Beelzebub

• The bottomless pit is now a smaller bottomless pit.

• He and Belphie are never fair apart, often eating Belphies snacks. You have to keep checking on him, making sure he's actually chewing his food. Sometimes even pat his back when he's inhaled too much.

• Out of all the brothers, he's the one you constantly have to clean up after. Hand wipes, wash rags, the whole nine yards. He literally has sticky fingers.

• He might be cranky from hunger, but he's always happy with you.

Belphegor

• Easiest of the brothers to take care of. He just sleeps. No fuss! No mess!

• He's always holding Beel's hand while he sleeps. It's almost a comfort action that gives him peace of mind.

• He sometimes has nightmares of Lilith, so you sing him a lullaby while rubbing his back. It soothes him back into a peaceful slumber.

Lord Diavolo

• Oh thank God Barbatos wasn't changed. He helps you figure out how to handle the Prince of Hell.

• It's truly interesting to see how Diavolo was before all his grooming and training to be the next ruler.

• You can't help but record on your DDD how Diavolo clings and follows Lucifer around with little heart eyes. Even as a child, Lucifer is the most beautiful being.

• He's surprisingly a picky eater. Nothing you offer is good enough. Only if it's from Barbatos will he eat it.

Solomon

• Solomon maybe sketchy as fuck, but at least he's human!

• You're a human, so you got this! For once no unusual powers or magic to throw you off. Just a normal bratty kid.

• He tends to hang out with Asmo, helping him with lighting and angles for his selfies.

• The worst issue is running after him when you catch him drawing in the manor's walls with pens. You only hope Lucifer will forgive you once it's all over.

#obey me otome #obey me one master to rule them all #obey me #obey me belphie #obey me satan #obey me belphegor #obey me barbatos #obey me beelzebub #obey me brothers #obey me lord diavolo #obey me leviathan #obey me lucifer #obey me asks #obey me asmodeus #obey me mammon #obey me solomon #lizard-bouquet

[nighttimepixels]

Background thoughts while animating today - the skelebros as... Ghibli Movie Protagonists:

Sans: T... Totoro Tombo from Kiki's Delivery Service

easygoing, tinkerer, amicable, also minds his own business while somehow causing trouble, is precisely the kind of laidback friend you kind of want to turn to for any number of reasons, accidental life changing times o’clock when you least expect it

Papyrus: Sosuke from Ponyo

not in that he’s childish, rather that he gives his all, wholeheartedly cherishes those close to him, has a huge sense of adventure, is far more capable (and creative) than given credit for, enjoy spreading happiness

Red: Porco Rosso

I mean really made mistakes but actually is doing his damnedest, #betterapigthanafascist, really good with machines & getting out of tough spots, surprisingly equal opportunity, will kick your ass for being a prick

Edge: Howl from Howl's Moving Castle

extremely proud of his accomplishments and image, likes collecting shiny/pretty things has one hell of a dark past but semi-outruns it yet is simultaneously ‘making up’ for his ‘warcrimes’/being a dog of the military so to speak, prefers seeking out his own interests and goals nowadays, chaotic neutral and will do anything to protect him and his

Blue: Pazu from Castle in the Sky

hard worker but a general delight & warm presence to be around, extremely clever, deep appreciation for who people are, willing to take all kinds of risks - whether in the unknown or in believing in someone, very nearly brave to a fault, doesn’t waver in trying to do the right thing even if it’s a bit Chaotic

Stretch: the Baron from the Cat Returns

the best comedic timing?? super skilled but is in no way out to flaunt it, genuinely just enjoys a good time/kicking back with his friends in his own way, has a way about him that gets along/chills out more aggressive/wild personalities, but can also roll with the wildest of them for good purpose in his own style, more learned than most want to admit/recognize, is casually infamous for Not Falling Into Line But With Charm, never what you expect but precisely what you need

Black: Haku from Spirited Away

committed to duty, extremely effective at Getting Things Done, knows every in & out of his environment, will bend rules if it truly means something important, possibly dangerous and yet the ultimate Protector, probably more connected to at least certain people than you’d ever guess, his secrets have secrets, honestly though he just needs a hug

Russ: Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke

honestly just a reliable guy doing his best and getting constantly caught in Huge Events, nevertheless does his best, doesn’t really take anyone else’s word for something but comes to his own conclusion, would happily keep his nose (metaphorically speaking) out of things if they were a little less critical, accepts his ‘crimes’ but actually keeps trying, flirts casually with his would be killer, just wants people to chill out and be a little less greedy and a little more willing to coexist and stop pissing off nature till it tries to kill us back

#undertale #underfell #underswap #swapfell #undertale aus #skelebro content #haven't had some good wandering thoughts about the bro side like this in a while #and it's not like anyone was going to ask me something so specific #so i figured why not post this on coffee break heheh #*thumbs up* #((now i just wanna go watch ghibli movies....)) #((tbh also for sans though 'ineffable but nap-oriented god of the forest that also casually looks out for you' as totoro is genuinely Yes?? #bonus for Edge as Howl: will wreck shop if someone actually manages to win his heart #will literally trick/go against the highest powers in the land dont mind him just another Tuesday

[woodsypuca]

very very random but have you seen any studio ghibli movies and if so what are your thoughts on them??

Oh hell yeah I have! I own several, and I’ve cosplayed as Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle with a Calcifer I crocheted myself. ;3 In no particular order, I have seen....

Howl’s Moving Castle: I adore this movie. It’s charming, it features a female protagonist who spends most of the movie as an old woman, and it was definitely one of the first Ghibli films I really resonated with. I’ve also read the book, which I adore in equal measure, but should definitely be taken as a separate entity loosely related to the movie than as its source material.

Princess Mononoke: First time I watched it, I was TERRIFIED by the boar at the beginning. I love it for all that it is, all that the characters are, and the powerful environmental themes within it. The forest spirit is so ethereal and so thoroughly embodies the aspects of nature, destruction and rebirth, the fury of the world, etc., that it takes my breath away a little more each time I watch the movie.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind: Little known fact, this is the Ghibli film that impacted me the most. I adored it, and I need to watch it again. It’s the powerful environmental themes that shook me to my core and made me walk away thinking.

Spirited Away: I saw this for the first time on tv, commercial breaks and all, when I was still in school and living with my parents. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire thing. I adore all of the characters, the themes, the mythology, the ending with the tiny hint that it really all happened.... This one is absolutely a classic.

Laputa, Castle in the Sky: I’ve only seen this one once, but I really enjoyed it. Floating land masses and overgrown machines are aesthetic goals, man. 

Ponyo: Both my worst nightmares (heyo thalassophobia) and my wildest dreams. I was way less invested in Ponyo herself than I was in all of the adults at play, and the incredible worldbuilding, and the relationships between the adults. I do need to watch it again, if only for the incredible worldbuilding.

My Neighbor Totoro: Gonna be honest, this one is charming, but it’s my least favorite. It was cute, but I think I was in just the wrong age bracket when I first saw it.

Kiki’s Delivery Service: Also super cute and charming, but one of my lesser favorites. I love Gigi, and all the characters and interactions are precious, but it just never resonated with me as much as some of the others did.

Whisper of the Heart: Ahhhhh it’s precious.

The Cat Returns: Precious, underrated Ghibli film. I really enjoyed it.

#studio ghibli #miyazaki #anon #fio says stuff #Anonymous

[howdoyousayghibli]

Waiting for Totoro

You know what’s fun about reviewing My Neighbor Totoro? Besides the fact that it’s a delightful movie, it’s pretty great that it would be nigh-impossible for me to spoil anything for anyone reading this review. The plot can be summed up as: two little girls and their father move into a new house out in the country, where they meet some forest spirits. Also, their mom is sick. That’s not just the movie’s setup—it covers basically everything that happens. Fortunately, that doesn’t stop Totoro from being a fantastic movie from start to finish. If you’re worried about the lack of plot bothering you, it might help to imagine that instead of a movie, you’re watching several loosely connected animated shorts.

So, if it’s not the plot, just what makes My Neighbor Totoro so great? Well, the first thing should be obvious by now. Everybody, on three:

the animation.

Totoro was Hayao Miyazaki’s second film with Studio Ghibli, and oh my Ponyo, the animation. It’s not like there’s anything wrong with the animation in Nausicaä, Castle in the Sky, or Grave of the Fireflies, but this is the first Ghibli movie (chronologically) to really blow me away the way Ponyo did. There are some spectacular landscapes and great character design, but my favorite parts were when they chose to lovingly render mundane yet relatable moments. For example, they didn’t have to animate Satsuki walking on her knees in their new house so that she wouldn’t have to take her shoes off, but they did and it’s one of my favorite parts of the movie.

We didn’t get the same level of Good Ghibli Food™ that we did in Ponyo or Castle in the Sky, but dang if I didn’t want to bite into the veggies from that old lady’s garden. On that note, I was continually surprised every time the old lady didn’t turn evil, which is one example of how this movie manages to have

tension without plot.

Like I mentioned, there’s not a lot of narrative happening here, yet even so the movie manages to introduce enough tension to keep you engaged. It’s not exactly A Quiet Place*, but you do come to care for these little girls; whether they’re wandering off into spirit-filled woods on their own or just waiting anxiously for their dad to come home, the movie makes their plights matter. I think the waiting-at-the-bus-stop scene is the best example of this. Nothing really happens, but I felt for the sisters - as they wait for their dad’s bus on a dark, lonely, rainy night, I didn’t know if they would be frightened by forest spirits or just let down by their dad, but I was equally worried by either option.

The excellent animation contributes to the audience investment by making the characters feel relatable and world feel lived in, and it also helps that this movie has

my favorite protagonists since Nausicaä.

Our two heroes are Satsuki and Mei, who are middle-school and toddler age, respectively. One of the things I found so remarkable and enjoyable about this movie was the care they took to really make both girls protagonists, and equally likeable ones at that. So often movies with similar characters make the younger sibling either unfailingly adorable and precocious or problem-generators. Mei is frustratingly but understandably childlike at some moments, but we also get plenty of chances to see her being brave, determined, and proactive. Satsuki, on the other hand, demonstrates kindness, patience, and remarkable maturity (probably a result of her mom not being home and her dad being pretty scatterbrained (but still a great dad)). They’re both great kids without feeling like fake kids.

The other characters in Totoro are great in their own right - it’s a small cast, but a memorable one. The aforementioned old lady with the veggies obviously left an impression on me, and the extremely shy neighbor boy with a crush on Satsuki is just as endearing as the protagonists are (he even gets a mini-character arc). Similarly to his daughters, Mei and Satsuki’s dad manages to walk the tightrope of being a fantastic father without feeling artificial. Sure, it takes him a worrying amount of time to notice that Mei has wandered off into the forest, but it’s impossible to stay mad at this man who clearly loves and cares for his daughters and is doing his best in essentially a single-parent situation.

At this point, you may be wondering - is there

anything wrong with this movie?

And, well, sort of. I’ve brought up the whole “no real conflict/plot” thing several times now, and that’s capped off by the movie looking at its watch, saying “yeah, that’s probably long enough,” and cutting to the credits. But then again, the lack of a plot means that the abrupt ending doesn’t result in any plotlines being cut short, and honestly I don’t think it would have bugged me at all if I’d known it was coming.

Oddly, there was significantly less Totoro in My Neighbor Totoro than I expected. This isn’t really a bad thing, since the human characters are plenty of fun on their own, but I was surprised at how incidental to the movie Totoro seemed.

Lastly, the music is actually really good—this is the first Ghibli film where the music stood out to me—but as with Ponyo, the music takes a dramatic turn for the worse when there’s singing involved, as in the opening credits, which already go on a little too long.

That’s it for complaints. My Neighbor Totoro is a classic for a reason. Bring kids if you got em, but this is a movie that everyone should enjoy.

Next up: Kiki’s Delivery Service! This is one of the few Ghibli movies I’d seen before starting these reviews. I remember liking it, but it’s been a while.

Alternate Titles:

I got nothing this time. "Waiting for Totoro" came to me in the middle of the night and is my favorite review title since my first one (for Ponyo). Maybe this time, you come up with the alternate titles.

*I misspelled this as “A Quite Place” and now I want a movie where British people are being hunted by monsters who can hear you having tea or forming a queue

#studio ghibli #ghibli #my neighbor totoro #totoro #film

[easy-japan]

Best gifts for Japanese learner!

Holiday is near and it’s the month of love & gifts! If you have someone special who love Japan stuff and currently doing their best to study Japanese language, these items below will be a very wonderful gifts (and a great study booster) for them!

Of if you’re planning to buy one for yourself, this is a great month to do that with all the special discounts and sales! Happy learning!

1. Japanese Electronic Dictionary (Denshi Jisho)

Price: $$$$$ Perfect gift for: Above beginner learners

This one is a bit pricey but it’s a precious treasure for every serious Japanese learner. Even a local Japanese teacher have one in their pocket.

Powered by 2 AA battery which can hold up to 3 – 6 months depend on the usage, this handy tool is a must have! Not to mention that this stuff has a great life expectancy. Some report around 5 years of usage in general and some report up to 10 years of usage.

If you are unsure about the model to buy or if they need it or not, you can read about it here: Do I need a denshi jisho?

Links to get them below! :

• Casio XD-K9800 (Model K) • Casio XD-G9800 (Model G)

Equipped with kenkyusha (the only Japanese - English dictionary you need). G model is the latest. But older model works great as well~ You often able to get a great used one with lower price!

2. Japanese picture books!

Price: $$ Perfect for: Beginners to intermediate learners. Not all Japanese picture books are made equal. Some has so few page with high price (12 pages!). Some doesn’t have furigana (reading helper for Japanese beginner learner) . And some are not interesting at all. But… all these below has a lot of page (over 150 pages!), furigana and interesting! (especially for Ghibli lover). Ghibli Japanese picture books are one of the best gifts! And if you know their favorite movie, you can always pick that up to give them one of the best gift of the year! yay!

These are the links to get them! : • Tonari no Totoro • Ponyo by the Cliff • Princess Mononoke part 1   • Princess Mononoke part 2 (continuation) • Kiki Delivery Service • Laputa Castle in the sky • Arrietty • The wind rises (Kaze Tachinu) • The Tale of Princess Kaguya •  Nausicaa part 1 •  Nausicaa part 2 (continuation)

3. Japanese study books!

Price: $$ – $$$

These are the perfect gifts for Japanese learner who love to do self study and who didn’t know what book to get.

[Link] : Foreigner First HandBook

Easy & fun to read. Packed with essential material for survival conversation & basic Japanese grammar pattern.

Perfect gift for: Japanese beginner learners and people who want to go & live in Japan.

Genki Set:

Perfect for: Beginner who can’t read Japanese alphabet (hiragana/katakana) yet.

Genki set is one of the most popular books around for beginner – intermediate learners. The lessons in these books are written in English so it help to comprehend the lessons much easier compared to the other popular Minna no Nihongo set, which is a fully immersive learning with no English at all.

The workbook is less important, but the core book questions doesn’t have any answer sheet. The answer is sold separately as an answer book for the core book and all workbook.

[Link] : Genki 1 Easier to read than Minna series. If you do self-study, make sure to get the answer book too.

[Link] : Genki 1 (Workbook) Workbook for Genki 1. If you do self-study, make sure to get the answer book too.

[Link] : Genki 2 Workbook for Genki 1. If you do self-study, make sure to get the answer book too.

[Link] : Genki 2 (Workbook) Workbook for Genki 2. If you do self-study, make sure to get the answer book too.

[Link] : Genki Answer Key Answer key for all questions in all Genki 1 & 2 and their workbooks. You need this if you’re going to do self-study.

Try! Learning Set:

Perfect for: Japanese learner who already able to read Japanese alphabet (hiragana/katakana) and want to start learning Japanese grammar. Try! is the grammar lessons book with simple but effective English explanation. The shin500mon is a review & practice book. The yellow Japanese grammar dictionary provide thorough explanations of basic grammar. They are wonderful when used together as a whole!

TRY! is less popular than Genki or Minna no Nihongo outside Japan, but most Japanese teacher would agree that these books content are great (or even better) for studying Japanese. Be careful though since this series are also provided in Thai & Chinese. These links below are links for English version.

[Link] : Try N5 [Link] : Try N4 Recommended Japanese textbook based on JLPT material. N5 & N4 are beginner levels

[Link] : Shin 500 Mon JLPT N5 & N4 Recommended practice book to be used together with TRY series.

[Link] : Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar Great supplementary for self study. Written technically, filled with lots of example & thorough description.

Conversation Practice Set:

Perfect for: Japanese learner who want to hone their speaking & conversation skill.

These book below is perfect for practicing Japanese speaking skill. The sentences written are very practical in real life. The green one is simple stuff for beginner while the blue one is advance conversation for intermediate learners.

[Link] : Shadowing (Basic to Intermediate) [Link] : Shadowing (Intermediate to Advance)

Wishing you all a productive holiday! Yay~

#japanese #gift #jlpt #japan #nihongo #nihon #nippon #learn japanese #learn colors #today i learned #holiday #christmas #present #surprise #kanji #hiragana #katakana

[albertserra]

could you rate studio ghibli from your most favorite to least favorite?

i was about to sleep but let me do this anyways bc why not

princess mononoke

my neighbor totoro

spirited away

the tale of princess kaguya

whisper of the heart

porco rosso

grave of the fireflies

castle in the sky

ponyo

the cat returns

kiki’s delivery service

howl’s moving castle

the red turtle (does this count? idk)

pom poko

i really love 4-9 pretty much equally so its hard to rank those and i saw pom poko on a bus on a phone so that probably wasnt the best viewing situation but i dont think itd be much higher either way

#asks #Anonymous

[beckettsthoughts]

comfort shows/movies?

This is a great question to answer today, because I spent the afternoon watching some of my favourite movies with my pal Bee! We planned a few days ago to have a soul-healing movie marathon with our favourite Studio Ghibli films, which I find can cheer me up no matter what. Bee has a ton of Studio Ghibli films and we watched The Cat Returns, which I hadn’t seen before, as well as Ponyo, which I had. I’ve always found there to be a certain magic that Studio Ghibli seem to be able to capture without fail, and I might have to add The Cat Returns to my list of favourites. Whenever I watch Ghibli films I feel truly childlike in my state of mind, innocent, happy and totally enchanted by the worlds they introduce me to.

Out of all the Studio Ghibli films, my favourite comfort movies are Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbour Totoro, and Ponyo! Of course, I love every single one of the Ghibli films I’ve seen, but I wouldn’t call something like The Wind Rises a comfort movie, even if it a masterpiece. Same goes for Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Spirited Away. I love them all, but I don’t consider them to be cozy, relaxing films to watch when I’m down. There are a couple of other animated movies I consider to be comfort films, but the only one that matches up with the Ghibli movies is The Last Unicorn. I used to watch it all the time when I was younger and it’s easily one of my most favourite films, so I would consider it an equal to the aforementioned Ghibli choices.

#b replies

[pinpampoom-blog]

STUDIO GHIBLI ENAMEL PIN. totoro . . . . . . .....................................link in bio . . . . #totoro #myneighbortotoro #princessmononoke #mononoke #ponyo #nausicaa #calcifer #movingcastle #studioghibli #hayaomiyazaki #etsy #anime #manga #spiritedaway #chihiro #haku #enamelpin #pins #sale #etsy #equality #empoweringwomen #empoweredwomen (at Little Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1sHppDF-us/?igshid=ka4qiikmslf2

#totoro #myneighbortotoro #princessmononoke #mononoke #ponyo #nausicaa #calcifer #movingcastle #studioghibli #hayaomiyazaki #etsy #anime #manga #spiritedaway #chihiro #haku #enamelpin #pins #sale #equality #empoweringwomen #empoweredwomen

[immedtech]

Studio Ghibli has embraced streaming, and the world is better for it

The complete works of animation powerhouse Studio Ghibli are expensive. As a teenager, I would save up my woeful Subway paychecks and, every few months, proudly walk into the nearest HMV store to buy another movie by famed director Hayao Miyazaki. It was an agonizingly slow process. But I gradually built up my then-DVD collection and watched the movies I wasn't sure of, and less familiar with, during the occasional Ghibli marathon on TV.

Thank goodness they're all headed to streaming services.

Yesterday, Netflix announced that every Studio Ghibli film bar one will be coming to its platform this spring. They'll roll out in batches starting on February 1st and be available almost everywhere excluding the US, Canada and Japan. HBO Max, an upcoming streaming service by WarnerMedia Entertainment, secured similar streaming rights for the US market last October.

Millions of people already subscribe to Netflix. And plenty inside the US are seriously considering HBO Max for its various originals, such as Ridley Scott's sci-fi series Raised by Wolves, and legacy shows, including Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Big Bang Theory. All of these people will soon have access to a near-complete Ghibli library. (The sole exception is Grave of the Fireflies, a bleak World War II story that is likely missing because the rights are held by Shinchosha, the publisher of the book the film is based on, rather than Ghibli's parent company Tokuma Shoten.)

The deals should, therefore, have a few positive knock-on effects.

First, more people will likely experience Ghibli's less popular but equally brilliant films. Growing up, I prioritized the obvious classics -- My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle -- which meant it was years before I watched studio gems like Only Yesterday and Whisper of the Heart. The immediate choice on Netflix and HBO Max should allow more of the viewing public to watch and appreciate the breadth of Ghibli's output. My Neighbors the Yamadas and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, for instance, have unusual but breathtaking art styles. The Wind Rises, meanwhile, is a fictionalized biopic of the World War II aircraft designer Jiro Horikoshi.

My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999)

Secondly, the availability should inspire more youngsters with a passion for drawing, comics and animation. The beautifully-constructed films are invaluable both as inspiration and reference while learning these art forms.

Finally, streaming could increase Ghibli's short- and long-term revenue. The terms of the Netflix and HBO Max deals haven't been disclosed, but it's safe to assume that at least some money will be trickling into Ghibli's coffers. The Japanese studio has long been opposed to making a quick buck through off-brand licensing deals or heavy commercialization -- it runs a small museum in Mitaka, for instance, rather than dozens of theme parks.

The company announced a "brief pause" in August 2014 after Miyazaki's retirement one year earlier. Miyazaki has since returned to helm How Do You Live?, a film based on the 1937 book that shares the same name. If Ghibli wants to make more feature-length movies following its release, streaming revenue could help. The cash could also support Ghibli staff who wish to start their own companies in the future. Yoshiaki Nishimura, for instance, set up Studio Ponoc with several former Ghibli animators in 2015.

Ponyo (2008)

Neither deal affects Ghibli fans who crave a permanent collection, either. Want a full Blu-ray set at home? Go for it. The entire Ghibli filmography was also made available for digital purchase in the US last month.

The only downside is the increasingly fractured state of streaming. Studio Ghibli's catalog is the latest example of the regional disparity between the US and the rest of the world. Netflix in the UK, for instance, has a vastly different library to its international counterparts. HBO Max and, for now, Disney+ aren't available in Britain, either. The situation can be frustratingly messy if you don't follow the media industry. It could also be infuriating if you're a Netflix subscriber in the US with no plans to get HBO Max.

(And they wonder why so many people still pirate their favorite movies and TV shows.)

Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

Still, some streaming availability is better than none. I have no plans to ditch my DVD and Blu-ray collection, but it's nice to know I'll soon be able to watch Kiki's Delivery Service, Pom Poko and Arietty wherever I have a stable internet connection.

Source: Netflix (Press Release)

- Repost from: engadget Post

#ITlive #engadget #Studio Ghibli has embraced streaming #and the world is better for it

[sonnetxli]

From Totoro to Hachiko

May 15

Mitaka, Kichijoji, Harajuku, Shibuya

At last, our day to visit the Ghibli Museum! We had tickets for entrance at noon - there are four entrance times throughout the day - and it was about an hour and a quarter trip to get there so we headed out promptly in the morning. Before setting off we ducked into the JR office to reserve some seats for our upcoming train rides to our next couple of destinations. The ticket agent was so kind and helpful which was really reassuring as I knew getting to and from Kawaguchiko was a bit tricky to organize. She figured out some great routes for us and made our bookings. (I was also glad to have looked everything up in advance so I knew what she was talking about when she went over details or asked for clarification.)

We then hopped on the train and made our way over to Mitaka. The ride was calm and chill, which was nice, and the station was much bigger than I anticipated. This was a nice surprise as we had given ourselves some cushion time and could now look around to find some food. We each chose a small appetizer from a store and although there was no English on the signs the clerk’s English was excellent and that was a happy discovery.

We ate our snack outside and people-watched a bit and then walked along a lovely waterway to get to the Museum, which lives in a park. We still had time so we also walked around the park for a few minutes. It was a really nice space and again - really fun for observing everyone. We especially liked a group of school or preschool children who were having a picnic and wearing various colored head-scarves to indicate their groups. They were adorable!

Finally noon came so we lined up to enter the museum. Even the exterior was fun and colorful and our excitement level went up rather dramatically. We took some pictures outside since you can’t take any inside and then entered. Each person gets a strip of film as their admission ticket which is really cool - Gianna got Arrietty and mine was from Ponyo. As we entered the main building we were delighted to see that the inside was a mix of styles, reminiscent of some of the locations in the films, and full of tiny details like various characters depicted in stained glass windows and little paintings on the walls. There was a caged glass elevator, a tight spiral staircase, and you could look up to the higher levels in the four-story atrium space. Quite amazing, really!

We decided to start at the top so we headed up the spiral staircase first. It was quite a short door to get in and we joked that we were the perfect height for this place as we both fit just fine. We then ventured outside to an upper patio where another spiral staircase took us to the top of the museum. We enjoyed looking around there and then worked our way around that floor and down. Along one corridor were a set of beautiful posters “advertising” short films and there was a little screen showing trailers for each. This whimsical area suited me very much. There was also a really cool set of rooms stylized as mock offices that were chock-full of concept art and drawing items like pencils and paints, as well as a lot of areas showing how animated filmmaking became a reality. Sadly most of the signs explaining everything were only in Japanese, so I did feel like we missed out on some of the richer information. Still, the artwork was (unsurprisingly) stunning.

We enjoyed many of the various rooms and nooks of the museum, spent some time in the very crowded gift shop, and then headed downstairs to take in a short film (one of the ones in the posters upstairs) in the museum’s theatre. By this time it had already been over two hours, so that tells you how much we enjoyed our time! The short film was adorable. It told the tale of a group of schoolchildren who build a boat and take it on an adventure, where they capture and then later befriend a whale and return to greet their schoolmates. Again, although it was only in Japanese you could sense the spirit of the tale - it was a perfect depiction of the make-believe games kids play.

I wanted to take a picture with the Laputa robot statue outside so we headed back to do that. It was on the very top patio so it was a lot of stairs but I was very glad to do it as I think the pictures came out very nicely! After that we were hungry and ready to finish up so we said our goodbyes to the museum and headed back through the park. I had looked up a restaurant in the area that had good reviews and we tracked it down - although we did walk past the entrance at first and have to double back down some stairs to find it.

Inside the restaurant, which was a classic izakaya with a beautiful exterior, we were able to obtain an English menu and both decided to order a chicken teriyaki bento. It was great to sit and rest for a bit and the food was excellent! We also really loved the staff there as they were kind and accommodating. I felt again that language barriers don’t have to be limiting when both parties are trying to kindly connect! (I say this, of course, in the context of simple conversations like those that arise during vacation.) All in all it was a perfect break.

Next we took the train back into the city centre as we wanted to go to Meiji shrine. I was very happy to be able to return to one of my favorite Tokyo locations! We enjoyed the long, tree-lined walk up to the shrine and then took in the beautiful pavilion, with its massive trees and lantern-lined walls. The lighting was perfect and I couldn’t help but take dozens of pictures. Sadly most of the little shops and side buildings were closed for the day but we still enjoyed ourselves.

We retraced our steps and headed across to the other side of Harajuku station to find Harajuku proper. I wanted to show G this unique shopping area. It was quite busy but fun to wander through and see the bright, colorful shops (and equally colorful patrons). We enjoyed browsing through a few, including an anime store, but that one in particular was overpriced so we continued on. I bought a “flamingo” crepe from the famous Marion Crepes, which included strawberry ice cream, whip, and chocolate sauce - it was delicious - and we walked to the end of Takeshita Street and then looped around to go back (since we were already rather tired and didn’t want to get too far from the station).

Unfortunately there were some train delays so we had to wait at the station for a while and then squish onto a packed train. We only had one stop to go but it was a tight ride. The Shibuya station was also under construction so it took us a while to find the right exit. Finally we made it outside and found our target - the Hachiko statue. We took pictures, traversed the famous Shibuya Crossing twice, and then decided to head for home. There were still train delays but thankfully we were able to make it back fairly efficiently.

[pinpampoom-blog]

From Nausicaa to Ponyo. . . . .....................................link in bio . . . . #totoro #myneighbortotoro #princessmononoke #mononoke #ponyo #nausicaa #calcifer #movingcastle #studioghibli #hayaomiyazaki #etsy #anime #manga #spiritedaway #chihiro #haku #enamelpin #pins #sale #etsy #equality #empoweringwomen #empoweredwomen (at Little Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1juHnTFgmp/?igshid=o38g8oztps94

#totoro #myneighbortotoro #princessmononoke #mononoke #ponyo #nausicaa #calcifer #movingcastle #studioghibli #hayaomiyazaki #etsy #anime #manga #spiritedaway #chihiro #haku #enamelpin #pins #sale #equality #empoweringwomen #empoweredwomen

[pinpampoom-blog]

Studio Ghibli characters. . . . .....................................link in bio . . . . #totoro #myneighbortotoro #princessmononoke #mononoke #ponyo #nausicaa #calcifer #movingcastle #studioghibli #hayaomiyazaki #etsy #anime #manga #spiritedaway #chihiro #haku #enamelpin #pins #sale #etsy #equality #empoweringwomen #empoweredwomen (at Staples Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1LH507lLWb/?igshid=1jz26zae6dm5x

#totoro #myneighbortotoro #princessmononoke #mononoke #ponyo #nausicaa #calcifer #movingcastle #studioghibli #hayaomiyazaki #etsy #anime #manga #spiritedaway #chihiro #haku #enamelpin #pins #sale #equality #empoweringwomen #empoweredwomen