Reading this, I anticipate much clamor around the world with everybody shouting, "Yes, please, we want this very much!"

Two big fans of Chibi Heroes are girls I know, ages 9 and 11. The Studio Ghibli prints would be exponentially more popular without a doubt.

Nothing like thinking big, Dave! This is a wonderful idea.

And speaking of little girls, we could of course also think of a 'Chibi Ghibli' series to go along with the larger images. I had some sketches for this also prepared in my backpack, but never got a chance to bring it up ...

Oh, you'd have to do that. Very exciting.

It seems to me that you have 2 major selling points for approaching them: The 3-dimensionality of the mokuhanga art-form and the preservation of a Japanese cultural heritage.

To put your best foot forward, you need to perform a major stunt. Here is what I suggest:

- To show off the 3-dimensionality, design a Ghibli-inspired print making the absolute maximal use of embossing and white spaces standing up above the adjacent colored spaces.

- (You're going to hate this idea...) Make a limited edition of these prints, perhaps 50 copies, signed and numbered. Then destroy the keyblock.

- Prepare a DVD video of your pitch, stressing the ukiyo-e heritage, the slow death of your craft, and its current re-birth. Make sure to use variable lighting to show off and explain the 3-dimensionality.

- Put it all into a package (including the destroyed keyblock) and send it to Ms. Cold-Shoulder. If she opens the package, it will certainly catch her attention and it is absolutely certain that the big boss will get the print numbered "1/50" along with the ruined keyblock. You'll have his attention.

It seems to me that this would be your best shot.

Marc

It would be great. I'll back it. Maybe you should get all the Totoro cosplay crowd to hand deliver your petition. :)

The website idea is a good start thought I'm not sure if it will give you the proper figures of support from something thats quite upfront like facebook can. That being said you can expand from petitions to organized mailing events in which people who support your cause personally send a letter to the folks at Ghibli themselves.

What a fantastic idea this is, it certainly deserves being pursued further. I agree that your best chance would be to impress Mr. Miyazaki himself, who could cut through the studio's red tape if he were so inclined. Now that he has retired, it may be possible to reach him.

This is from his Wikipedia page:

"However, he plans on pursuing new goals, such as working on the Studio Ghibli museum, which he commented "I might even become an exhibit myself". Though it is unknown what other plans he has for the future."

It may be worth keeping an eye on the museum to see if he makes an appearance there, if only so you could hand him an envelope with your 'pitch'.

Also, anyone with a Twitter account should try to get the attention of Ghibli's social media people, it may be another way to get a foot in the door. I'll see if I can contribute on that front, pointing to GhibliSayYes.com.

I overheard your conversation with Jed yesterday on the webcam (not stalking you! Just very much enjoy watching the carving process) and I must say having him do a design of Mononoke-hime would be incredible, so I think this will be a win no matter what.

Good luck, and let us know if we can help somehow.

Your work is unlike-wise please keep trying, I am sure the fans would go for it,

Why don't you try to make a video presentation and share in your channel, we the fans would share it till it get to them naturally - organically.

Please don't forget Brazil is the biggest japanese colony outside Japan.... we manage something over here.

Tamu junto!!!

As a fan of your work, can I add my reservations about this project? I think Ghibli is already resonant with the style of ukiyo-e. Other projects in this series are interesting because they bridge the gulf between Tokugawa aesthetics and contemporary pop culture, but Ghibli has always been informed by the art history of Japan (have you seen Pompoko?)

So, I can understand that they might not really feel like there's a lot of value added by letting you rework their material in that style: they're already halfway there. Your work is more exciting when it takes material that seems unremittingly contemporary and brings them back to the Edo period.

So, I can understand that they might not really feel like there's a lot of value added by letting you rework their material in that style

Aha! There is a misunderstanding here ... I have not made myself clear on what this project would be about.

I have no intention to 'rework' their characters. This is not meant to be part of the Ukiyoe Heroes concept at all. Simply I want to create attractive prints of their scenes, either taken straight from the films, or re-drawn (by them, for me) for this purpose.

Sorry for not making it more clear!

A very interesting comment/criticism came in over on Jed's Facebook page:

Your prints are outstanding and to see them done with the Miyazaki characters - it would be amazing!
But as someone who researches/develops educational plans/proposals for cross-cultural communication (mostly centered around Japan), you guys went about this the wrooong way.
Just showing up, entering when clearly marked not to, not scheduling a meeting with the proper department/contacts, the pushy nature without establishing a business relationship first, etc. Check out some resources for cross-cultural communications for Japanese business/working culture.

Even if they give you the run around or make you jump through the bureaucratic loops, at least you can be pushy in the culturally appropriate way!

I replied:

"Thanks for the interesting comments. Not too many years back, Japanese business relations did indeed strictly follow the type of 'rule' and custom that you describe. Basically nothing was ever accomplished without the proper introductions. But things are different now, and it is a much more open and looser society. The young lady I spoke to was very comfortable with me, spoke excellent English during part of our conversation (she also mentioned having lived overseas), and dealt with me easily, rejecting me not because of my culturally inappropriate behaviour, but in accordance with their licensing policies.

My 'cold call' was certainly not the best way to go about things - I showed up at their office intending simply to ask for information on their procedures for applying for a licence. I expected to be given an information packet, and sent off to study it. I was actually surprised to find myself standing there in the entranceway making a 'presentation'!

Finding a 'connection' and getting a proper introduction is now going to be essential if we do want to carry this forward, absolutely!"

I wonder if this proposal could be strung up the other way:

Instead of saying "would you please permit us to make prints of your characters", you could argue that you can make what almost nobody else can these days: Original woodblock prints.

In a time where almost all the field is printing off old blocks, or duplicating blocks for old designs, you can create blocks for new designs, and work with the artists to create "made for woodblock" designs, so their characters can be part of this tradition.

Of course, changing from "will you permit us" to "we can sell you" may not make the "sell" any easier, particularly for a studio that must have seen all merchandise offers possible over the years...

Rather than a licensing agreement, wounldn't an offer to be horishi/surishi for a Tottoro series with Miyazaki as the artist be an easier sell?

an offer to be horishi/surishi

Anything is on the table ... if we ever get the chance to talk to them about this stuff. And I tried to bring this up when she first poured cold water over me, suggesting that if they don't license, that they could be the publisher, and the prints could be placed in the shop at their (famous) museum. She wasn't interested ... But clearly, neither she nor the other people upstairs have any idea of the sort of product we could make for them; I'll need to get an introduction somehow, and try to wangle a chance to make a presentation to them, in which I can show them directly what we are doing/making ...