Appreciation of Anime

My boyfriend has really got me into some of the Studio Ghibli Anime films, so far I've watched Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle, and he's bringing some more of them next time he's up in Leeds.

I know they aren't everyones cup of tea, and if I'm honest I wasn't so keen on the idea when he first mentioned them.. but since sitting down, watching it, taking it all in, I think they are just beautiful.

Yeah ok, they aren't the highest quality of animation, but I think that adds a sense of how unique they are - some of them are so deep and meaningful and full of messages to pick and unwind and leave you feeling a bit emotional. 

The icing on top, for me, is the sound tracks of the films, the emotional messages are just so perfectly put across through this music... I used to play the piano when I was younger, for a good 7 or 8 years, but got lazy and stopped practicing, and possibly biggest regret of my life, stopped having lessons. 

Hearing this music has just made me want to go play the piano again even more, and get into playing some pretty music, as I like to call it :)

Here's 'One Summer's Day', the theme from Spirited Away, performed live by Joe Hisaishi, a composer and director who is best known for his works with the Studio Ghibli co-founder and animator Hayao Miyazaki.

And a random fact for you, Spirited Away overtook Titanic to become the highest-grossing film in Japanese history.

Don't knock it till you've tried it! It's powerful Anime stuff.