The Magic of Studio Ghibli: 5 Key Reasons People Can't Get Enough of Ghibli Films
October 18, 2023 | Supreeya S
As I’m planning for my visit to the Studio Ghibli exhibition in Bangkok this week, I stumbled on Uniqlo’s new collaboration t-shirts with Studio Ghibli characters that sparked a curious thought…
When did people start going crazy over Studio Ghibli? What’s the secret into people’s captivation of Studio Ghibli? How did Studio Ghibli get this surge in popularity? Let’s try to uncover the elements that make Studio Ghibli films stand out.
My guess is that the relevance of the themes in their films, the inclusion of Eastern culture, and celebration of the simple every day are what makes their films so enchanting.
Although their hand-drawn animation is fluid and makes you feel like you’re staring at a beautiful painting and keeps you watching, however, the themes, and mundane scenes are the elements that make their films remain in the viewer’s mind after watching.
Themes
The themes that are part of Ghibli’s stories stand the test of time and are much more relevant to us today. Let’s delve into each of these themes including feminism, grayness, coming-of-age and environmentalism.
Feminism
Most of Ghibli’s protagonists are women and girls from different ages and backgrounds. These characters defy stereotypes. Beyond that, Ghibli presents women with different opinions, motivations, and roles in society. Ghibli women are compassionate, relatable, and most importantly, not sexualized. Each character is developed with a unique personality, strengths, weaknesses, and capability of creating change in their own way.
Not All Good or Bad
In a world where characters are often painted as purely good or evil, Studio Ghibli introduces shades of gray. Their antagonists,in particular, are complex, nuanced individuals that are not one-dimensional.
This portrayal aligns more with how the world is, as people and characters are not often all bad or all good.
Studio Ghibli’s approach to portraying antagonists in this manner is refreshing, and promotes empathy and maturity. It teaches viewers that everyone has a backstory and legitimate reasons for their actions.
Growing Up
Although not all of Ghibli’s films reflect this theme, many revolve around coming-of-age stories. Despite fantastical settings, these films ground their characters in relatable emotions – fear, discomfort, self-doubt, frustration.
In Kiki’s Delivery Service, Kiki is a young witch that must leave home to spend a year alone, as that is her village’s tradition for young witches. Although we cannot relate to being a witch, or being someone who is forced to leave home, we can relate to the emotions with learning to be independent and figuring things out by yourself.
The situations the characters must go through mirror the challenges of transitioning to adulthood, reassuring viewers that everything will be okay, and you can figure it out, just like the film’s protagonists.
Environmentalism
Studio Ghibli’s films often romanticize and reconnect the audience with nature through breathtaking scenery. Audiences can recall taking in endless green fields, beautiful flowers, and glistening bodies of water in the films.
Some films dive deeper into creating a storyline on the complex relationships humans have with nature and push for us to reflect on how we can live in harmony with nature.
In Spirited Away, Ghibli shows Chihiro taking a moment to pull out a thorn stuck at the side of the spirit, which then leads to other garbage trickling out. The takeaway from that scene is that if we see a small thing that we can do immediately, that will inevitably result in bigger results than we initially thought. It’s a reminder that even small actions can lead to significant positive changes.
In Princess Mononoke, Ghibli shows a reality where humans are at war with nature triggered by environmental abuse. It shows that it bodes well for humankind and for nature to find a way to give and take from one another.
Inclusion of Eastern Culture
Eastern culture plays a big role in Ghibli films – enriching storytelling and character development. In particular, spirituality and learning from elders are some of the ways in which eastern asian culture contributes to the charm and appeal of Ghibli films.
Spirits and Interconnectedness
Spirits and the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world are repeatedly shown in all of Ghibli’s films. The origin of this belief is from Shintoism, an Ancient religion in Japan which although is not widely practiced in the current day, has heavily influenced the country’s beliefs. From the influence of Shintoism, representations of kami, or spirits, are seen in a lot of films and inhabit natural elements and objects.
The spirits in Ghibli films play important roles in the stories and reflect across the idea of the divine presence in our everyday life.
Some representations of kamis are Totoro, a forest spirit inhabiting a giant tree, and the river spirit in Spirited Away that can purify and restore sites, reminiscent of the concept of kami purifying a sacred site.
Learning from Elders
While the concept of learning from elders is universally relevant, Studio Ghibli portrays it in a way that reflects Japanese culture’s reverence for intergenerational relationships. Learning from elders and respecting their guidance are highly regarded values in Asian culture, and Ghibli celebrates the interactions and role that elders play in the younger generation’s journey, growth, and development. “Elder” in this case, encompasses more than just an “older” person. It can refer to a mentor, an experienced individual, or an older figure.
Haku in “Spirited Away” is a good example for this. Although he is not a traditional ‘elder,’ he plays a big role in helping Chihiro adapt to her environment as she is new to that universe.
A more traditional example is Granny in “My Neighbor Totoro” who offers support and comfort to the two sisters while their mother is in the hospital.
Celebration of the Simple Everyday
Studio Ghibli celebrates the simple everyday moments that often go unnoticed or unappreciated. Hayao Miyazaki, the director of Ghibli, mentions that his intention for creating films is to “tell children that it’s good to be alive” and his intention to instill a sense of wonder in simple everyday moments resonates with audiences of all ages.
The film is also driven by overlooked actions people take every day, such as with eating, cooking, and sharing food. The character’s treatment of food gives us a peek into their current state with love and care. It gives away the character’s deep-rooted beliefs and values.
In My Neighbor Totoro, the older sister has a responsibility to take care of her dad and her sister being that her mom is ill. This is portrayed by her cooking and making bento boxes. It shows her love but also shows her being forced to step into shoes that were too big for her early on in her life. However, the audience can feel her love for her family and looks at the bento boxes she makes with appreciation and respect.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Studio Ghibli’s films have gained immense popularity due to their ability to resonate with audiences on a profound level. Beyond their visually stunning animations, the studio’s commitment to timeless and relevant themes, complex character portrayals, and a celebration of Eastern culture and everyday life make their films truly exceptional. Studio Ghibli doesn’t just entertain; it inspires and encourages reflection, making it a cherished source of wonder for audiences worldwide.
What makes you hooked on Studio Ghibli’s films?