Hayao Miyazaki retrospective at the Academy Museum

Entering the Hayao Miyazaki exhibit through Totoro’s tunnel with Joe Hisaishi playing overhead, I could have cried! When the tunnel opens up, you’re met by clips from Miyazaki films projected onto the walls. I had to remind myself that I could marathon the films once I got home (which I definitely did), and with great effort, pulled myself onward.

My favourite parts were the installations, anything related to Princess Mononoke (my favourite Studio Ghibli film), and the character design BTS. It was especially fun to see the various iterations of Kiki’s hair blonde, red, blue; long and flowing, tied down in pigtails; before settling on her brunette bob decorated with a red bow. Another cool thing I learned was that Miyazaki would write poems about his characters to convey their personalities to his animators, which were displayed on the walls of the exhibit.

Before leaving the museum, I popped by the museum store to grab the Hayao Miyazaki art book as a keepsake. You’re not allowed to take photos inside the exhibit (only the hallway outside), but it’s all documented in the book except for the installations — so still worth a visit, but not the end of the world if you couldn’t make it. I’m so grateful I got to visit this temporary exhibit twice before it ended, and now I’ll have this art book to flip through whenever I want! One day I’ll have to make my way to the Ghibli Museum, Ghibli Park, and Jiufen.

What’s your favourite Studio Ghibli film?