You already know that I enjoy anime, but my favorite production studio, far and away, is Studio Ghibli. Now, I’m no expert on their films, as I’ve only seen a handful of them, but I know damned fine work when I see it.

In particular, I love the Ghibli films directed by Hayao Miyazaki. He’s often been called “the Japanese Walt Disney,” due to his tremendous influence and legacy in the world of animation. Concurrently, many animation fans refer to Studio Ghibli overall as “the Japanese Pixar.” This is an excellent and accurate comparison (aside from the fact that Studio Ghibli was founded a year before Pixar was).

Both studios create what on the surface appear to be films for children or young adults, but in fact appeal to a wide variety of age groups, and include surprisingly thought-provoking subject matter. Environmentalism, the nature of being human, the effects of war, and other complex themes permeate Ghibli’s films. Even its most “kid-friendly” film, Ponyo,* is rife with themes that grown-ups will enjoy. Some of Ghibli’s films are most certainly not for children, however, such as Grave of the Fireflies. (Great film, but one of the most depressing movies I’ve ever seen.)

I should also mention that Ghibli and Pixar are big fans of each others’ work. Miyazaki has visited Pixar’s main offices, and Pixar’s John Lasseter has toured Studio Ghibli. The latter’s mascot, Totoro, is even making a cameo in the upcoming Toy Story 3!

I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t this supposed to be an “anger blog”? Shouldn’t I be ranting and complaining about something, not gushing about my love for it? Well, I do have something to complain about when it comes to Studio Ghibli, and that’s the general perception of their films in the US. Ghibli’s work is often dismissed stateside by most people, and there’s a few reasons for that.

First of all, most Americans are hardwired to think that cartoons are always for children, which is simply ignorant. Lucasfilm, the [adult swim] block on Cartoon Network, and the aforementioned Pixar are making strides in changing this attitude, but it’s a massive uphill battle.

Plenty of anti-Ghibli sentiment also comes from the arrogant anti-anime crowd. These are the clowns that think that all Japanese animation is the hyperkinetic wild-eyed stuff. Again, this is ignorance, as well as stereotyping of the worst order. That shit really needs to stop. I’m not saying that there isn’t over-the-top anime out there, but there’s far more to the medium than ignorant stereotypes.

Last but not least, even some anime fans like to shit on Ghibli! There’s not many of them, but the haters do exist. Why? They simply hate Ghibli because they’re so influential and popular, with the usual battle cry of “overrated.” This kind of twisted negativity is present in just about any medium out there, be it film, music, or literature, so it’s no surprise that it’s present in the anime world as well. As with other media, it’s equally stupid behavior.

Studio Ghibli is a prime example of the stunningly high quality that anime creators can produce, and any fan of animation, or even film itself, is missing out by dismissing their work.

* – For more on Ponyo, be sure to read my pal Ryo-Ohki’s excellent review. Fear not, it’s spoiler-free. I also commented on that review with my own rambling thoughts on the film, but I do mention a few plot details. Other Studio Ghibli films Ryo-Ohki has reviewed include My Neighbor Totoro, The Cat Returns, Whisper of the Heart, My Neighbors the Yamadas, and Howl’s Moving Castle.