The Most Expensive Anime Movie Ever Made by Studio Ghibli is So Good It Will Make You Cry
Studio Ghibli has probably given us some of the best animated movies over the years. Hayao Miyazaki, the co-founder of the acclaimed animation studio, has directed some of the best-animated films of all time. This is also because Studio Ghibli does not cut any corners when it comes to animating their movies.
They are known for spending large amounts while animating their movies. Most of the time, even going past budgets to make sure the movies come as close to perfection as possible. Here are some of the most expensive movies that Studio Ghibli has ever made.
Top 5 most expensive movies made by Studio Ghibli
5) From Up on Poppy Hill
The movie, From Up on Poppy Hill made by Studio Ghibli is set in the 1960s in Yokohama Japan, and follows the story of Umi Shun who tries to save their beloved clubhouse from demolition. The movie is a coming-of-age story about friendship, and activism and has a touch of Family drama. Given that the movie had a budget of an estimated $22,000,000 as per IMDb, it is the 5th highest-budget movie that Studio Ghibli has ever made.
5) Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
“Howl’s Moving Castle” by Studio Ghibli was directed by Hayao Miyazaki, It was based on a novel of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones. The animation studio managed to capture the author’s imaginative visualization and much more, as viewers follow the story of Sophie, a young girl who was cursed by a witch. As per The Numbers, Howl’s Moving Castle had a budget of around $24,000,000, making it the 4th highest-budget Studio Ghibli movie.
3) The Wind Rises
The Wind Rises, which was released in 2013, follows Jiro, a nearsighted young boy in Japan, who’s obsessed with flight. He becomes a talented aircraft designer, working tirelessly to create beautiful, functional airplanes. But there’s a twist, as the film unfolds against the backdrop of pre-war Japan, and Jiro’s creations end up being used for war. The movie explores the themes of Jiro’s love of airplanes and the harsh realities of war.
The Studio Ghibli movie had an incredible budget, as per IMDb of an estimated $30,000,000, and is the 4th highest-budget movie the studio ever made.
2) Ponyo
Ponyo is one of Studio Ghibli’s most mesmerizing animated films as it revolves around a goldfish princess and a 5-year-old boy. The movie has a wonderful theme of love and friendship while also subtly gives viewers environmental awareness. The story of the 5-year-old boy and the goldfish princess, as per The Numbers, had a budget of $34,000,000, and like most Ghibli films, it was worth every dime.
1) The Tale of Princess Kaguya
The Tale of Princess Kaguya is not only Studio Ghibli’s most expensive movie but is also the most expensive anime movie ever made. The movie is based on a 10th-century Japanese Tale, The Bamboo Cutter. Though the movie did not do as well as some of the others on the list, we can see why the animation studio, as per IMDb, spent an estimated $49,300,000, given its absolutely stunning visuals and animation.
Reasons why The Tale of Princess Kaguya had an incredibly high budget
The Art Style: Unlike many modern anime that rely on digital animation, The Tale of Princess Kaguya stays true to Ghibli’s roots with meticulous hand-drawn animation. Each frame in the movie is a work of art, with distinct watercolor styles that capture the celestial of the moon princess and the delicate nature of her story. However, this animation style is also one of the reasons that the movie came with a hefty price tag.
The time frame: The animation process for The Tale of Princess Kaguya was incredibly time-consuming. Every single frame had to be painstakingly hand-drawn and painted, resulting in a production that took years to complete—the long production time also meant an increase in the salaries of animators and artists, which made its contribution to the high budget of the film.
Visuals and Soundtrack: As mentioned earlier, the Studio Ghibli movie is based on a Japanese folktale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, The story has been around for nearly 10 centuries and the animation studio wanted this classic tale to have authenticity, and capture its timeless themes in a way that would resonate with modern viewers.
Aside from the animation, The Tale of Princess Kaguya features a beautiful soundtrack and a captivating score. The soundtracks in the movie perfectly complement the animation, keeping viewers hooked on the emotional journey of the princess. Creating a complete sensory experience added another layer of complexity (and cost) to the production.
You can stream The Tale of Princess Kaguya on MAX.
