Be Spirited Away to the World of Studio Ghibli at the Today Art Museum's New Exhibition

If you've ever been to Tokyo, you'll more than likely have heard of and weighed up going to the perennially popular Ghibli Museum Mitaka. Whether you had the foresight to book your coveted ticket ahead of time is another matter entirely. Luckily, you won't have to travel to Japan nor tempt disappointment as Shuangjing's Today Art Museum will hold a four-month exhibition dedicated to the celebrated Japanese animation studio, June 12 to October 10.

Titled Miyazaki and Ghibli's World, the exhibition includes sketches, design drafts, and original celluloid film from the studio’s 21 classic animations such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Howl's Moving Castle.

Headed by animator, auteur, and all-around workaholic, Hayao Mizayaki, Studio Ghibli got its start in 1985, producing its three breakout films Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro (pictured at top), and Grave of the Fireflies in as many years.

However, it wasn't until the release of Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away in 1997 and 2001, respectively, that international audiences became acquainted with Ghibli's works. The latter would go on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and earned close to USD 300 million at the box office.

Ghibli's major themes include the loss of innocence, alternate realities, man's effect on nature, and love, whereas Miyazaki's work style is unique in that he traditionally forgoes screenplays in favor of developing each of his film's narratives during the storyboarding process. The result is the creation of lush, otherworldly landscapes and complex but universal characters, helping them to become recognized and loved around the globe. The scale of each of Ghibli's films is further bolstered by the rich, epic, and playful orchestral scores of Joe Hisaishi.

Given that we're all craving a little means of escape these days, the arrival of this Studio Ghibli ephemera couldn't have come at a better time.

Tickets to Miyazaki and Ghibli's World, which runs from June 12 to October 10, cost RMB 98 on weekdays and RMB 128 on weekends. The museum is closed on Mondays. Find more details here.

READ: Beijing's Changing Landscapes: Themeparks, Theaters, and More

Images: happymag.tv