You might be aware of the historic news that the legendary Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, The Boy, and the Heron) will be awarded the honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes, marking the first time it has ever been awarded to a group. However, to accompany Park Gorō Miyazaki in accepting the award on May 20 at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, four short films written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki will be screened, three of which have never been screened outside of Japan!
Never before seen Studio Ghibli shorts to premiere at Cannes
The first is called “Mei and the Baby Cat Bus,” a 13-minute mini-sequel to the beloved “My Neighbor Totoro” is the first, which, in typical Studio Ghibli fashion, follows a young girl called Mei and a whimsical “Cat Bus” whom she befriends after offering a caramel. One night, they head to the midnight forest full of ghosts, and an adventure begins.
The second is called “House Hunting” and focuses on the onomatopeia used in the Japanese language. Sound effects are created using the human voice, and lettering is animated on screen. It follows Fuki as she packs what she needs for a journey. She is looking for a new house, but on her way, she encounters a variety of lovingly animated strange creatures.
Third is an 11-minute short titled “Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess” (2010), accompanied by last year’s Oscar-winner Joe Hisashi’s arrangement of Vivaldi’s La Folia. It centers around a witch named Baba Yaga, living in a remote water mill, and uses a servant called the “Egg Princess.” One night, some dough comes to life from the witch’s spell, and it and the Egg princess become friends, running away from their life of servitude.
The final short, “Boro the Caterpillar,” is the longest at 14 minutes. It combines computer graphics and hand-drawn animation to create a world seen through the eyes of an insect. Whilst less story-focused, it is a celebration of nature. This 2018 short has only been shown at the Ghibli Museum and Ghibli Park.
