The Gentle Magic of Ghibli

I've grown to adore the quieter aspects of life. Ordinary moments that we take for granted can often be what ground us when things begin to unravel.

One thing that I was beginning to take for granted was being able to sit down and experience the world through someone else's eyes. I'd often be half watching a movie or show while I scrolled through social media. I was doing this very thing when I first started watching Spirited Away.

Within the first few minutes, I realized I would have to give the film my full attention. Nothing particularly interesting had happened yet. A young girl was in the car with her parents, complaining about moving to a new home. What caught my attention was the concern that the girl had for a bouquet of flowers that her friends had given her as a goodbye gift. Such a small thing would seem irrelevant compared to the baffling events that would transpire later on in the movie. But her concern reminded me that as children, we pay attention to every little part of life. I personally think that this contributes to our romanticization of childhood as adults. Later on, I would know for sure that this little detail was done intentionally by the creators, as it would be a recurring theme in their other films as well.

From that first moment on, Spirited Away captured me and it remains my favorite animated film of all time. It contains some of the most relatable aspects of childhood while taking the audience on a mind bending journey full of beautiful imagery and outlandish characters. It managed to win Best Animated Feature at the 2003 Oscars, and is one of the more well known films to those who don't normally consume foreign media. As much as I adore Spirited Away, the entirety of the Ghibli collection is thought provoking, visually stunning, and above all comforting.

Just a few of the films that I have seen are Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, and My Neighbor Totoro. Studio Ghibli's filmography is larger than I can list here, and I have only seen a fraction of what they have to offer. What I can do is recommend the films that I think most perfectly showcase the beautiful simplicity of ordinary life.

To start Howl's Moving Castle, like Spirited Away, is very popular among those both familiar and unfamiliar with Studio Ghibli. It's a whimsical adventure that I believe to be about how relationships shape our lives. It's a beautiful love story with some great action and in usual Ghibli fashion, it showcases moments of quiet that would usually be cut from other films. One memorable scene is one where the main characters simply cook and enjoy a meal together. It's beautifully animated but otherwise completely ordinary, making it stand out against the rest of the extraordinary movie. This quiet moment makes the rest of the film's louder moments seem that much more thrilling.

Next is Kiki's Delivery Service. This title explains the plot of the film while hiding the hidden magic of it. I mean this quite literally, as the film is about a young witch. However, as you've probably guessed by now, this detail is treated like a standard fact, as if her having powers is similar to her having a strange birthmark. What is focused on, is her desire for independence and the people she interacts with on her quest to obtain said independence. Scenes where she aids those around her with their day to day lives are the main focus, while some of the more mystical events are short and fast paced. I personally felt very at ease while watching this film, not only because of the quaint and gorgeous visuals, but also because of the gentle uses of Kiki's powers.

My Neighbor Totoro is a childhood favourite of most people familiar with Studio Ghibli. It showcases the beauty of rural Japan while including the mystical elements that Ghibli is known for. The plot is perhaps the simplest out of all of the films I've listed so far. Two girls move with their father to the countryside and have encounters with the locals there, both human and not. The main draw of this film, for me, was the initial excitement that the girls displayed when moving into the modest house. Everything, from the rotting wood, to the unusual neighbors is framed as a benefit of living in their new home. Even when strange things begin to happen, they are seamlessly blended with the ordinary as if they are only natural.

All of the films that I have listed were directed by Hayao Miyazaki, who has expressed in the past that he creates films that he feels those in his life would enjoy. This is most likely why his films feel so alive. He creates with real people in mind and almost appears to be speaking to them through his art. When his films slow down, it feels like a reminder for the audience to slow down as well.

Miyazaki's appreciation for the smaller things in life has reminded me to take in my surroundings. I am thankful for this reminder and will continue to keep this in mind when I rewatch these films and others by this amazing studio.