Studio Ghibli and Pixar: animation giants & best friends

6:00 PM on 12.28.2009   |   Ben Huber

Pixar and Studio Ghibli are perhaps the biggest names in animation right now (let's ignore stuff like Madagascar right now, okay?), and in a recent news report about the release of Up in Japan, the report makes note of the many connections between these two animation giants. It's no secret that the head of Pixar, John Lasseter is good friends with Hayao Miyazaki, in fact, Miyazaki sent Lasseter 50 makkuro kurosuke for his 50th birthday -- talk about a lot of soot. But from Ghibli merchandise hanging up all over Pixar, to a delightful portrait of Sulley, Mike, and Totoro in Studio Ghibli itself, it's obvious that the ties are strong. The whole report itself is in Japanese, but there's a few interviews with Pixar employees within it in English, and the message is pretty universal. While Miyazaki definitely controls most of the process and the Ghibli films are often part of a more singular vision, Pixar is moreso the opposite, with group collaboration and ideas encouraged. Neither are a "wrong" way, but instead (in my mind, at least) show opposite sides of the coin. Check the video out below.

Now, who thinks a collaboration is in order? Holy crap, that actually sounds really awesome

[seen on alafista.com, via Japan Probe]

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