Ponyo on the cliff by the sea

Ponyo on the cliff is adapted from The Mermaid. Sosuke is a five-years-old boy. He finds Ponyo in a glass jar, and he saves her, put her in a green bucket. Ponyo is a goldfish princess. Sosuke tells Ponyo,”Don’t worry. I’ll protect you and take care of you.” Ponyo falls in love with Sosuke, but Ponyo’s father asks her to come back to the ocean. Ponyo makes up her mind to become human. She steals her father’s cherish “water of life”, pours all into the ocean. The ocean level rise up, and cause big damage.

This movie is a work that Miyazaki wants to reflection of family love. He is always busy working, so he doesn’t have time to take care his family. He is just like the father in the movie who always voyages. Simple, pure and true love is the topic Miyazaki wants to show in the movie. “Promise” is so important that even if Sosuke just a five-years-old boy, he still tries hard to protect Ponyo to finish his promise.

                   

The cute Ponyo and the song make this movie popular. Those who didn’t watch the movie still can sing the cute theme songJ

Trailer:

Song:

                       

Howl's Moving Castle

                                   

It is said that Howl(霍爾) is a wizard who eats girl’s heart, so the girls are warned that don’t get close to Howl. Howl living in a moving castle. Sophie(蘇菲) is a eighteen-years-old girl growing in the town. One day, she meets a handsome boy on the street, and the handsome boy is Howl. Suddenly, he hugs Sophie and makes her fly in the sky. They “take a walk” in the sky, and Sophie is fall in love with Howl.

                                 

Unfortunately, at that night, Witch of the waste(荒野女巫)is angry because of jealousy, she make Sophie become a ninety-years-old granny. She knows that she can’t stay in home with this old face so she decides to leave home. She meets Howl’s moving castle on her way, and starts a new life with fantasy and exciting.

          

In this movie, it implies that people just like Howl that they have good ability but they just use for themselves, they don’t know how to help others. But “love” has a strong power that can change everything. In the movie, Sophie’s love releases the curse on Howl, Scarecrow, and moving castle. Also is Sophie’s love changes Howl into a person who want to help others. When Howl uses his magic power for others, his power becomes stronger. It teaches us that don’t do everything just for ourselves, loving and helping others make our life more meaningful.

                         

Trailer:

Spirited Away

Chihiro(千尋) is a ten-years-old girl. She and her parents get lost on their way to the new house. They accidently get into a mysterious world, the special town is managed by Yubaba.(湯婆婆) On the town has a rule that who doesn’t have the work will become the pig and be killed. Chihiro’s parents eat a lot of food without paying and asking, so they become pigs. To save her parents, Chihiro works in the town, and the town’s work is to service Japanese God take the bath. With Haku’s(白龍) help, Chihiro gradually grows up and have a better performance on the work. She turns into a strong and courageous girl.

         

There is an important plot in this movie is about “name.” Everyone work in the town will forget their own name because Yubaba’s magic power, and Yubaba will give they a new name. For 

example, “Chihiro” change to “Sen.” It implies that people in the real life always forget their true heart, because people always use the mask to face the world. Their true heart just like their name, the mask is the new name. The people who can remember their own name, also their true heart, like Chihiro, will really grow up. 

This is my favorite Miyazaki’s movie. There is still a lot of plot I love so much. For example, Chihiro and Haku’s friendship is also touching. This movie won a lot of awards. It’s also the highest box office movie in Japan.

Trailer:

Song-The name of life (Piano):

Kiki's Delivery Service

 Kiki’s delivery service is released on July 29^th,1989.
The movie describes Japan teenage girsl how to be absolutely independent.

                                                  

   Kiki is a 13-year-old witch that is just learning how to be a witch. According to the family custom, it’s time for Kiki to leave home and go to a new city to start a whole new life. She uses her mom’s broom and takes off to Koriko with her cat Jiji. At first she can’t adapt the quick tempo in the city. Fortunately, she begins a delivery service with Osono’s assistance. She faces a lot of diversity when she runs her business. For example, one day, she lost all of her magic power, so she can’t fly and her delivery service can’t be provided. However, she finally overcomes all the hardship.

Northern Europe is the main inspiration
of the scene in this movie, so it's very beutiful.

We are just like Kiki. We just entered the university, and for lots of people, maybe it’s their first time live by themselves. We are all learning an absolutely independence from our family. Thus, when we watch this movie again we will have a brand new feeling of Kiki’s Delivery service. WE all will be depressed, but we all can just like Kiki to be optimistic to overcome all the obstacles.

             

             

Something special I want to recommend to everyone is the song in the movie,”I’m gonna fly.” This song is just for the English version, so we probably don’t have the chance to listen. But it’s a really encouraging song, and it’s also pleasant to hear. 

 The song "I'm gonna fly":

Trailer:

My Neighbor Totoro

My Neighbor Totoro was released on April 16^th,1988 in Japan. The story describes the beautiful natural world which existed before Japan’s high development of economy. It’s an amazing world that only the children can see it. This movie is popular because it raises audience’s memory of their home.

    

 This movie depicts the slow tempo in Japan’s country life. The story set in 1958.A university professor Tatsuo Kusakabe and his two daughter, Satsuki and Mei moved into an old house near the forest. The professor’s wife Yasuko is recovering in the hospital near there.

Susuwatari

Satsuki and Mei found something special in the house and in the neighbor. For example, there were a lot of “Susuwatari”, which looks like the liitle black ball. One day, Mei found the keeper of the forest,Totoro. The scene that impressed everyone most is the two sisters waiting catbus with Totoro.        

My Neighbor Totoro made Japanese animation popular in the world, also made Miyazaki become successful. Totoro to the Japanese just like Pooh to the English. This movie is so popular that there is a small planet is called Totoro.