Let's talk about Ghibli movies and War⚔️
Something that I really appreciate about them is that despite being heavily anti-war there's great attention to detail in all things military.
Here's what I've noticed▶️
Something that I really appreciate about them is that despite being heavily anti-war there's great attention to detail in all things military.
Here's what I've noticed▶️
A lot of this is attributed to the studio's recurrent director: Hayao Miyazaki, and it's his movies Im gonna talk about.
A man who highly values realistic depictions of humanity, even in fantasy stories.
Apparently this is where those "anime was a mistake" memes come from, btw.
A man who highly values realistic depictions of humanity, even in fantasy stories.
Apparently this is where those "anime was a mistake" memes come from, btw.
Despite having witnessed the horrors of war (for which he has a clear disdain) Miyazaki has admitted to still being fascinated by it.
That fascination paired up with his work philosophy has given us very interesting depictions of war and warriors.
That fascination paired up with his work philosophy has given us very interesting depictions of war and warriors.
Special thanks to @gunsen_history for providing me with visual sources for the Samurai arms and armor and reviewing my takes on it.
If you are into Japanese military History, go check his page!
If you are into Japanese military History, go check his page!
"Princess Mononoke"
This movie is PACKED, with noteworthy details.
First things first:
I don't know jack about the Emishi, so I'll refrain from talking about Ashitaka and his people.
For now, just know they are inspired by a real historical group from northern Japan.
This movie is PACKED, with noteworthy details.
First things first:
I don't know jack about the Emishi, so I'll refrain from talking about Ashitaka and his people.
For now, just know they are inspired by a real historical group from northern Japan.
The depiction of Samurai armor is pretty good.
The lack of lacing keeps it from being a perfectly accurate depiction, but the arms and armor look the part for early 1500s Japan.
The breastplates' shaping is mostly anachronistic, dating to late instead of early 16th century.
The lack of lacing keeps it from being a perfectly accurate depiction, but the arms and armor look the part for early 1500s Japan.
The breastplates' shaping is mostly anachronistic, dating to late instead of early 16th century.
In that very first image, you can also appreciate the presence of stationary shields, called "tate", which were very popular in medieval Japan.
The samurai use a variety of weapons in this movie, I appreciate that you can see them wield the bow, odachi (greatswords) and naginata from horseback.
All of these were a thing.
All of these were a thing.
The depiction of the Ashigaru is also realistic according to the visual culture of the time, with lots of exposed skin and partially armored bodies.
The weapon selection is also great, with polearms, greatswords and the ocasional bow.
The weapon selection is also great, with polearms, greatswords and the ocasional bow.
The elegancy of the equipment and the martial prowess of the warriors onscreen isn't incompatible with depicting the crude reality of war.
Mononoke doesn't shy away from it.
Mononoke doesn't shy away from it.
The movie features a variety of historical firearms.
These guns have creative liberties but altogether paint a realistic picture for the (ficticious) developtment of firearms Lady Eboshi's city.
These guns have creative liberties but altogether paint a realistic picture for the (ficticious) developtment of firearms Lady Eboshi's city.
Eboshi's men wield guns that seem inspired by chinese hand cannons of the 1400s.
You can see that the ones in the movie are bigger and are depicted as very powerful but short ranged weapons.
So whilst clearly dramatized, they operate within the realms of reality.
You can see that the ones in the movie are bigger and are depicted as very powerful but short ranged weapons.
So whilst clearly dramatized, they operate within the realms of reality.
We can see that the shaft has a butt-spike.
Early guns didn't have a huge range and having to enter melee combat could be a reality for gunners.
Lacking armor and side-arms, it's a good detail that these soldiers have something to fall back to.
Early guns didn't have a huge range and having to enter melee combat could be a reality for gunners.
Lacking armor and side-arms, it's a good detail that these soldiers have something to fall back to.
Eboshi wields what looks like an early arquebus (what some cultures called shotugns in the late 1400s).
Like the hand cannon, it doesn't have a lock or trigger and a match is used to fire the gun, which is perfectly in line with early historical firearms in Europe.
Like the hand cannon, it doesn't have a lock or trigger and a match is used to fire the gun, which is perfectly in line with early historical firearms in Europe.
Eboshi's leppers later come up with full on arquebus.
The movie makes an effort to showcase it's increased range and power within the movies' dramatized "power levels".
I like that Eboshi has servants reloading spare guns for her. That's real stuff.
The movie makes an effort to showcase it's increased range and power within the movies' dramatized "power levels".
I like that Eboshi has servants reloading spare guns for her. That's real stuff.
The gun has a few quirks to it, like being a breechloader. That's rare for the 1500s, but not impossible, Henry VIIIth had one in 1537.
Idk about the trigger being placed above the stock and the gun being mounted above the shoulder instead of against it tho.
Idk about the trigger being placed above the stock and the gun being mounted above the shoulder instead of against it tho.
I love that Gonza has a page who carries his greatsword for him and that most of Eboshi's citizens own naginatas and help with the city's defense.
This movie is plagued with cool details, but we gotta move on.
This movie is plagued with cool details, but we gotta move on.
"Laputa: Castle in the Sky"
The green soldiers seem to be loosely based on german and british infantry from WW1.
Even thought there's plenty fo differences, the uniforms look very deliberately german. With the flat field caps and the iconic pickelhaubes.
The green soldiers seem to be loosely based on german and british infantry from WW1.
Even thought there's plenty fo differences, the uniforms look very deliberately german. With the flat field caps and the iconic pickelhaubes.
Even then, instead of the german gray, they dress in a closer color to the british green caqui uniform.
And moreover, they carry some variation of the british SMLE rifles and the Webley revolvers.
And moreover, they carry some variation of the british SMLE rifles and the Webley revolvers.
The final bit of trivia (and german inspiration) for this movie is their usage of the "stielhandgranate", or stick grenades used by german forces during the first half of the 20th century.
"Howl's Moving Castle"
Ingary's military forces' uniforms are inspired by late 19th to early 20th century French uniforms.
The caps, the blue jackets and red trausers are pretty recognisable. Again, as far I can tell, they're not an exact copy of any actual uniform.
Ingary's military forces' uniforms are inspired by late 19th to early 20th century French uniforms.
The caps, the blue jackets and red trausers are pretty recognisable. Again, as far I can tell, they're not an exact copy of any actual uniform.
Their rifles look like the Gewehr 98s to me, which is ironically a german weapon.
The movie is however, much more interested in the effects of the military on the world, and not so much the life or customs of those who fight.
The movie is however, much more interested in the effects of the military on the world, and not so much the life or customs of those who fight.
Mass bombardments and living as a refugee are some of Miyazaki's earlier memories.
The toll war takes on civilian life is contrasted with the colorful parades and elegant weapons and uniforms of the men who partake in it.
The toll war takes on civilian life is contrasted with the colorful parades and elegant weapons and uniforms of the men who partake in it.
I like this depiction of the disconnect between soldiers and civilians:
After being hailed as heroes in the parade, they can't fathom what may go through a girl's mind when approached by two big soldiers in an alley.
Their behaviour is scary and predatory, unbeknownst to them.
After being hailed as heroes in the parade, they can't fathom what may go through a girl's mind when approached by two big soldiers in an alley.
Their behaviour is scary and predatory, unbeknownst to them.
Id love to comment on "Porco Rosso" or "The Wind Rises" but Im afraid Im a dummy when it comes to vehicles.
Just know that planes are one of Miyazaki's great passions and there's huge attention to detail that I cannot do justice to.
Just know that planes are one of Miyazaki's great passions and there's huge attention to detail that I cannot do justice to.
I have decided to talk about Nausicaa in a separate thread as this one is already very long.
I hope you guys have enjoyed this, share it if so, and thank you for reading the whole way through.
Stay tunned.
I hope you guys have enjoyed this, share it if so, and thank you for reading the whole way through.
Stay tunned.
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