Over the last month or so, Madman Entertainment have been asking their fans to vote for their favourite anime releases from the company (Along with other releases which due to their diversity, most likely won’t make it into this top 20) and giving away on-the-spot prizes to those who provided interesting vote justifications. The intention of this is to generate what fans would consider the companies Top 20 series releases.
So far Studio Ghibli has taken two spots in the Top 20…. #17 with My Neighbor Totoro and #10 Spirited Away. As we now enter the single digits, Studio Ghibli have taken out the 9th spot with Howl’s Moving Castle – a title I have watched quite a few times, and am personally excited for the official Blu-ray release this month.
Now to Madman for their statement on the placement:
After Spirited Away brought awareness for Studio Ghibli with its Academy Award win, director Hayao Miyazaki followed with another incredible adventure filled with magic and a female lead who from humble beginnings must find inner strength.
For our heroine, Sophie, a malicious curse by the jealous Witch of The Waste, becomes the first step to find new friendships with some of the most original characters anywhere – Calcifier the living flame, the enigmatic wizard Howl and the castle itself, stunning and imposing in its sheer size.
For Howl’s to just pip Spirited Away in the poll shows that Miyazaki may indeed be getting better at delivering a mix of magic and wonderful characters inside another vivid, fantastical world.
