In 2015, Studio Ghibli turned 30 and ceased feature film production.
With the retirements of Studio Ghibli’s most famous director, Hayao
Miyazaki, and it main producer, Toshio Suzuki, the future of Studio
Ghibli is in turmoil, provoking rallying cries from fans and critics
alike and offering an opportunity to reflect on the Studio’s output.
Miyazaki’s films have defined popular Japanese cinema for nearly two
decades, both at home and abroad. Miyazaki has captured a local and
global pop culture imagination, and in doing so his Studio has been
transformed from a comparatively small company into one of the biggest
global animation brands.
Despite Miyazaki’s professed departure, however, in other ways Studio
Ghibli is at the height of its popularity and power. Ghibli’s other
directors like Miyazaki’s founding partner, Isao Takahata, his son Gor?
Miyazaki, and others like Hiromasa Yonebayashi have produced recent
“anime” hits of varying degrees that suggest an expanding identity for
Studio Ghibli. Moreover, the Studio has become increasingly embedded in
other aspects of local and international popular culture, for example,
in the exhibition spaces of their “Art Museum” theme park near Tokyo, or
in their work in advertising and for charities. This anniversary year is
therefore a pertinent time to celebrate and critically reflect on Studio
Ghibli, not only exploring Miyazaki’s famous films, but also considering
other facets of the Ghibli universe.
Therefore, we are seeking up to eight articles for publication in a
special issue of a journal. We are particularly interested in scholarly
articles that take new approaches to Studio Ghibli, or which apply
unusual or new methods of analysis. We are also especially interested in
articles based on the international connections between Studio Ghibli
and the wider world, most specifically Asia. Possible topics include:
.Studio Ghibli’s presence in Asian and global film markets
.Studio Ghibli’s famous films and directors
.Studio Ghibli’s Art Museum
.Studio Ghibli’s charity work
.Studio Ghibli’s translation and adaptation for overseas markets
.Studio Ghibli’s brand identity
.The marketing of Studio Ghibli films in and outside of Japan
.Studio Ghibli’s music
.Studio Ghibli fandom
Please send your proposals, or finished articles, to both
r.denison@uea.ac.uk <mailto:r.denison@uea.ac.uk> and
rendellj1@cardiff.ac.uk <mailto:rendellj1@cardiff.ac.uk>. Proposals
should be no more than 300 words, and finished articles should be no
more than 6,000 words. For style guide information, please see:
http://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/MediaManager/File/style%20guide%28journals%29-1.pdf.
Deadline for proposals, *September 30^th 2015.*