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Studio Ghibli’s worst movie returns to theaters for its 20th anniversary next month
Studio Ghibli's Tales from Earthsea, widely regarded as the studio's weakest film, is returning to North American cinemas next month to mark its 20th anniversary. Directed by Goro Miyazaki—son of studio co-founder Hayao Miyazaki—in his feature debut, the 2006 film adapted Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea novels by blending elements from multiple books, an ambitious undertaking that drew criticism for uneven pacing and fragmented storytelling. The re-release gives audiences a chance to revisit one of Ghibli's most divisive works and reassess a legacy that has grown more complicated over time.
Critics originally faulted the film for struggling to balance ideas drawn from The Farthest Shore and Tehanu into a single coherent narrative, resulting in rushed character development. The father-son dynamic between Goro and Hayao Miyazaki, who reportedly had reservations about his son directing, added further scrutiny to the project. Despite its reputation, the film is often praised for its painted backgrounds and Joe Hisaishi's score, and it has found a newer audience through streaming platforms such as HBO Max.
In short
- Ghibli's Tales from Earthsea returns to cinemas for its 20th anniversary
- Goro Miyazaki's directorial debut long seen as Ghibli's weakest film
- Praised for visuals and score despite criticism of its fragmented story
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The anniversary re-release offers a chance to revisit a visually distinctive film whose painted backgrounds and score have drawn praise, and to judge it outside the expectations surrounding Goro Miyazaki’s debut. Its ambitious attempt to bring ideas from several Earthsea novels together, along with its later audience on streaming, gives viewers reason to see it as a flawed but worthwhile part of Ghibli’s history.
The case against
A theatrical anniversary return may give prominence to a film whose fragmented adaptation and rushed character development were central weaknesses, making it a poor reflection of the storytelling craft associated with Ghibli. The reported reservations around Goro Miyazaki’s debut also invite questions about whether the project was ready for the scale of its source material, even if its artistry has admirers.
Explained simply
Studio Ghibli is a legendary Japanese animation studio known for creating beloved fantasy films admired worldwide. Tales from Earthsea, released in 2006, was directed by Goro Miyazaki in his feature film debut and adapted fantasy novels by Ursula K. Le Guin.
The film developed a complicated reputation partly because it blended elements from multiple Le Guin novels into a single story, which critics felt resulted in uneven pacing and a fragmented narrative. The project attracted particular attention because Goro took on the major directorial role whilst his father Hayao, Studio Ghibli's co-founder, harboured reservations about the undertaking.
Despite its mixed critical response, the film has found appreciation amongst audiences for its painted backgrounds and musical score, and has reached new viewers through streaming services. The work remains one of the studio's most debated films, with enduring interest in reassessing its legacy.
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