Marianna Zanetta, Asuka Ozumi
The Magic of Studio Ghibli
A Journey into Miyazaki's Imaginary World. An unofficial Guide
Filled with lush, luminous images from every feature film, this immersive guide traces Studio Ghibli's mythic universe, connecting each film to the Japanese folklore and traditions that inspired it.
Spanning all twenty-three Studio Ghibli feature films, this guide reveals the symbols, spirits, magical creatures, enchanted landscapes, and recurring motifs that bind the studio’s worlds together. Drawing on folklore, religion, literature, and centuries of cultural history, it explores how ancient beliefs, archetypal figures, and legendary narratives become vivid characters, fantastical realms, and deeply human stories. Gorgeous reproductions immerse readers in Studio Ghibli’s visual world, inviting them to linger over the artistry and atmosphere of every film. From My Neighbor Totoro’s forest spirit and Spirited Away’s bathhouse of gods, to Princess Mononoke’s guardian deity, each chapter combines historical background, plot, and an exploration of the film’s distinctive forms of magic, tracing connections to Shinto and Buddhist thought, European fairy tales, and other influences while revealing the meanings, ideas, and references woven throughout these films. Blending mythology, and film criticism, the result is a new way of seeing the movies audiences have loved for decades.
Biography
Marianna Zanetta
MARIANNA ZANETTA is president of the Inari Association for the promotion of Japanese culture in Italy and is a renowned authority on Japanese cultural traditions.
Asuka Ozumi
ASUKA OZUMI holds a Ph.D. in South and East Asian studies and teaches Japanese language and translation for several institutions, including the University of Turin. She also works as a consultant for several publishing houses and as a translator of manga, fiction and nonfiction.
