Studio Ghibli is the studio behind many famous Japanese animated movies. They’ve created worlds in which anything can happen. Worlds where mystery, fantasy and human emotion all meet.
Studio Ghibli movies often revolve around a human emotion, such as grief or loneliness, and the main character coping with it. For instance, “When Marnie Was There” follows Anna, a young girl who has recently moved in with her foster parents’ relatives, whom she knows little about. While only a temporary stay, it still doesn’t sit right with Anna for quite some time while she’s there. Since moving, Anna struggles with feeling lonely, having moved to a new place where she knows no one. However, across a body of water, in an abandoned castle, she sees a mysterious blonde-haired girl.
She ends up asking an older man to take her to the castle via a rowboat. There, she finally meets Marnie in a not-so-abandoned castle. In fact, there is a party going on inside the castle.
The movie follows these two for quite some time, creating a nice, wholesome story. While it has its dramatic moments, there are others where it feels like they could go on forever. Overall, it is the perfect example of what Studio Ghibli wants to accomplish.
Many movies follow similar patterns to this one, featuring a younger main character who is struggling with something and manages to cope one way or another.
Studio Ghibli movies are not just good movies; they are relatable. Yes, relatable. As crazy as it may seem that a movie about someone in a fantasy world is relatable, they share things that many people experience. Whether it be loneliness, grief or a struggle with people, Studio Ghibli movies share this through the view of a heartfelt fantasy tale.
Many Japanese animated movies attempt to capture human emotion, but most take place in the real world with much more realistic atmospheres, and are centered towards an older audience. Studio Ghibli being able to bring these to a younger audience is incredible, and the way they’ve done it and will continue to do it always stretches the imagination in many great ways.
Studio Ghibli has — whether intentionally or not — created a mental health resource in their movies. They have made something for people to relate to, for people to feel for.
