I have grown up loving Studio Ghibli movies, especially the ones written by Hayao Miyazaki. As I have grown older, I have found that my fondness for these movies has only grown over time. Not only are they beautiful, striking and lovable children's movies, these films also model great relationships and show strong female characters. These are only a few reasons that Studio Ghibli movies will always have a place in my heart.
Strong Women
1. Kokiri (Kiki's Mom).
"Kiki's Delivery Service" has a wide range of strong female characters that shape Kiki on her journey through adolescence. Though her mother is only shown for a short time in the beginning of the film, Kiki's potion-making mom supports her goals, even though she is worried about her.
2. Osono.
Kiki is only 13 when she sets off into the world to complete her training as a witch. When she finds herself in a large city, she is shocked at how different it is from the small town environment that she grew up it. Osono, the owner of a bakery, steps in to care for Kiki, giving her a job, a place to stay, and constant advice. Osono's maternal image is enhanced by the fact that she is heavily pregnant throughout the film. She is a great image of a successful woman who empowers and cares for girls in a loving and maternal fashion.
3. Ursula.
Ursula, a young artist who lives in the woods, meets Kiki during her disastrous first delivery. The two women become friends, and it is Ursula who helps council Kiki through her most difficult obstacle in the film -- losing her ability to fly. Ursula's independent and spunky attitude contrasts with the strongly maternal influence of Osono, but is a much needed counterpoint in Kiki's life.
4. Madame.
"Kiki's Delivery Service" does a great job of showing lots of women in different stages of their lives with wildly different personalities. In my opinion, "Madame" is definitely an underrated character in the film. Kiki's interactions with the kindly older woman help Kiki connect with the city she lives in and gain new friends. Madame's kindness is sharply contrasted with her granddaughter's rude behavior towards Kiki.
5. Lisa (Sosuke's Mom).
Sosuke's mother, Lisa, is a great character in the film "Ponyo." While Sosuke's father is out at sea, Lisa does a great job of taking care of her son while balancing her work at the nursing home. When her son's goldfish transforms into a little girl, she not only takes this information in stride, but instantly nurtures and welcomes Ponyo. Though far from being without flaws like insane driving habits, Lisa and Ponyo's mother are both seen to have great wisdom when it comes to understanding Sosuke and Ponyo's perfect, child-like love.
Relationships
6. Kiki's Parents.
Though it would seem crazy to most of us to send out a 13-year-old into the world by herself, "Kiki's Delivery Service" exists in a world where this is a long-standing tradition. Kiki's parent's both support and love her when she decides, very much like a young teenager, to leave for her year of training that very night. Her mother and father give her words of encouragement and advice, but they ultimately allow her to leave and face the world on her own.
7. Chihiro and Haku.
"Spirited Away" has been likened to "Alice in Wonderland," "The Wizard of Oz," and even "Pinocchio." It's another wonderful story of a young woman coming of age and moving through adolescence, though it is darker than "Kiki's Delivery Service." The friendship that grows between Chihiro and Haku is selfless and sweet, both of them making tremendous sacrifices to save the other. Their friendship is a great example of innocent, self-sacrificing love, and I appreciate that it wasn't forced to be romantic, especially considering Chihiro's age.
8. "Howl's Moving Castle."
Disclaimer: this film happens to be near the top of my list of favorite movies ever. Like all of these movies, it is a fantastic film in general. Specifically analyzing relationships, the family that Howl, Sophie, Markl, and Calcifer manage to make is adorable and beautiful. Howl was emotionally stuck in adolescence due to his bond with Calcifer, Sophie was cursed to be old and sustained that curse until she could overcome her own negative self-image, and Markl was just a child looking for a family. Sophie nurtures and cares for Markl in a way that self-centered Howl had not, until he learned to love, and Howl sacrifices himself to keep the others safe. This whole movie is about self-sacrificing love and family. It's just great. I'm probably going to go watch it now.
9. "Ponyo."
Hayao Miyazaki's re-imagining of "The Little Mermaid" brings together some of the most adorable moments from any of his films. Ponyo chooses to become human, defying her father, because she loves a young human boy. However, this film is very different from the classic Disney movie because the two characters are young children, not young adults. This twist makes the love story between them even sweeter, because it isn't marred with any of the complications that come with an adult, romantic love. When Sosuke chooses to love Ponyo and make her human, it's the pure, beautiful love of a child.
There are many more Studio Ghibli films that I could have included, but I decided to stick with the four that I knew and loved the most. What are some of your favorite moments from the Studio Ghibli or Hayao Miyazaki?
