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A Mighty Girl Tribute to the Work of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli

By Katherine Handcock, A Mighty Girl Communications Specialist

515a2s89qhl_1_[1]Maybe you first heard the name Hayao Miyazaki in 2003, when Spirited Away won the Academy Award for Best Animated Film, and wondered what was so remarkable that had everyone talking; maybe you had long since discovered the wondrous, fantastical works of this visionary writer and filmmaker; or maybe you’ve only just heard about Miyazaki’s work, and you’re wondering which film you might want to check out. Whatever your experience with Miyazaki, or Studio Ghibli, the animation studio he co-founded, chances are good that you’ll recognize the name!

Miyazaki’s body of work holds a special place with us at A Mighty Girl. In the world of animated films, girls are surprisingly under-represented, especially adventurous, daring girls. Unlike many anime or manga writers — and many children’s media writers in general — Miyazaki's films frequently star strong female characters. And while Western audience often think of animation as a medium strictly for children, Miyazaki’s works range from the fanciful and fun, like Kiki’s Delivery Service, to darker, more complex works that tackle challenging issues, like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.

51lvmvy0a4l_1_[1]Miyazaki, who is often called “the Walt Disney of Japan”, has also inspired others with his love of traditional hand-drawn animation, his nuanced and complex characters, and his vivid fantasy settings. In fact, much like Walt Disney, the hallmarks of his work are clear, even on Studio Ghibli projects that he did not direct or write. Filmmakers and animators around the world have declared the powerful influence Miyazaki’s work had on their own, including John Lasseter, Akira Kurosawa, and Guillermo del Toro — as well as the creative team behind The Simpsons, which included a scene referencing multiple Miyazaki films in a 2014 episode.

In honor of Miyazaki’s retirement, A Mighty Girl has put together a tribute to the works of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Here, we’ll share some of his manga comic titles and films, as well as toys, gear, clothing, and decor that celebrate these beautiful stories. If you're a fan of Miyazaki’s work, you’ll find some great products to celebrate your favorite characters, and if you’re new to Miyazaki, we hope this blog will inspire you to check out some of his work. We’re confident that you — and your Mighty Girl — will love Miyazaki as much as millions of other fans do.

“The Power of Story”: Miyazaki’s Books and Films

513fvhfgkrl_1_[1]From inspiring stories about young people discovering their identities to cautionary tales of ecological disaster, and from his original writing to his adaptations of other works, it's clear that Miyazaki believes that “stories have an important role to play in the formation of human beings, that they can stimulate, amaze and inspire their listeners.” In this section, we’ll share some of our favorite of Miyazaki’s Mighty Girl books and films. Whether he was the author, director, or both, his ability to explore complex and fascinating characters and themes have captivated fans.

Miyazaki's life work is his manga series Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (age 13 and up), which ran serially in Animage magazine from 1982 to 1994. The manga has sold millions of copies, including more than ten million in Japan alone. In the early 1980s, as the the popularity of the manga became obvious, Animage approached Miyazaki about the possibility of adapting some of the story into an anime, or animated, film.

The result was the feature-length film Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (age 9 and up), which has a plot that is roughly based on book 1 and book 2 of the manga. In a future Earth ravaged by war, human nations struggle to survive — and fight for resources — along the borders of a polluted forest full of mutated insects, the Ohmu. But Nausicaa, princess of a tiny nation, shares an empathic bond with animals, including the Ohmu, and recognizes the critical significance of the forest: it may be the only hope for a rebirth for the planet and the human race.

Nausicaa was released in North America in a highly edited English version that Miyazaki considered totally unsatisfactory during the 1980s; to the delight of Miyazaki fans everywhere, an uncut and redubbed version was released in 2005. While Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind predates Studio Ghibli’s founding, the majority of people who worked on Nausicaa also joined Studio Ghibli, so many consider it the first Studio Ghibli film in essence, if not in name.

51lfpgchqrl_1_[1]Miyazaki’s first film under the newly-created Studio Ghibli was Castle in the Sky (age 8 and up), a fantasy-adventure in which orphaned girl Sheeta, with the help of her resourceful new friend, Pazu, and a band of sky pirates, seeks the legendary sky kingdom of Laputa. Together, Sheeta and Pazu must outwit Muska, who wants to use Laputa’s science to rule the world, and uncover the secret of the glowing crystal that Sheeta wears around her neck. Full of exciting action sequences, fun characters, and beautiful animation, this film is sure to delight.

Whether or not you know Miyazaki’s next film, you’ll probably recognize Studio Ghibli’s mascot Totoro! The charming character from the 1988 film My Neighbor Totoro (age 5 and up) is part of Studio Ghibli’s logo, and remains one of the studio’s most beloved characters. Sisters Satsuki and Mei move with their father to an old house in the country in an effort to be closer to their mother, who is recovering from a long term illness in a hospital. As they explore around their new home Mei and Satsuki discover Totoro, a “keeper of the forest”, and a number of other fantastical creatures — including a grinning cat-shaped bus.

When Satsuki and Mei become worried about their mother, Totoro summons the Catbus to take them on a journey to the hospital, where they are reassured that their mother will be home soon. My Neighbor Totoro’s loving pair of sisters with realistic problems provide a thought-provoking story even for the youngest Mighty Girls. My Neighbor Totoro is also available as a picture book (age 4 - 8), and a novel (age 8 and up).

515qb7j9zvl_1_[1]Miyazaki’s next film followed shortly afterwards, in 1989, and also depicted a whimsical character and setting. In Kiki’s Delivery Service (age 5 and up), 13-year-old apprentice witch Kiki is ready to try a year living on her own! With her trusty broomstick and her talking cat friend Jiji, Kiki moves to a city called Koriko and sets out to find her place. She takes a job delivering gifts — by air, naturally — but when a crisis rattles her confidence, Kiki loses her powers, including her ability to fly. Kiki will have to rediscover her purpose if she wants to be able to take to the skies again. With themes like the search for identity and overcoming self-doubt, this film has meaning for all ages. Kiki fans can also enjoy the picture book adaptation of the film.

The coming-of-age movie Whisper of the Heart (age 8 and up) featured Miyazaki’s writing, but was directed by Yoshifumi Kondo. Nevertheless, Miyazaki’s sensibilities are definitely present in this film! The story follows Shizuku, a schoolgirl who longs to find her unique talent. When Shizuku becomes curious about a cat she sees on the train, she follows him, only to meet Seiji, a fellow student and aspiring violin maker. Inspired by Seiji’s pursuit of his dream — and a fascinating cat figurine called “The Baron” that she sees in an antique shop — Shizuku discovers her own path: a future as an author. Shizuku’s wide-ranging imagination is sure to delight your own Mighty Girl, especially if she also dreams of writing great stories! A sequel to Whisper of the Heart, The Cat Returns (age 8 and up), came out in 2002.

51ma1n0v2al_1_[1]1997’s Princess Mononoke (age 13 and up) resumed a darker, more complex tone and tapped into a combination of Japanese mythology and a modern-day fear of ecological disaster. Unlike Miyazaki’s previous films, Princess Mononoke almost immediately received a North American theatrical release in an English dubbed version. In the story, the warrior Ashitaka sets out to find a cure for his curse, but instead finds himself in the midst of a war between a clan of humans and the animal gods of the forest. The animals are led by San, known as Princess Mononoke, a young woman who has been raised by wolves. Once they have earned one another’s trust, San and Ashitaka must find a way to remove both Ashitaka’s curse and the corruption that is destroying the land. Princess Mononoke’s epic tone and artful animation captured the attention of North American audiences, bringing Studio Ghibli more popular attention among Western audiences for the first time.

Spirited Away (9 and up) released in 2002, and rapidly became one of the year’s most highly acclaimed films. In it, Chihiro’s anger at being forced to move is eclipsed when she finds herself trapped in a bizarre spirit world, searching for her parents, who have been transformed into pigs. To survive, she takes a job with Yubaba, a witch who runs a spa for spirits and gods. If Chihiro wants to find her way home, she’ll need to tap reserves of courage and determination that she didn’t even know she possessed.

Miyazaki wrote the story for five girls he knew, and wanted to give them a main character that was a role model, rather than yet another character obsessed with romance. Critics compared it to Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland in tone and it is still considered one of the best films of the 2000s decade and one of the best animated films of all time. Younger Mighty Girls can enjoy the story of Spirited Away in this picture book adaptation featuring art from the movie (age 4 - 8).

51rojdvz1ul_1_[1]Miyazaki’s next project was a film adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones’ classic novel Howl’s Moving Castle (age 10 and up). Miyazaki’s film adaptation (age 8 and up) captured much of the magic of the novel, but also incorporated many of Miyazaki’s own ideas by changing the setting to include an impending war. Teenaged Sophie thinks of herself as plain and ordinary — until she is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and turned into an old woman. Sophie seeks out the mysterious wizard, Howl, in hopes of breaking the curse, while Howl seeks ways to avoid the violence to come. By discovering what truly makes her special, Sophie may be able to break her own curse, the curses that bind her new friends, and perhaps even put an end to the coming war. With its message about finding freedom from self-consciousness, it’s sure to speak to your Mighty Girl. There is also a picture book adaptation suitable for age four to eight.

In 2008 Miyazaki returned to lighter topics with Ponyo (age 3 and up), which was loosely inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid. Ponyo is the daughter of a powerful wizard who lives under the sea, and as a goldfish, she befriends a boy named Sosuke. Together, the new friends set off on a series of adventures until Ponyo’s father forces her back to the ocean. Ponyo, who loves her new friend, insists that she would rather be human, and begins to transform into one; but the magic of the transformation causes a giant storm, and soon Ponyo and Sosuke are faced with decisions that may determine whether the ocean can ever return to balance. This sweet story is a terrific introduction to Miyazaki’s films for very young Mighty Girls. You can also share the story in this picture book adaptation for ages four to eight.

arrietty_dvd_2d_1_[1]In 2012, Miyazaki adapted Mary Norton’s classic novel The Borrowers (age 9 - 12) into The Secret World of Arrietty (age 6 and up.) In the nooks and crannies of houses live Borrowers, tiny people who get by “borrowing” what they need from the much larger “human beans” that live around them. Arrietty, the 14-year-old daughter of one Borrower family, accidentally commits a major error when she allows herself to be spotted by Shawn, a human boy who is waiting for a critical heart operation. The two soon develop a friendship — one that risks the discovery, and possible eradication, of Arrietty’s whole family. Can Arrietty’s determination see them through a dangerous journey to a new home — and maybe even inspire Shawn to fight his own battle? This life-affirming story with an unequivocally happy ending is sure to delight you and your Mighty Girl. You can also enjoy the story again with this picture book adaptation (age 4 - 8).

Miyazaki announced his retirement in September of 2013, after the release of The Wind Rises, a fictionalized biography of aircraft designer Jiro Horikoshi. However, as Miyazaki has retired — and then returned to film — many times during his career, it's possible there will be more Mighty Girl works to come!

Playing with Ghibli: Toys Featuring Miyazaki’s Characters

515s-0pjw7l_1_[1]As with popular characters from Western animation, Miyazaki’s characters make common appearances on toys in Japan — and now, as more and more international viewers develop a love for Studio Ghibli films, many of these toys are starting to be easier to purchase. These toys are sure to be a hit with your little Miyazaki fan!

Fans of Studio Ghibli will love this selection of Studio Ghibli playing cards! These high-quality decks of cards feature stills of characters and scenes from a variety of Studio Ghibli movies. There are versions for My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Ponyo, The Secret World of Arrietty, and Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Kiki fans will also enjoy making their own Kiki- and Jiji-themed art with this set of four Kiki’s Delivery Service stamps (age 3 and up). The miniature stamps are half an inch square, made of wood with rubber stamping surfaces, and the box includes a red ink pad.

51oohzwid9l_1_[1]If your Mighty Girl is a puzzler, she’ll want to check out some Studio Ghibli puzzles (age 7 and up). These beautiful puzzles from Ensky feature vivid images from the films and high quality pieces, making them great for repeated assembly or for framing once they’re completed. There are 500 piece puzzles featuring an image from Kiki’s Delivery Service, Totoro and friends on a branch, and Totoro, Mei, and Satsuki sitting in a field, as well as a 1000 piece puzzle with an image of Howl’s Moving Castle.

And with characters as cute as some of the friends in Studio Ghibli films, it’s no wonder that there are some adorable plush Ghibli characters! Fans of the cat Jiji from Kiki’s Delivery Service can check out this 6 ½ inch beanie Jiji or this 8 inch plush Jiji toy. If your Mighty Girl loved the grinning Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro, then she’ll love this cuddly 10 inch Catbus plush. Or you can get her a Totoro of her very own with this 13 inch Totoro plush from Gund, perfect for cuddling long into the night.

At Home With Studio Ghibli: Art and Decor

totoro-1Fans of Miyazaki’s films may want to show off their favorite characters with some beautiful home decor! These posters, wall scrolls, and other decor items are a great way to bring a touch of Miyazaki’s exquisite artwork into your home.

If you’re looking for a poster for your Ghibli fan’s room, there are some great options out there! If you’d like a movie poster, you can get 11 by 17 inch ones for Kiki’s Delivery Service, Ponyo, and Spirited Away. Or, these two 11 by 17 inch posters featuring art from My Neighbor Totoro — one showing Totoro sitting with his friends and one showing Totoro, Satsuki, and Mei cheering together — will be a favorite with any Totoro fan.

If your Mighty Girl loves the music from Miyazaki’s films, you might want to check out these miniature music boxes. The Kiki’s Delivery Service music box is in the shape of a miniature book and plays A Message Left In Lipstick from the movie soundtrack. 41tiqks8nol_1_[1]The tiny book, which is approximately 2 ¾ inches square, opens to reveal a pop-out of Kiki in flight over a quote from the movie. The Totoro music box is a more traditional jewellery box-style music box with one drawer; it plays Totori no Totoro, the theme from My Neighbor Totoro.

And for a friendly face to greet your Mighty Girl when she comes into her room, check out this terrific Totoro motion-sensitive lamp! When the lamp senses vibrations approaching it, it lights up, and the little figure of Totoro on top waves its leaf hello. It’s the perfect way to make her smile every time she opens her door.

Ghibli On The Go: Backpacks and Lunch Boxes

ghibilYou can also show off your love of Studio Ghibli with a backpack or lunch box. These fun options for packing the things you need on the road are sure to give you a smile!

For little Totoro fans, why not get a plush backpack? This 11 inch Totoro backpack (age 2 - 6) is great for younger kids, and looks more like a stuffed animal than a bag! Older kids who need a bit more room can get this 13 inch plush backpack (age 3 - 8) featuring Totoro’s smile. Or, if your Mighty Girl prefers a shoulder bag, check out the plush Totoro messenger bag (age 3 - 6): at 12 by 9 inches, it’s just right for packing a couple of things she needs on her journeys.

Older Totoro fans who are planning to tote more stuff will probably want a larger, more durable bag. The 15 inch Totoro print backpack is a good option for kids age 7 and up: the fun print and durable material will easily see it last through a school year and beyond.

If she’d rather pay tribute to Studio Ghibli itself, she can get this Studio Ghibli canvas backpack (age 9 and up): with its rich brown color, the white Studio Ghibli logo stands out beautifully.

51i6n_2boib4l_1__1[1]When it’s lunchtime, she can also carry her food in a Studio Ghibli character-themed bag! The Totoro neoprene lunch bag (age 3 and up) is made of easy-clean material and is insulated to keep things cool.

Unsurprisingly, there are also some great bento-style lunch boxes featuring Kiki! Whether you back a bento lunch, or leftovers from the night before, these divided boxes are handy for portioning meals for both children and adults. If sandwiches and snacks are your Mighty Girl’s favorite lunch, check out the two tier Kiki bento box (age 5 and up): the bottom tier seals tightly to hold a sandwich or salad, while the top tier is ventilated for fruit and veggie storage, and the handy carrying strap holds both snugly together. You can also get a Kiki lunch box (age 5 and up) which features longer, narrower storage tiers that stack and are held together with a slide-on band. Both feature vivid, colorful images inspired by Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Wearing Ghibli: Clothing Featuring Studio Ghibli Characters

totoro-shirtIf you love Studio Ghibli, you’d probably love to wear your heart on your sleeve with some great Ghibli clothing! These fun options featuring Kiki and Totoro are a great way to show off your love of Miyazaki’s work.

Whether you’re looking for a costume, or just a cozy outfit to wear while lounging, this Totoro kigurumi (age 13 and up) will fit the bill! This relaxed fit one-piece outfit is perfectly plush and snuggly, and warm enough to keep you feeling cozy even on cold days.

For another great way to keep warm with Totoro, check out this Totoro hat and mittens set (age 10 and up). The soft plush fabric has a fleece lining for extra warmth, and with the hat and mittens attached to each other, you’ll have fewer pieces to keep track of on those cold winter days! You can also get this comfy Totoro hoodie (age 13 and up), which has a large front pocket, perfect for carrying a few items or for tucking hands to keep warm.

“Many of my movies have strong female leads - brave, self-sufficient girls that don't think twice about fighting for what they believe in with all their heart. They'll need a friend, or a supporter, but never a savior. Any woman is just as capable of being a hero as any man.” — Hayao Miyazaki

It's a rare filmmaker with a record of producing films as beloved by as many audiences as Miyazaki! Even longtime fans will find that they can watch his works again and again. We hope that this blog will encourage you to pull an old favorite off the shelf or to discover a new one.

Additional Recommended Resources

Help keep A Mighty Girl growing in the years ahead!

If you discover any books or other resources via this post that you would like to purchase, please use the "Buy at Amazon" link on every A Mighty Girl product page. By doing so, at no added cost to you, you help to support the site and allow us to continue providing you with wonderful girl-empowering resources. Thanks for your support!

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Help keep A Mighty Girl growing in the years ahead!

If you discover books or other resources via this post that you would like to purchase, please use the "Buy at Amazon" and other links found on every A Mighty Girl product page. By doing so, at no added cost to you, you help to support the site and allow us to continue providing you with wonderful girl-empowering resources. We appreciate your support!