| Dodece said: I would describe myself as a very ardent fan of Anime. I own a fairly large collection of titles, and have been collecting for years. Plus I have watched over a hundred series through rentals. So in my experience most people that comment on what is good or bad in Anime come from a fairly narrow point of view. They basically see Anime in very broad strokes, and end up thinking in fairly broad terms. Honestly I feel like I have a more critical eye. Ghibli films are basically the equivalent of raw sugar. They are full of energy, color, and vibrance. They are full of emotion, but beyond that not much else. Sure for the most part they are fairly potent, but that potency comes at a fairly steep price. Basically they can leave the viewer sick, and lethargic if they take in too much, and like a sugar rush it is easy to become distracted and disconnected. Making the entire exercise meaningless. So I can see how some would have a lower threshold of tolerance, and reach the limit faster then others. I can stomach Ghibli for around two hours. After that the emotional fix no longer masks the fact that my mind has begun to whither under the barrage of meaninglessness. That said if you can stomach super sweet for a couple hours Ghibli is a good emotional fix. I usually watch the films when I am feeling under the weather. That usually puts a little spring back in my step, and they are a good way to just forget what is bothering you at the moment. Not because they engage, but because they overwhelm. That said I really couldn't imagine downing this kind of content for many hours or day after day. The lack of real mental stimulation would simply start to drive me away. Children are fairly simple, and that is good for them, but as an adult I need to be more engaged. That said a Ghibli game seems like a oxymoron. Their films aren't all the intellectually engaging, and that is the core of what a game is supposed to do. Could result in a fairly weak experience, and more then that the real soft tone could drive players away. I can't help but remember how the hyper childishness of Blue Dragon struck many members of this forum as pretty foul. This game is looking many times sweeter, and the combat system isn't looking anywhere near as complex as Blue Dragon. I would watch this one very cautiously. |
You seem to misunderstand what makes a Ghibli movie great. It doesn't really surprise me as you don't seem to understand what makes a video game great either. Video games have nothing to do with intellectual engagement. A quick comparison of any of the greatest games of all time with any decent piece of literature or cinema shows that games will never be able to compete in that regard. However, that's not what games are about, so that's not really important. Games are about fun, enjoyment. In that sense, it is gameplay that makes games.
Likewise, Ghibli movies are all about masterful story telling (story telling is to movies as gameplay is to games, in case you didn't make that connection). There's no incredibly complex plot full of twists and turns. There doesn't need to be. Every scene, every character, every tiny detail in a Ghibli movie serves a purpose. Whether it be characterization, developing relationships, explaining the setting, or something else, all of it is shown with a purpose. There is no unnecesary fluff, no plot holes, no distractions. When you watch all of these things work together to tell one story, it's really beautiful. It's story telling at its best, and it's what makes Ghibli adored by so many.
@Galaki: I'm kind of surprised by this thread because I normally agree with you on almost everything. I love Ghibli. I think you should try watching one of their films from the start. View one as an entire package, and then see what you think.
Edit: By the way, I too, have seen well over a hundred anime, so I'm not exactly ignorant about this sort of thing.
