Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Running time 126 minutes
'The Wind Rises' is a film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli. This was also the last film that Miyazaki directed before his retirement in September 2013. The story used in the film, is a fictionalised interpretation of the life of Jiro Horikoshi, designers of the Mitsubishi A5M and it's successors, used by the Empire of Japan during World War II. As
usual, the film feels very 'Ghibli-esque'. I saw this film at the cinema when it was released in the UK and if I'd gone in not knowing anything about it, I would have instantly recognised it as the work of Studio Ghibli. From the nature of the story, the interaction between characters to the animation style and hard hitting developments unraveled in the plot, and the troubles the very likable characters have to face and overcome.
The film is set in 1916, and we are introduced to the main character, Jiro Horikoshi. Jiro dreams of becoming a pilot but his poor eyesight doesn't allow him to achieve this. During the initial period in the film, the main character, Jiro, dreams of meeting the Italian aircraft designer; Giovanni Battista Caproni. Caproni tells him that building planes is better than flying them. This opening to the film is a the typical uplifting and inspiring nature of Ghibli films, you feel the characters excitement and drive through the use of direction and animation style. The very attractive Ghibli style of animation intensifies the likability of characters and forces you as the audience to root for them as they pursue their goals and try and achieve their dreams, as is the case of Jiro in 'The Wind Rises'.
During the film, like many other Studio Ghibli motion pictures, the setting and location of scenes feel very unexpected. It's this spontaneity and inventive way of thinking that keeps you thinking
about the plot not being able to take your eyes away from the screen. The animation is very subtle in places, the backgrounds are detailed and fixed in most scenes, and there will only be one object moving in the scene, but you're so focused on that one detail that it feels seamless. Another thing I've noticed about the films that Studio Ghibli produce is that there is a huge emphasis on nature. Multiple scenes are filmed near forests or streams, characters go there in moments of need for peace and reflection, and it's in these moments that as the audience you also feel comfort. In these scenes you get to appreciate the stunning artwork of the film, because you're not distracted by any particular action or detail, but a still image of a natural environment. As well as the animation in these scenes, and in the film as a whole, the sounds used are very real and manage to transport you to that place. There is a scene in 'The Wind Rises' set in a forest, and a shot pans over a stream with a small waterfall, at this point in the scene, the only sound is the sound of the stream with the thoughts of the character, spoken over the top. It's efforts like this where you feel involved with the characters and the films as a whole.
The emotional involvement is heightened by the use of suffering and trouble that characters experience during the film. Jiro has an ongoing relationship with a female character in the film called Naoko, who he falls in love with. Throughout the film Naoko becomes increasingly ill, suffering from tuberculosis and at one stage in the film experiences a lung hemorrhage. She
promises him that they will marry once she recovers, but as her condition worsens she decides she wants to be with him and they marry each other, whilst enjoying their time together as her health deteriorates. It's scenarios like his, that make you feel a real and emotional connection to the characters in the story. You know the inevitable will happen, but you still hold out for the characters to recover and a happy ending. Ghibli films don't always have 'happy endings' per say, and can be very real in some of the content of their films, it's this portrayal of truth in their films that I think is one of the reason I'm drawn to them so much, because they're unpredictable and intense, but also, fulfilling and brilliant.
Another aspect to the style of the character design in this film and many of their others, is that they blend in with every other background character in the story. They're not special, they don't look different or stand out, they are regular people in a regular world. We're just seeing the story from their perspective. However, their design reflects their personalities so well, from their expressions and movement to their clothes. The personality as we see the characters develop is reflected in their aesthetic, another subtle detail that heightens the experience of watching a Ghibli production.
'The Wind Rises' is a film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli. This was also the last film that Miyazaki directed before his retirement in September 2013. The story used in the film, is a fictionalised interpretation of the life of Jiro Horikoshi, designers of the Mitsubishi A5M and it's successors, used by the Empire of Japan during World War II. As
The film is set in 1916, and we are introduced to the main character, Jiro Horikoshi. Jiro dreams of becoming a pilot but his poor eyesight doesn't allow him to achieve this. During the initial period in the film, the main character, Jiro, dreams of meeting the Italian aircraft designer; Giovanni Battista Caproni. Caproni tells him that building planes is better than flying them. This opening to the film is a the typical uplifting and inspiring nature of Ghibli films, you feel the characters excitement and drive through the use of direction and animation style. The very attractive Ghibli style of animation intensifies the likability of characters and forces you as the audience to root for them as they pursue their goals and try and achieve their dreams, as is the case of Jiro in 'The Wind Rises'.
During the film, like many other Studio Ghibli motion pictures, the setting and location of scenes feel very unexpected. It's this spontaneity and inventive way of thinking that keeps you thinking
The emotional involvement is heightened by the use of suffering and trouble that characters experience during the film. Jiro has an ongoing relationship with a female character in the film called Naoko, who he falls in love with. Throughout the film Naoko becomes increasingly ill, suffering from tuberculosis and at one stage in the film experiences a lung hemorrhage. She
Another aspect to the style of the character design in this film and many of their others, is that they blend in with every other background character in the story. They're not special, they don't look different or stand out, they are regular people in a regular world. We're just seeing the story from their perspective. However, their design reflects their personalities so well, from their expressions and movement to their clothes. The personality as we see the characters develop is reflected in their aesthetic, another subtle detail that heightens the experience of watching a Ghibli production.
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