"The King and the Bird": The French animated film that inspired Studio Ghibli's founders
A video from Le Monde examines the influence of the French animated feature on the genesis of the renowned Japanese studio.
The newspaper Le Monde has published a video as part of its "Story-board" series dedicated to the French animated film "The King and the Bird," directed by Paul Grimault. According to this video, the feature film had a decisive influence on the founders of Studio Ghibli, one of Japan's greatest animation studios.
According to Le Monde, without this "French masterpiece," Studio Ghibli, founded notably by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, would "almost certainly never have come into being."
The video, published online on September 16, 2026, is part of an editorial format in which Le Monde analyzes landmark works in animation history and traces their artistic legacy.
In the excerpt reviewed, Le Monde does not detail the specific elements of this influence, but announces that the "Story-board" video explores the connections between Paul Grimault's film and the creative universe that shaped Studio Ghibli's subsequent productions, known for films such as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Spirited Away."
Sources
- Comment le film d’animation français « Le Roi et l’Oiseau » a-t-il inspiré les fondateurs du Studio Ghibli ? — Le Monde — Une
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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