Studio Ghibli Director Creates New Howl-Like Artwork for 24-Hour TV Special

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Every year, Nippon TV holds a 24-hour telethon designed to raise money for various environmental and disaster relief charities in Japan. This year, Studio Ghibli assisted its parent company by creating a canine mascot for Nippon TV’s new charity TV shirt line.

Per Nippon TV’s official website, Studio Ghibli Managing Director Goro Miyazaki recently created new artwork featuring a disgruntled-looking dog that resembles Heen, the lovable elderly dog from Ghibli’s 2004 film Howl’s Moving Castle. As shown below, the accompanying text reads, “Will Love Save the Earth?” — an active nod to the Telethon’s recurring “Love Saves the Earth” theme. Goro’s Heen lookalike will be Nippon TV’s charity mascot this year, appearing on white, yellow and gray T-shirts that are scheduled to hit AEON store shelves starting July 4. At the time of writing, the retail price (including tax) is approximately 2,000 yen (or US$12.52). A portion of proceeds from all shirt sales will be donated to charity.

Calcifer from Howl's Moving Castle with Studio Ghibli antique-style lamp keychain

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Howl’s Moving Castle fans can get their hands on a charming light-up Calcifer — in lantern keychain form — from Studio Ghibli’s iconic fantasy film.

Studio Ghibli Has Been Involved in Charity Work Since the ’90s

Ghibli has been at the forefront of Japan’s national preservation efforts for many decades. In 1990, Ghibli established the National Totoro Trust — a large-scale initiative created to protect the country’s Sayama Hills region, which inspired the setting of Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved family film, My Neighbor Totoro. Thanks in large part to public donations, the trust has managed to acquire over 53,350 meters of Sayama Hills land, ensuring that the area’s forests, reservoirs and old-fashioned rice farms will remain untouched for many years to come. Additionally, Ghibli has provided Nippon TV with designs for its annual telethon at least two other times in the past — once in 2006 and again in 2010.

Goro Miyazaki Has Been an Integral Part of Studio Ghibli’s Movies and Legacy

Goro Miyazaki, son of Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, is an inextricable part of the studio’s legacy, having sat in the director’s seat for major productions like Tales From Earthsea (2006), From Up on Poppy Hill (2011) and Ronja the Robber’s Daughter (2014). In addition to his current managerial role at Ghibli headquarters, he also served as the lead designer of Ghibli’s official theme park. Located on the grounds of Japan’s 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, this spacious, woody setting hosts a number of attractions inspired by iconic films like Kiki’sDelivery Service (1989), Princess Mononoke (1997) and My Neighbor Totoro (1988). Goro’s latest Ghibli feature is Earwig and the Witch (2020) — the studio’s first-ever 3D CG animated film. While Earwig was panned by critics for its allegedly lackluster art style, the film was received more kindly by Goro’s father, who praised his son and the CG animation team for creating something “rather interesting.”

Ghibli's Totoro sitting in front of watercolor My Neighbor Totoro art by Hayao Miyazaki

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Totoro fans can send special messages to faraway loved ones with Ghibli’s original watercolor postcard collection featuring artwork by Hayao Miyazaki.

Nippon TV’s upcoming 24-Hour Charity Telethon will air from Aug. 31, 8 p.m. to Sept. 1, p.m. (JST). Viewers in Japan and the U.S. can stream Ghibli’s film library on Max, including Howl’s Moving Castle, which features the aforementioned errand-dog Heen.

Howl’s Moving Castle

When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.

Release Date: June 17, 2005
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Cast: Takuya Kimura , Tatsuya Gashûin , Chieko Baisho
Runtime: 1 Hour 59 Minutes
Production Company: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, DENTSU Music And Entertainment, Mitsubishi.