Studio Ghibli: A Breath of Life and Hope | by Lim Zhen Ping
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| Illustration by Ameer, Minsun, Lakshaniyaa and Derin |
Throughout the tough times in my life, I’ve turned to the soft, chill ASMR of Miyazaki’s creations to calm my nerves and anxiety. Whether you want escapism or just a fun movie to get through the weekend, Studio Ghibli has got you covered—a true comfort in this busy and chaotic world.
For those who are unfamiliar with Studio Ghibli, it is an internationally renowned animation company from Japan co-founded by the quite legendary Hayao Miyazaki. Some of their popular works include Oscar-winning Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, and many other titles.
A friendly disclaimer that this isn’t meant to be a ranked list of any form, simply a fun recommendation of Ghibli films for you to activate your serotonin and boost your mental health.
Arrietty: On Communication
Have you ever imagined cute tiny people living under your floorboards? This film is that and more. Large sequences of this film are filled with ASMR from raindrop sounds to breaking up biscuits and sugar crystals for meals. Everyday things like thread and clothes pegs are nothing special to us but are utilised by the tiny people, known as ‘Borrowers’ as rope and hairclips. It's really soothing and relaxing.
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| Scene from Arrietty |
Kiki’s Delivery Service: On Anxiety
This is your sign to embark on a journey to a new foreign city. As the title implied, a young witch utilises her talents to deliver items around town on her broom accompanied by a smart-talking cat. Kiki’s Delivery Service is just as sweet as it sounds.
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| Scenes from Kiki’s Delivery Service |
Although Kiki’s character in the film is shown as being very extroverted, she has anxieties as well. She wants to make friends, but as a witch, she’s scared that she’s too different from people and keeps sabotaging herself. Later, she meets someone who teaches her that there’s no magic trick to cure yourself. “You go on, one day at a time, you take care of yourself, learn to appreciate what you can do, improve, and grow slowly.” There’s never a scene in the film where Kiki overcomes her anxiety or learns to talk to people but it still feels that she matured at the end. It’s a great movie for people who suffer from anxiety.
Whisper of the Heart: On Self-doubt
Want to watch a movie with your lover? Here’s a gentle and uplifting story of an aspiring writer and an aspiring violin-maker falling in love. The male (Seiji) and female (Shizuko) lead complement each other well, always encouraging and motivating each other. Cute scenes, such as them making music together and riding a bike together, are very sweet for any couple.
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| Scene from Whisper of the Heart |
In one part of the film, both leads doubt themselves, worrying that they would turn out as failures. "What if I looked inside myself and I don't find any gems?" quote Shizuko. But instead of giving in to the fear, they both fought this fear and gave it their all to achieve their dream. "I can't tell if I have talent or not until I try,” said Seiji. This film also highlights the importance of support and guidance. Encouraging words from Seiji's grandfather like "You're wonderful. There's no need to rush. Please take your time to polish your talent." and "Don't expect perfection at first." make this a perfect movie for people who are facing self-doubt and confusion too.
Spirited Away: On Taking a Breather
Spirited Away is one of the most-watched Studio Ghibli films. But the moment that stuck out to me was the train scene. It’s a moment to breathe in the middle of it all. A moment to think and reflect on everything. There was no dialogue, just a light piano piece playing in the background, while we watched as shadowy passengers got off the train until only Chihiro and No-Face remained seated. This is a great reminder for us to take a breather in life whether we are rushing to save our parents from a curse or finishing an assignment. Use this breather moment to ponder our journey so far and let all those pent-up emotions be free.
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| Scene from Spirited Away |
Haru, the main character, is living every cat lover’s dream because she can speak to cats. After rescuing a Cat Prince, as thanks, the Cat King offers the prince’s ‘paw’ in marriage. It’s a fun and exhilarating movie that teaches you valuable lessons about self-love, self-worth, and self-acceptance through the aid of some adorable cats of course. Such a ‘purr-fect’ match for cat lovers everywhere.
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| Scenes from The Cats Return |
Final Thoughts
These Ghibli films (which are available on Netflix by the way) really helped me find joy in my day-to-day—a mental health boost, training me to better appreciate my life. The great amount of hard work and love poured into these films is undeniable. It's suitable for all kinds of viewers including those who rarely watch anime or animation, as every element in the film from the music composition to the characters to the plot are striking and moving.
“Where Disney seeks to impress with the opulence of scale and blissfully escapist glamour (think bewitchingly beautiful princesses, operatic songs, almost demonic villains), Ghibli seeks out what is relatable even in the extraordinary, tries to make a mark in more subtle ways, not through escapism but through its opposite really, through well-crafted realism.”
This quote from a writer of The Pangean is a good transcript of what I experienced—the real world seen through glasses with Studio Ghibli’s filters. And consequently, I have fallen in love with being alive and I hope you will too.
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