I'll see your dozen viewings of Totoro and raise you at least 30 more. It is a staple part of a well-balanced cultural diet here in our home!
I agree whole-heartedly with your article. The sheer beauty of Ghibli along with its nostalgia and magical realism is food for the soul. I've often thought about Totoro in particular, an ever-evolving essay growing in my mind concerning all that the film truly encompasses. As a mother, it really resonates with me.
Thanks, I am going to try to watch these with my four year old. But are we really comparing The Rest is History to Joe Rogan? That can’t be fair, is it?
I used the Ghibli filter to transform some photos. It was great fun. Then I stopped because it got boring. Anyway, I think my favourite out them all is Howl’s Moving Castle. Less impressed with Spirited Away. Maybe my expectations were too high and I should revisit. It just didn’t connect emotionally the way so many of the others do.
Thanks for writing this. We're a Totoro and Ponyo house. I think the moment in Totoro when the girls and Totoro help the seeds grow says a lot. It's the most 'Disney-ish' moment in the movie ('theme' song kicks in, magic on show, emotionally stirring), but so much is done better and more tenderly. It's 'just' about helping seeds to grow. A perfect child-scale concern. The magic (?) involved isn't personal superpowers, it's not world-changing or world-saving, in fact it's mostly unexplained and strange and hidden (which is surely how children feel about much of the world).
I think that ultimately what's tender and nourishing about Ghibli is that it's much more attentive to the interests of a young child (drawing water, acorns wrapped in leaves, ham snuck into bowls of ramen), what it's like to be a child (including the seriousness), and not especially interested in coaxing a Message out of it. That and PONYO WANTS HAM!
Two things stick in my mind about the female characters in Ghibli: the time taken with Kiki’s friendship with the young adult artist is sort of the opposite of a plot mover. It is a time for healing and growing. Where else is there a scene like that? And then in Howl, how would you feel to be robbed of 60 years of your life? Would you carry on and make the best of it? That is a true but calm heroism.
On the subject of classical music in children's stuff, when I first started playing the piano I remember going "Who did the piece that Tom and Jerry play in the Cat Concerto? I should really look that up." It's so good!
I wonder if it’s a generational thing. We watched a huge number of Ghibli films with our daughter (now 27) and knew other families who were also fans. You just need to watch out for some of the extremely dark ones like Grave of the Fireflies and Il Porco Rosso.
Thank you for this awesome piece. It inspired me to buy a few blu-rays of Ghibli films for my children and now I'm actively looking for good media alternatives for them so we dont all have to suffer through Paw Patrol and its ilk.
I think it’s ok to watch paw patrol etc as tv is different, depending on your level of screen allowance etc, I simply never watch stuff like that with them.
Its just like little kid crack or something. Its so flashy and entrancing I can see the lights turn off in my kids eyes. Compare that to something like Daniel Tiger where theyre still entertained but they at least learn something too and its not entirely soulless and made to sell toys.
I dont know, maybe I just really have it out for Paw Patrol haha. I dont mind some TV junk food now and then I suppose, but I have to draw a line somwhere!
Many years ago when my girls were small, their grandmother found a nice-looking cartoon video in her local supermarket, bought it on impulse, and popped it in for them the next time they came over. They came home babbling about horrifying witches, totally traumatised, having been thrown directly into the Ghibli deep-end with "Spirited Away".
But that isn't the end of the story, because of course the next time they went over they just _had_ to see it again, if only to check if it was really as terrifying as they thought. And now as young adults they are, if not obsessives, very definitely Ghibli fans.
In fact, it is they who introduced me to Studio Ghibli.
I agree with everything you say! I discovered Ghibli alongside my children and I sometimes think it was the greatest cultural revelation of my adult life. Now they’re grown up but I rewatch the films all the time.
Can I recommend Grave of the Fireflies, if you haven’t seen it yet? Everyone rightly reveres Miyazaki, but Takahata was a genius too. I think Fireflies is one of the greatest war films ever made. Very much not for watching with young children though, I think. Or certainly not first time round.
We raised our daughter on Ghibli. She's now a successful young adult. Your essay brought back wonderful memories of watching the movies with her and the traditions we started from them, like "Ponyo Soup"-she had been fascinated with soup the mother served Ponyo so right after the movie we bought ramen and ham and made our own version. It became a comfort food. And then there was our journey into The Borrowers (reading the book, crafting miniatures) after seeing The Secret World of Arrietty. I'm mildly jealous that you are in the thick of those days with your children. The time goes fast, enjoy it.
Weirdly my son really like Our Neighbours the Yamadas when he was little (like six years old) - and he was watching it in Japanese with subtitles! Not high art, not children facing challenges. I mean he also loved Porco Rosso, Pom Poko and Princess Mononoke at the time, but kids seem to pick up stuff that you least expect.
Now he is a young adult and still watches Ghibli, and we argue over whether Nausicaa or Princess Mononoke is the pinnacle of the output (Mononoke, obviously). We have also been lucky to visit Japan multiple times, and when you are there you "get" the landscapes and neighbourhoods these characters are inhabiting. Doesn't mean you have to go to Japan to appreciate the films (I'm not that bloody pretentious) but it is an added delight when you are there.
I'll see your dozen viewings of Totoro and raise you at least 30 more. It is a staple part of a well-balanced cultural diet here in our home!
I agree whole-heartedly with your article. The sheer beauty of Ghibli along with its nostalgia and magical realism is food for the soul. I've often thought about Totoro in particular, an ever-evolving essay growing in my mind concerning all that the film truly encompasses. As a mother, it really resonates with me.
Thirty is good! Yes I bet is hits differently as a mother
Thanks, I am going to try to watch these with my four year old. But are we really comparing The Rest is History to Joe Rogan? That can’t be fair, is it?
It’s mostly entertainment imo
Right? Like Rest is History catching strays out here; they're really fun--not as in depth as Dan Carlin but their five-parters are great.
I used the Ghibli filter to transform some photos. It was great fun. Then I stopped because it got boring. Anyway, I think my favourite out them all is Howl’s Moving Castle. Less impressed with Spirited Away. Maybe my expectations were too high and I should revisit. It just didn’t connect emotionally the way so many of the others do.
Exactly it was a trend not a threat to art
Howl’s Moving Castle is just as good, almost better, as the book,
for when you have a chance.
Thank you. I will seek it out!
Thanks for writing this. We're a Totoro and Ponyo house. I think the moment in Totoro when the girls and Totoro help the seeds grow says a lot. It's the most 'Disney-ish' moment in the movie ('theme' song kicks in, magic on show, emotionally stirring), but so much is done better and more tenderly. It's 'just' about helping seeds to grow. A perfect child-scale concern. The magic (?) involved isn't personal superpowers, it's not world-changing or world-saving, in fact it's mostly unexplained and strange and hidden (which is surely how children feel about much of the world).
I think that ultimately what's tender and nourishing about Ghibli is that it's much more attentive to the interests of a young child (drawing water, acorns wrapped in leaves, ham snuck into bowls of ramen), what it's like to be a child (including the seriousness), and not especially interested in coaxing a Message out of it. That and PONYO WANTS HAM!
haha ham ham ponyo want ham!!
I agree 100% with this take. I find Disney/Pixar movies to be emotionally manipulative and mostly saccharine.
Yeah I’ve come to feel similar
Two things stick in my mind about the female characters in Ghibli: the time taken with Kiki’s friendship with the young adult artist is sort of the opposite of a plot mover. It is a time for healing and growing. Where else is there a scene like that? And then in Howl, how would you feel to be robbed of 60 years of your life? Would you carry on and make the best of it? That is a true but calm heroism.
On the subject of classical music in children's stuff, when I first started playing the piano I remember going "Who did the piece that Tom and Jerry play in the Cat Concerto? I should really look that up." It's so good!
Being back classical music in cartoons!
I wonder if it’s a generational thing. We watched a huge number of Ghibli films with our daughter (now 27) and knew other families who were also fans. You just need to watch out for some of the extremely dark ones like Grave of the Fireflies and Il Porco Rosso.
Yeah we have avoided those so far!
Any thoughts on the newest Ghibli film The Boy and the Heron?
I want to see it again. On first viewing I wasn’t persuaded it was as good as the others.
Thats what ive been reading too.
This was great. Your joy and enjoyment is infectious.
Thanks!! That’s the idea!
Thank you for this awesome piece. It inspired me to buy a few blu-rays of Ghibli films for my children and now I'm actively looking for good media alternatives for them so we dont all have to suffer through Paw Patrol and its ilk.
I think it’s ok to watch paw patrol etc as tv is different, depending on your level of screen allowance etc, I simply never watch stuff like that with them.
Its just like little kid crack or something. Its so flashy and entrancing I can see the lights turn off in my kids eyes. Compare that to something like Daniel Tiger where theyre still entertained but they at least learn something too and its not entirely soulless and made to sell toys.
I dont know, maybe I just really have it out for Paw Patrol haha. I dont mind some TV junk food now and then I suppose, but I have to draw a line somwhere!
Many years ago when my girls were small, their grandmother found a nice-looking cartoon video in her local supermarket, bought it on impulse, and popped it in for them the next time they came over. They came home babbling about horrifying witches, totally traumatised, having been thrown directly into the Ghibli deep-end with "Spirited Away".
But that isn't the end of the story, because of course the next time they went over they just _had_ to see it again, if only to check if it was really as terrifying as they thought. And now as young adults they are, if not obsessives, very definitely Ghibli fans.
In fact, it is they who introduced me to Studio Ghibli.
I agree with everything you say! I discovered Ghibli alongside my children and I sometimes think it was the greatest cultural revelation of my adult life. Now they’re grown up but I rewatch the films all the time.
Can I recommend Grave of the Fireflies, if you haven’t seen it yet? Everyone rightly reveres Miyazaki, but Takahata was a genius too. I think Fireflies is one of the greatest war films ever made. Very much not for watching with young children though, I think. Or certainly not first time round.
We raised our daughter on Ghibli. She's now a successful young adult. Your essay brought back wonderful memories of watching the movies with her and the traditions we started from them, like "Ponyo Soup"-she had been fascinated with soup the mother served Ponyo so right after the movie we bought ramen and ham and made our own version. It became a comfort food. And then there was our journey into The Borrowers (reading the book, crafting miniatures) after seeing The Secret World of Arrietty. I'm mildly jealous that you are in the thick of those days with your children. The time goes fast, enjoy it.
Weirdly my son really like Our Neighbours the Yamadas when he was little (like six years old) - and he was watching it in Japanese with subtitles! Not high art, not children facing challenges. I mean he also loved Porco Rosso, Pom Poko and Princess Mononoke at the time, but kids seem to pick up stuff that you least expect.
Now he is a young adult and still watches Ghibli, and we argue over whether Nausicaa or Princess Mononoke is the pinnacle of the output (Mononoke, obviously). We have also been lucky to visit Japan multiple times, and when you are there you "get" the landscapes and neighbourhoods these characters are inhabiting. Doesn't mean you have to go to Japan to appreciate the films (I'm not that bloody pretentious) but it is an added delight when you are there.
But yeah, Ghibli over Disney every time :)
Yes my kids loved these films, as did my wife and I. For weeks after watching it my family would say, “Ponyo wants ham!”
Haha we do that too