Summary
Studio Ghibliis renowned not just in the anime community but in the movie industry as a whole for its beautiful artwork. The Japanese studio is especially famous for still making movies using mostly hand-drawn animation, even as other studios switch to using computers and technology more and more.Studio Ghibliremains true to tradition, depicting its beautiful scenes and romanticizing the simple parts of life using animation techniques that have been around for decades.
Because ofshared values regarding traditional art, a few years ago Studio Ghibli allowed a famous tapestry designer to use some of their designs as inspirations for making traditional tapestries. While not your usual art form, tapestries are unexpectedly the perfect way to pay homage to the masterpieces that Studio Ghibli has created over the years. Now, one of those tapestries is on display in Japan for the first time, as reported by PR Times at the start of the month.
Art Honoring Studio Ghibli’s Values
The type tapestry is called Aubusson tapestry, originally from the Creuse region of France, and it was recognized in 2009 by UNESCO as a form of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Using processes described as “difficult” and “time-consuming,” Aubusson creates beautiful wall hangings and rugs with the same techniques that were used 600 years ago. Studio Ghibli is also known for being very traditional in the art of animation, and places a high value on sticking to those traditions against a changing world and refusing to do something just because it is easier.
Those shared values are why the studio allowed the Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie Museum in France to create five tapestries depicting scenes from Studio Ghibli movies in a collection called “L’imaginaire d’Hayao Miyazaki en tapisserie d’Aubusson” (“The imagination of Hayao Miyazaki in Aubusson Tapestry“). Studio Ghibli recognized that they were both trying to preserve traditional art in their own way, and both were using thoseolder, time-consuming techniquesto make something incredible.
The first piece was a scene fromPrincess Mononoke, and was unveiled in 2022. Next cameSpirited Awayin January 2023, and thenHowl’s Moving Castlein April of the same year. The final two tapestries in the collection will depict scenes fromNausicaä of the Valley of the WindandMy Neighbor Totoro, but they are not complete yet. These five movies are argubly the most famous Studio Ghibli movies - not counting therecent success ofThe Boy and the Heron, which came after the tapestries had already been planned - making them the obvious choices of inspiration for the series.
From France to Japan
Now, one of the massive tapestries from the L’imaginaire d’Hayao Miyazaki en tapisserie d’Aubusson has traveled all the way from France to Japan for the first time. On July 1st, 2024, the tapestry was displayed in a special ceremony in Hiroshima by curators from the museum’s exhibition, who also traveled all the way to Japan alongside the tapestry. The tapestry is an incredible 5 meters long (16.4 feet), made, of course, using only traditional Aubusson methods.
As translated and reported bySoraNews24, Studio Ghibli’s Executive Officer, Shinsuke Nonaka said,
“Although it is elaborate, it has a warmth that can only be brought about by handmade processes, and its large size makes it very impressive.”
Nonaka was the one who originally allowed the collaboration project to happen with the Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie Museum, but it was also his first time to see one of the tapestries in Japan. He went on to say he was very “glad to have agreed to the project,” and continued to praise how well the tapestry captured the art ofHowl’s Moving Castle.
Whilemany homages have been paid to Studio Ghibliover the years, both official and by fans, somehow a tapestry seems the most fitting. It is an art form that has been around for centuries and still creates stunning results without needing to change its approach to art. Studio Ghibli may not be 600 years old, but it has the same values when it comes to sticking to what it does best - also producing beautiful results. TheStudio Ghiblitapestry is currently on display in the lobby of the Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Art until September 25th, 2024. Tickets for the museum are not required to enter the lobby, so the tapestry can be viewed by anyone for free.
