Does anyone feel the show has a Studio Ghibli influence to it?

[TheAnimatorOfficial 567]

I've heard people say that the show has an anime influence to it, but really the specific connection I could come up with is Ghibli. Why Ghibli? Because of a few reasons.

 

One is an escape from reality. Unlike normal anime, Ghibli films are submerged in an alternate world, rather than chaos occurring in the real world (with a couple exceptions). It creates a very different perception of society than compared to what we are used to. In retrospect, MLP is the same idea. It is it's own world that may have allusions to ours but will create a trip for us to go on instead.

 

Second is the use of simplicity. Yes, there are some deep Ghibli films like Grave of the Fireflies and Princess Mononoke, but a lot of them are memorable because they don't need to be deep to work. Films like Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service have fairly straightforward plots that create connections due to the world and logic they use with characters that simply comply with them. MLP is the same. It's not layered like Avatar or Gravity Falls but it is imaginative enough to allow you to make a connection to its world.

 

Third is the cuteness factor. No explanation needed.

 

Honestly, I'm glad they didn't try to make this show extremely dark and complex, because quite honestly it wouldn't have near the charm that it does.

[Daring_Do 552]

Have you seen Over the Garden Wall? That show actually did remind me of Studio Ghibli a little (but I've only seen like 2 Studio Ghibli movies ever).

[TheAnimatorOfficial 567]

Have you seen Over the Garden Wall? That show actually did remind me of Studio Ghibli a little (but I've only seen like 2 Studio Ghibli movies ever).

Yes, I have, and it's a masterpiece. But Over the Garden Wall is derived from the darker, deeper side of Ghibli. MLP in contrast is closer related to the lighter, more childish side.

Edited December 1, 2015 by TheAnimatorOfficial

[cmarston1 5,959]

I don't really see a lot of Studio Ghibli influence to MLP FIM.

The cartoons that I really see that kind of influence would be in Avatar the Last Airbender and the Legend of Korra.

Especially due to the spirits and how Beginnings Parts 1 and 2 were basically a 44 minute version of a Ghibili movie similar to Spirited Away.