Shuna's Journey
Shuna's Journey -or Shuna no Tabi, by its original title in Japanese, is an adventure and fantasy manga created by the iconic Japanese animation film director, producer, illustrator, mangaka, animator and businessman Hayao Miyazaki, who is best known for being the co-founder of Studio Ghibli. The work that concerns this review was illustrated for the first time in 1983, but it did not go on sale abroad until last October 27.
This illustrated story from the creator of masterpieces such as El viaje de Chihiro, Howl's Moving Castle o La princesa Mononoke, It was published in Japanese by the Tokuma Shoten publishing house, and by Salamandra Graphic for Spain.. Its launch coincides with the premiere of The boy and the heron, the last film that the maestro will be in charge of before his retirement.
A tale brought from the past
The premise of all his great stories
Over the years, Hayao Miyazaki has managed to provide audiences with some of the most moving stories of the last forty years. All their stories seem to be moved by the same common threads: a deep love for nature and living beings, strong women and certain ones that overcome the harshest circumstances, poverty, the value of friendship, the environmental consequences of industrialization, and war.
This has been demonstrated from his first to his latest productions, such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind y The wind rises, respectively. In the case of Shuna's Journey is no different. In fact, It could be said that this manga is a magnificent pillar to understand the author's philosophy and his way of seeing the world., which are indelibly reflected in all his productions.
The art in Shuna's Journey
Likewise, the artistic style developed by Miyazaki is very characteristic, being Shuna's Journey a door to one of the filmmaker's first works.
The pages of the work are made up of beautiful and delicate drawings using watercolor technique. These are very reminiscent of those that would later grace his cinematographic repertoire at Studio Ghibli, a production house known for its quality of animation, evocative landscapes drawn by hand frame by frame, harmonious color palettes and female characters less “beautiful” than the average in animated movies.
Shuna's Journey It is composed, almost entirely, of drawings. The vignettes are present to advance the story a little more explicitly, but, in general, Hayao Miyazaki's illustrations support the story by themselves, so there are only some dialogues within the work. As for the drawings, these are naturalistic, rich in pastel tones and cold colors, with a preponderance of greens and blues.
Synopsis of Shuna's Journey
The typical story of the hero's journey, but in the best Miyazaki style
The protagonist of Shun's Journeya is a boy who has inherited a land where nothing flourishes. The young man is condemned to watch how his people work tirelessly to obtain little more than a few grains. However, an old man arrives at the place after a long journey. Already exhausted, with his last words, he tells Shuna the legend of some golden seeds that could make food grow again in his home.
However, to obtain the seeds Shuna must undertake a journey to the place where the Moon is born, A space from where no one has ever returned. Despite the danger, the young man does not think twice before embarking on the adventure, in which he must face unimaginable fears. Through this premise, two of Hayao Miyazaki's constant tropes are perceived: the solitary hero and man's relationship with the environment.
The original story behind Shuna's Journey
Hayao Miyazaki's productions have always felt more Western than the works of most other Japanese authors. However, the director has also defended the culture and traditions of Japan and the regions adjacent to the land of the rising sun. One of these cases occurs in Shuna's journey, as This book is inspired by a Tibetan legend known as The prince who turned into a dog.
The story is appreciated through the hand of Miyazaki himself, who is in charge of telling it in the prologue of his book. The legend says about a prince who is overwhelmed by the misery his people are going through due to the grain shortage.. To appease her, he begins a long journey. After much trouble, he manages to steal some grains from the snake king, but he curses him, turning the boy into a dog. Later, the heir is saved by the love of a girl.
About the author, Miyazaki Hayao
Miyazaki Hayao was born on January 5, 1941, in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. The filmmaker is the second of four children from a wealthy family. His father was Miyazaki Katsuji, director of the Miyazaki Airplane company, which was in charge of building rudders for the A6M Zero fighter planes. The actions of the author's father took place during World War II, so Hayao witnessed some consequences of the battle while still very young.
This fact forever marked the creator, who, as animation director, He dedicated himself to producing anti-war films with strong environmental concepts. Miyazaki Hayao's mother fell ill with spinal tuberculosis when he began his studies at Omiya High School. The woman spent eight years bedridden until she died. Her death would also inspire the author in his future works.
Miyazaki's interest in art had always been there, latent, but it grew during his high school days, especially after watching a film called The tale of the snake. Although he knew that he was going to study Economics and Political Science to follow in his father's footsteps, the director was trained in the arts, creating sleeves which were well received in Japan. Later, he began working as a cartoonist at Toei Amimation, which would lead him to create Studio Ghibli many years later.
Filmography of Hayao Miyazaki
- Shonen Ninja Kaze — First year ninja style (1964);
- Rupan sansei — Lupine III (1971);
- Rupan sansei: Kariosutoro no shiro — Lupine III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979);
- Akage no an — Anne of Green Gables (1979);
- Kaze no tani no Naushika — Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind / 1984);
- Tenkū no shiro Rapyuta — The Castle in the Sky (1986);
- Tonari no Tótoro — My Neighbor Totoro (1988);
- Majo no takkyūbin — Kiki: Home deliveries (1989);
- Kurenai no buta — Porco Rosso (1992);
- Mononoke Hime — Princess Mononoke (1997);
- Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi — Spirited Away (2001);
- Hauru no ugoku shiro — The Amazing Vagrant Castle (2004);
- Gake no ue no Ponyo — Ponyo and the Secret of the Little Mermaid (2008);
- Kaze Tachinu — The Wind Rises (2013);
- Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka — The Boy and the Heron (2023)
As a screenwriter or producer
- Taiyō no Ōji: Horusu no Daibōken — The Adventures of Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968);
- Nagagutsu or Haita Neko — Puss in Boots (1969);
- Panda Kopanda — Panda Go Panda (1972);
- Omohide Poro Poro — Memories of Yesterday (1991);
- Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pompoko—Pompoko (1994);
- Mimi wo sumaseba — Whispers of the heart (19945);
- Neko no ongaeshi — Neko no Ongaeshi (2002);
- Karigurashi no Arrietty (2010);
- Kokuriko-zaka kara — Poppy hill (2011)