Fans of Studio Ghibli are always excited to see new initiatives from the renowned animation studio, even if it’s a 2D-animated advertisement for premium towels. The studio’s latest short serves as the first commissioned ad for the Marushin company, a licensing partner with Ghibli since 1994.
The advertisement is helmed by Takeshi Honda, a prolific artist from the studio, who served as animation director on Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning film The Boy and the Heron and the short Boro the Caterpillar. Honda, who has also contributed to Neon Genesis Evangelion, Millennium Actress, and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, utilized his own dog as inspiration for the analysis pitch of the commercial’s canine lead.
A small white dog takes center stage in the Marushin advertisement, showcasing the fun-loving pup chasing several items, including Porco Rosso‘s red seaplane and the tiny vehicle driven by Sousuke’s mother in Ponyo. The dog is seen sitting with a bright yellow towel at its paws at the conclusion of the short. As stated by Marushin, the initial concept for the short was presented to Ghibli producer and president Toshio Suzuki, who created the advertisement’s catchy phrase, “When a dog faces west, its tail faces east; towels are Marushin.”
The music for the advertisement is composed by Hayato Kadono, an esteemed pianist who has performed with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
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- Ken Fukuyama, Yuki Fukuyama (Author)
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- 246 Pages - 10/11/2022 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
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- Sumiko Uo (Author)
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- 6 Pages - 01/01/2005 (Publication Date) - BarCharts Publishing Inc. (Publisher)
You can view the charming 2D-animated advertisement below:
Recently, fans were also excited by the debut of Basil Twist’s breathtaking visuals created for the London Royal Shakespeare Company’s adaptation of My Neighbor Totoro. The iconic visuals illustrate the bus stop scene where sisters Mei and Satsuki first encounter the magical forest spirit during a rain shower. The production’s executive producer Joe Hisaishi and the RSC (in collaboration with Nippon TV and Improbably) released the image as the well-loved stage production continues its performance at the Gillian Lynne Theatre until March of the following year.
My Neighbour Totoro © Studio Ghibli. Logo by Toshio Suzuki. Concept and Design by Dewynters. © RSC and Nippon TV
- Used Book in Good Condition
- George Trombley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 376 Pages - 08/22/2014 (Publication Date) - Learn From Zero (Publisher)
- Ken Fukuyama, Yuki Fukuyama (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 246 Pages - 10/11/2022 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Sumiko Uo (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 6 Pages - 01/01/2005 (Publication Date) - BarCharts Publishing Inc. (Publisher)
The adaptation of Miyazaki’s 1988 classic by Tom Morton-Smith shattered the Barbican’s single-day box office record and received six Olivier Awards. Directed by Phelim McDermott, the show features Victoria Chen as Mei and Ami Okumura Jones as Satsuki. This production also highlights Joe Hisaishi’s cherished score in new orchestrations and presents hand-drawn title artwork by Studio Ghibli’s Toshio Suzuki.
Catch the trailer for the stage production below:
Sources: SoraNews24.com, Variety
