Studio Ghibli Almost Shut Down If Princess Mononoke Had Flopped—You Won’t Believe What Happened!

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Founded in 1985, Studio Ghibli is a renowned Japanese animation studio celebrated for its stunning visuals, captivating narratives, and profound emotional resonance. The studio’s signature style is hand-drawn animation with meticulous detail, showcasing intricate landscapes, graceful movement, and emotive characters in breathtaking scenes. However, Studio Ghibli has experienced periods of success and struggle throughout its history. Early on, the studio faced challenges for several years until it gained recognition with the release of Kiki’s Delivery Service in 1989 and found some financial stability. Yet, it was not until the 2001 film Spirited Away received an Academy Award that Studio Ghibli achieved global acclaim.

Ever since then, the studio has been on a continuous winning streak, particularly during the making of Hayao Miyazaki’s 1997 film, “Princess Mononoke.” The studio essentially bet their entire budget on this production, a risky move indeed. However, it turned out to be a blockbuster success, shattering box office records in Japan and becoming a major hit. The movie delves into the age-old struggle between nature and human advancement, a topic deeply resonant in Japanese culture. As reported by Vulture, French animator David Encasis, who worked on “Princess Mononoke,” shed light on some of the challenges Studio Ghibli encountered during its production.

Studio Ghibli Would’ve Closed if Princess Mononoke Had Flopped

1997 saw David Encasis, a renowned animator previously with Disney who worked on hits like “A Goofy Movie,” seize a unique chance to study under Studio Ghibli’s co-founders, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Today, he continues his career as an animator while instructing animation at Gobelins Paris. Much like the rest of us, he started from ground zero, referring to the training as “basic bouncing ball exercises and sketching hands.

I can’t help but express my immense gratitude for the opportunity I received. In just a matter of months, I absorbed knowledge that surpassed all my years spent at Gobelins and Disney combined! At one point, I even dreamt of joining Studio Ghibli, but there was a catch: Miyazaki required me to learn Japanese first. He mentioned that, during that period, the studio was immersed in their most ambitious project yet – Princess Mononoke. Enthusiastically, I recall thinking, “Wow, the level of craftsmanship is beyond my reach at this moment.” However, they generously offered to mentor me under the guidance of their top animators.

The company invested heavily in the production of the film, with Miyazaki himself stating that he wouldn’t mind if the studio faced financial ruin due to it. Given the precarious situation of the studio, they couldn’t afford to hire him as a full-time animator, especially since he was not fluent in Japanese and required a translator for communication purposes.

Despite some initial difficulties for the staff, Princess Mononoke surpassed expectations and remains among the top anime films ever made. To mark Studio Ghibli’s 40th anniversary, a remastered 4K version was screened in IMAX theaters across North America (including the U.S. and Canada) as part of a special celebration. The re-release has been another financial triumph, further cementing the enduring legacy of this Ghibli classic as one of their most notable masterpieces.

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2025-04-15 00:11