The animations of Japan's Studio Ghibli are among the most respected in the movie industry. Their films rank alongside the most popular non-English language films ever made, with each new eagerly anticipated release a guaranteed box office hit. Yet this highly profitable studio has remained fiercely independent, producing a stream of imaginative and individual animations. The studio's founders, Hayao Miyazaki and the late Isao Takahata, have created timeless masterpieces. Although their films are distinctly Japanese, their themes are universal: humanity, community and a love for the environment. No other film studio, animation or otherwise, comes close to matching Ghibli for pure cinematic experience. Studio Ghibli outlines the history of the studio and explores the early output of its founders. It examines all the studio's major works including Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies, My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Only Yesterday, Porco Rosso, Pom Poko, Whisper of the Heart, Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle, as well as the Oscar-winning Spirited Away. Odell and Le Blanc's informed analysis also considers Studio Ghibli's later features such as Isao Takahata's The Tale of Princess Kaguya, Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-nominated masterpiece The Wind Rises, and the hotly-anticipated The Boy and the Heron.'An excellent overview' - Library Journal'One of the most authoritative texts available. Whether you're a newcomer or a longtime fan, Studio Ghibli is well worth a read' - SciFi Now'A valuable beginner's guide to their complex and beautiful world' - The List Magazine'These guys sure know their Miyazaki and associates... a useful starter's guide' - DeathRay Magazine'Will make you want to see the films (again) with fresh eyes' - BookDragon

Michelle Le Blanc and Colin Odell are freelance authors and film critics. They have co-authored books about John Carpenter, Tim Burton, Horror Films, Jackie Chan, Vampire Films, Anime and Studio Ghibli and contributed to Wallflower Press's Alter Image and The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy. They are editors and contributors to the online film review salon Kamera.co.uk and Vector Magazine.