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Studio Ghibli films are based on varied source materials. Some are inspired by studio executives' original stories, like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke, and some are based on young adult fantasy novels written by Welsh authors, like Howl's Moving Castle. Some are inspired by shojo manga, like Whisper of the Heart.

A basic definition of shojo are works that are marketed toward a young female audience. Though shojo is a demographic and not a genre, shojo stories tend to have certain conventions and trope hallmarks. Fans of shojo manga and anime will find plenty of familiar tropes in Studio Ghibli films, as well.

Shojo Trope: Friends-to-Lovers Taeko & Toshio Bond in Only Yesterday

Taeko goes back to the countryside where she grew up in the quiet contemporary film, Only Yesterday. Only Yesterday is based on a manga written for a female audience, though it's unclear whether it's classified as shojo.

The Elusive Samurai quickly made strong impressions as Weekly Shonen Jump's latest manga to get a hit anime adaptation, with confirmation of a second season on the way. As shown in The Elusive Samurai's X account and the official anime's website news portal, season 2 has been confirmed, meaning Matsui's long-running manga will continue to get the glorious exposure it deserves. With fans eager for more after a successful 12-episode first outing, the enthusiastic social media response is as strong for The Elusive Samurai season 2 as it first was after glimpsing the incredible teases from the first episode.

The Elusive Samurai season 1 was a visually spectacular production, thanks partly to CloverWorks' stellar animation and Yusei Matsui's zany vision, laden with cartoonish humor, magical realism, and surprisingly brutal violence. It's great for history buffs fascinated by the era of the Kamakura Restoration but exaggerated far enough to give healthy doses...

For years now, mugs, tumblers and similar drinkware products have been staple collector's items for fans across many brands and franchises. Studio Ghibli fans may therefore be especially happy to see the return of the company's Howl's Moving Castle and Whisper of the Heart mugs to its official store, with the merchandise combining functionality with uniquely appealing stained glass-style artwork.

Donguri Sora, Studio Ghibli's official online store, recently showcased its newly restocked Howl's Moving Castle and Whisper of the Heart mugs, which many may consider to be stunning art pieces in themselves. Released as part of the studio's "Donguri Closet" line, which specializes in merchandise targeted toward adult women, the mugs depict scenes taken directly from their respective films. The former shows Howl pulling Sophie gently through the air, while the latter portrays a similar 'air-walking' scene with Shizuku and the Baron, as well as a more 'grounded' one with...

From Howls Moving Castle to the latest, The Boy and the Heron, Studio Ghibli films are beloved by many adults, including non-anime fans. These films bring adults back to their childhood, where they witness the bravery of young kids to explore and seek out adventure. Ghibli movies expand imaginations with fantastical beasts and anthropomorphic characters that linger on in hearts and minds long after the credits begin to roll.

Like Disney movies, adults may want to share their favorite Studio Ghibli movies with their children. However, not all of the studio's films, like The Wind Rises, for example, are appropriate for a younger audience due to the violence and mature topics like death and political strife. Luckily, several other Studio Ghibli films are appropriate for the whole family to enjoy together.

Updated on September 26th, 2024 by Fawzia Khan: Studio Ghibli has that unique quality where its cinema can appeal to...

Whisper of the Heart is a Studio Ghibli contemporary about Shizuku as she figures out what she wants to do with her life. She's still a high school student, and she has a lot to balance between her family, friends, studies, and interests as an artist. The film is based on the 1989 shojo manga by Aoi Hiiragi.

Shojo manga and anime tend to have school-age female protagonists with very character-driven stories. Common shojo themes and tropes involve personal development, family dynamics, coming-of-age, and romance. Whisper of the Heart is all about Shizuku developing as an artist, finding direction as a student, and falling in love for the very first time.

Shizuku Gets Her First Taste of Adulthood Shojo Trope: Coming-of-Age

Shizuku's sister is normally the responsible one, while Shizuku likes to spend her days making art and reading her favorite novels. She doesn't really ever get in trouble. However, with...

Marin Kitagawa, the extremely popular female protagonist from the My Dress-Up Darling anime series, has received a first look at her elegant upcoming figure release, which stars the character dressed up for another of her beloved cosplay pieces.

Via the official Aniplex Plus X (formerly Twitter) account, My Dress-Up Darling's Marin will soon receive a new figure for preorder. Officially named the "Marin Kitagawa Baby Doll ver. 1/7 Scale Figure," the first image was recently revealed, showcasing Marin in a pastel pink and white cosplay and grinning while making a peace sign. She rests against a cushion, attached to the flat stand on which the figure sits. Readers can check out the full image below.

Related Hello Kitty & Sanrio Characters Get Adorable My Dress-Up Darling Anime Collaboration

Sanrio's Hello Kitty and Friends collaborates with the popular cosplay anime My Dress-Up Darlingfor new official artwork and licensed merchandise.

My Dress-Up Darling...

The summer 2024 anime season has been a standout, bringing many different genres and stories to the screen that have captured the hearts of fans worldwide. From thrilling historical action to heartwarming romance and imagination-filled fantasy, this season's anime is sure to have a show for fans of any genre.

With both sequels of beloved series and fresh new stories, the anime industry continues to expand and deliver stunning animation and heartbreaking storytelling. This summer's anime each have their own unique flair and narrative that make the summer 2024 anime season one of the best. Anime fans of intense battles, charming love stories, and mind-bending fantasy worlds will be pleased with this summer's must-watch titles.

The Elusive Samurai A Historical Action Anime That Follows Hojo Tokiyuki's Quest For Revenge

The Elusive Samurai Cast Hinaki Yano, Asaki Yuikawa, Mari Hino, Kikunosuke Toya, Yuichi Nakamura, Sayumi Suzushiro, Aoi YukiCharacter(s) Fubuki, Kazama Genba, Ayako,...

The Elusive Samurai , a currently broadcasting TV anime based on the historical fiction manga of the same name, has unveiled a new trailer focusing on the character of Shizuku (voiced by Hinaki Yano). The series is currently broadcasting in Japan and also streaming on Crunchyroll as part of the summer 2024 anime simulcast lineup. The Elusive Samurai Shizuku Trailer Shueisha serializes the original The Elusive Samurai manga by Yusei Matsui in its Weekly Shonen Jump manga magazine. Viz Media also publishes an English language version. Yuta Yamazaki directs the TV anime at animation studio CloverWorks, while Yoriko Tomita provides the series composition, Yasushi Nishiya provides the character designs and Akiyuki Tateyama and Gembi provide the music. The Elusive Samurai key art Related: Dish// Releases The Elusive Samurai Anime Opening Song Music Video Crunchyroll describes The Elusive Samurai : In the year 1333, the Kamakura shogunate government comes crumbling down. A trusted vassal,...

Lofi Girl was originally a .gif of Shizuku Tsukishima from Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart. Due to copyright issues, a new character, Lofi Girl, was born through Juan Pablo Machado's illustrations, and new characters like Lofi Boy have been created to join her. Lofi Girl has influenced many videos in the lofi genre, both for regular YouTube channels and official videos for fandoms, and Lofi Girl has also expanded with collaborations with various sites as well.

ChilledCow's study girl is the face of lofi music on YouTube for more than half a decade. Residing on lofi hip-hop radio -- a livestream of beats to relax or study to -- Lofi Girl has built a fan base, become a meme, and kept millions of people company while they chill, study, or just hang out to the rhythm of lofi beats.

The iconic YouTube figure has its origin in...

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As far as most Bleach fans and even general anime viewers are concerned, Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki are the franchise's power couple. The two have been shipped ever since the anime began back in 2008, and their fandom endures to this day. However, Ichigo's and Rukia's supposed romance was never canon. In the manga, author and artist Tite Kubo always intended for Ichigo and Rukia to be platonic friends. What's more, they had their own romantic endgames separate from each other. For one reason or another, this didn't stop the animators and fans from pairing the two up. The fact that "IchiRuki" still thrives in the fandom even as the long-awaited and well-received Thousand-Year Blood War leaned closer to their manga-accurate aromantic friendship speaks volumes to how popular the ship was.

It's difficult to pinpoint how and why exactly...

There are dozens of characters in Bleach, and several of these characters have siblings. For example, Orihime had an older brother who became a Hollow. That being said, neither of them are exceptionally powerful. Some of the strongest Bleach siblings happen to be Soul Reapers, and most of them are Lieutenant-level or higher. There are also Arrancar and Quincy siblings, who are fairly strong as well.

In most cases, the older sibling is stronger, but there are instances where the younger sibling is more powerful. One sibling pair is not even related by blood, but they would die in order to protect one another. Those adopted siblings are now two of Soul Society's strongest Captains. There are also some non-canon siblings that happen to be strong.

Your browser does not support the video tag. Isane & Kiyone Now Run Squad Four Members Of Kotetsu Family

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The live-action adaptation of writer Tadashi Agi and illustrator Shu Okimoto's Drops of God manga is officially set to continue. Drops of God Season 2 has been announced, with lead actors Fleur Geffrier and Tomohisa Yamashita to return as Camille Léger and Issei Tomine, respectively. According to Apple TV+, Drops of God Season 2 finds Camille and Issei once again attempting to pinpoint the origin of the most wonderful wine in the world. This mission takes them all over the globe on a journey that will change them both as they face their inner demons along the way. Oded Ruskin ( No Man's Land ) is back to direct the second season, which will premiere on Apple TV+ outside of Japan at an as-yet-unannounced date. Related: Live-Action Drops of God TV Series Takes Its Wine Tasting to Apple TV+ The first season of Drops of God premiered on April 21, 2023. Here's how manga publisher...

Initially a novel series under the title of “Undead Girl Murder Farce” that became a manga by Haruka Tomoyama and eventually an anime, “Undead Murder Farce” is one of the most unique, interesting, and entertaining titles of 2023.

on Crunchyroll

by clicking on the image below

The story begins in 1897 in Japan, when the country is in the process of exterminating any kind of monsters that roam its streets. Tsugaru Shinuchi, known as the “Oni Slayer”, makes a living killing some of these monsters in cage fights as a circus act. One evening, he stumbles upon a woman in a French maid outfit who is carrying a birdcage, and the two end up fighting. A voice from the cage, however, proves to be the severed head of an immortal who introduces herself as Aya Rindo and her maid bodyguard as Shizuku Hasei. She requests that Tsugaru help find...

Each anime season is an exciting blend of brand-new titles, new seasons of returning shows, and even anime movies and other features. While no anime season has yet reached the incredible heights of the Fall 2022 anime season, the Summer 2023 anime season did well for itself and offered a remarkable variety of shows for fans to enjoy inside with the air conditioning on.

A few titles in the Summer 2023 season seemed promising but fell flat after they began airing, such as the game-based Liar, Liar and the fun but forgettable My Tiny Senpai. By contrast, the Summer 2023 season also featured some heavy-hitting titles that proved summer isn't always the weakest anime season of the year. With these titles, Summer 2023 easily matched or even surpassed the Winter and Spring seasons from earier this year.

Related: 10 Reasons One Piece Needs a Remake

Undead Girl Murder Farce

Undead Girl Murder Farce is a supernatural...

Romance is an overarching theme in anime. Regardless of the genre, there is often at least one couple for fans to root for in any given show. These couples also tend to be responsible for some of the best, most romantic lines in anime.

The most heartwarming quotes speak to the truths about love. They reveal how strong romantic feelings can be, and highlight how much a character feels for another person. The quotes can be heartbreaking or uplifting, but their overall romantic messages still point to the heart of love. Anime characters may not always say, "I love you," directly, but these anime quotes convey the same sentiment.

Related: Demon Slayer: 14 Inspiring Quotes From The Anime

Shizuku Tsukishima (Whisper Of The Heart)

Shizuku Tsukishima is a normal high school girl until she meets Seiji Amasawa. His beautiful violin and the music he plays inspire her to finally sit...

The films of Studio Ghibli are among the most well-respected and beloved anime films in existence. For nearly 40 years, Studio Ghibli has been on the forefront of animation, putting out classic after classic. The studio's characters have become iconic and instantly recognizable, even far beyond the usual anime fandom. Ghibli's films are known for their inventive fantasy elements as well as their overwhelmingly wholesome content, often focusing on family, friendship, and coming-of-age stories.

The best Studio Ghibli films mix these various elements together to create an experience that's unlike anything else, bringing together beautiful visuals, fitting music, and well-written stories into one cinematic bundle. Because Ghibli's output has been so consistently high over the years, it's pretty difficult rank their films in any objective sense, but these ten films are commonly considered to be some of the best work that the studio has ever put out.

Porco Rosso (1992)

Porco Rosso...

A bored executioner teams up with an immortal severed head and her combat maid to solve mysteries and fight monsters.

“You’re one of the monsters.”

Undead Murder Farce takes everything you know about gothic horror and murder mystery detective fiction and then stretches it almost cartoonishly out of proportion like it’s being watched through a funhouse mirror. Think you’ve seen your share of demon slayer stories? Then let’s throw in Jack the Ripper, Arsène Lupin, and Sherlock Holmes for good measure. Tired of the “monster of the week” genre? Well, what if Frankenstein’s Monster and the Phantom of the Opera were in the mix with vampires, werewolves, and every other supernatural creature imaginable? It’s elementary, my dear Renfield.

Oh yeah, and the main character is an immortal severed head.

All of that just scratches the surface of Undead Murder Farce, a supernatural detective anime...

Since its American debut back in the early 2000s, Studio Ghibli has garnered immense respect and admiration from fans of top-notch animation and storytelling. Though its famed co-founder Hayao Miyazaki has expressed disdain for the general industry, plenty of anime are still highly regarded in and out of the community. Fans of Ghibli's most realistic feature film, Whisper of the Heart, may be delighted to learn that a new anime in the Spring 2023 season is right up their alley.

With its focus on an aspiring young writer, Whisper of the Heart inspired viewers young and old about living life to the fullest even under the pressures of society. The currently-airing anime Skip and Loafer does much the same. With a similar tone, setting and message, Skip and Loafer is appearing to be a modern-day rendition of Whisper of the Heart.

Related: Studio Ghibli's When Marnie Was There Was Almost a...

Based on a manga by Aoi Hiiragi, Yoshifumi Kondo’s anime “Whisper of the Heart” was one of the most popular anime titles of the 90s, even becoming the highest grossing Japanese film of 1995. Yuichiro Hirakawa presents his own version now, again drawing inspiration from the original story, but moving into different narrative paths.

Whisper of the Heart is screening in select theaters in the US, courtesy of Capelight Pictures

The film unfolds in two axes, one in the present, when our main heroes, Shizuku and Seiji, are 25 years old, and one in the past, ten years before. To take things from the beginning, during their middle school years, both protagonists are extreme bookworms, who compete for who will first get the new novel from the school library. Following Shizuku’s investigation on her adversary’s identity, the two eventually meet, and realize that they have too much in common,...

“Whisper of the Heart”, the favorite, coming-of-age Studio Ghibli film, was released in the distant 1995. Based on the homotitled manga by Aoi Hiiragi, it stands as the first movie of the Japanese Dream Factory that is not directed by Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata. Behind its success lies Yoshifumi Kondo, the director who worked on plenty of masterpieces, such as “Princess Mononoke“, “Grave of the Fireflies”, and “Kiki’s Delivery Service“. By examining the difficult path that leads one to discover who he truly wants to be, by narrating the stressful and clumsy process of entering adulthood and personal maturation, it unfolds a world full of realism, imagination, and strong emotions. But, let’s take a closer look!

The story revolves around Shizuku Tsukishima, a teenage girl who is in the last grade of high school, and, instead of studying for her exams, prefers to read literary books and …follow stray cats.