What is immediately striking about any Studio Ghibli film is the quality of the production. Looking back upon the many films produced by the Japanese animation company, there are a number of elements which combine to deliver an unparalleled viewing experience. The rich textures, vivid colours and realism of the imagery; the fluidity and charm of the hand-drawn characters; and the mellow pacing of the action. Memorable personalities, fantastic creatures and machines whizz around and are bursting with energy and life. To complement the visual cacophony, musical scores of many Ghibli films are delivered by Joe Hisaishi, who matches onscreen emotion with sweeping orchestral strings and subtle European motifs. The Wind Rises is exemplary of the high production values of Studio Ghibli. With a story based upon the notion of flight, viewers are treated to wonderful displays of animation as sleek and complex machines take to the air. The colours are vibrant, as wings of green and red soar through never ending skies of blue. In the protagonist Jiro's dreams, we see ideas come to life, as pencil drawings leap from paper into fully-imagined reality. Equally, the delicate details of the film are not forgotten; cigarette smoke swirls in the breeze, and pebbles rattle in near-silence. As Jiro crosses from Japan to Europe, we travel with him on a cultural exchange. The cold of Germany is contrasted by the warmth of Tokyo, whilst the dream sequences fall into a timeless yet welcoming sky of clouds and stars. The atmosphere of the film is almost governed by the score of Hisaishi, who brings an Italian feel throughout, despite the heavy Japanese theme. Artistically, the film can be appreciated on an aural and visual level alone, such is the quality of Studio Ghibli.
