2002-2006
In 2002 Studio Ghibli released NEKO NO OGANESHI, a smaller considered film as visual impact, since it has been made with a limited budget and subcontracted in a large part to the Korean DR-Movie. The direction was submitted to Hiroyuki Morita. And also for Toshio Suzuki's studio was the moment to bring on the screen a novel of the western literature. In fact HOWL NO UGOKU SHIRO is a free adaptation of the well-known book of Diana W. Jones. This was one of the best efforts made by Ghibli's staff. A masterpiece, a landmark of the animation history. A perfect screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki, a wonderful background styling by Yoji Takeshige, and a great and fluid animation by Kitaro Kosaka, Takeshi Inamura, and Akihiko Yamashita (storyboard artist and key frame supervisor on the amazing GIANT ROBOT OVA series). And we don't have to forget that a slice of the success also goes to the music performed by New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and to composer Joe Hisaishi, who is one of the many irreplaceable collaborators of Miyazaki. It almost immediately became Japan's highest box-office ever. The main staff includes great names such as Shinji Otsuka, Makiko Futaki, Masako Shinohara and Kenichi Yamada (inbetween animator until 1996). Several studios supported the production, Madhouse, Oh! Production and Doga Kobo among others. Despite the trend of subcontracting, the animation process was fully made in Japan, with no support of Korean facilities.
As for the preceding film Toshio Suzuki got the rights of a book of a non-Japanese author, since the Japanese appreciate for a long time the animate transpositions of works coming from the western literature (remember the Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theatre?). With great surprise the direction of GEDO SENKI (TALES OF EARTHSEA) is submitted, and not certain to want of Miyazaki, to his son Goro to its debut in the animation. In despite of negative critics from rewievers this long-length feature was in the top ten for many days. The staff of key animators including veteran such as Megumi Kagawa, Yoshiyuki Momose and Hideaki Yoshio (Ghibli's member since 1995). For the first time even korean animators such as Kim Dong Jun and Jang Gil Yong, did some key frames. A staff of some 40 artists took care of background painting, also including personal of DR-Movie (today one of the most rated studios in Seoul). Toshiharu Mizutani, Hiromasa Ogura, Kazuo Oga, Park Jong Im, Ko Hyo Soon, are among the most famous. Main production facilities were Oh! Production, Gonzo and Gainax.In these years, Ghibli is become effigy of quality, an undisputed institution amongst worldwide animation companies. It brought to success disparate genres. Today, its partnership with USA, started with the foundation of Topcraft Studio, is real reinforced. The sole interrogative remains: who will be the successors of Miyazaki and Takahata?
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