NETFLIX, ONE of the top streaming services in the world, has formed a partnership with Studio Ghibli and released 21 Ghibli films on its website in February this year. This was the first time these movies have appeared on streaming sites, and although it has been decades since these films were produced, it caught the attention of fans all over the world. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, as people are now spending most of their time inside, both old Ghibli fans and new viewers have been able to enjoy Studio Ghibli classics comfortably in their rooms. The number of people who have binge-watched these films increased over the past half-year, and the global popularity of these films increased as well*. What has made Ghibli films timeless masterpieces that are loved by so many people around the world?

Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki

   Studio Ghibli, also known as “Academy Award-winning Japanese art house**,” is the place where over 20 iconic films were produced, and where everyone’s beloved Ghibli characters were created. The definition of the word “Ghibli” is “hot dust-bearing wind,” and it was named after the idea that Studio Ghibli would “blow a new wind through the anime industry***.” It was launched in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki and Takahata Isao after Miyazaki’s own work, *Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind* gained success. Miyazaki is currently one of the most famous Japanese anime directors, and his contributions to the animation field were acknowledged globally when he received an Academy Honorary Award**** in 2014.

Attractiveness of the Ghibli animations

   Ghibli films created by Miyazaki are known for their high quality and artistry, as well as the entertainment they provide. However, this cannot fully explain the reasons behind their popularity. The films have several attractive points that can be categorized into three parts. Their first charm is that the films all include diverse themes and unique characters. Although all Ghibli’s films share the “heartwarming” vibe, each film provides a different message to the audience. Among numerous animations, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro are well-known examples of having meaningful messages.

   The first movie, Spirited Away, focuses on the main character Chihiro’s personal growth as she enters a magical world of spirits. She is a child who shows love and care for others; throughout the film, she challenges herself in order to adapt to new environments to save her parents who have turned into pigs. Some people might think that Spirited Away is just another fantasy story for children. However, there is more than what meets the eye in this film. For instance, the scene where Chihiro’s parents voraciously eat food and eventually turn into pigs shows the greediness of the Bubble generation*****. Another scene shows the staff, who are mainly anthropomorphized creatures, frantically picking up the gold provided by the No-Face******. Both scenes convey the message that over time, greedy people slowly start to lose themselves and their humanity.

   Next, Howl’s Moving Castle details the story of a wizard named Howl and hatter Sophie who has turned old due to a spell. Through these unique characters, the film conveys the message that having confidence is more important than one’s appearance. In the film, when Sophie defends Howl from Madame Suliman’s criticism by confidently saying “I believe in him,” Sophie turns young. However, as soon as she loses her confidence, she quickly changes into an old woman. The film also has anti-war messages reflecting on America’s invasion in Iraq, and it shows the violent consequences of war along with the importance of peace.

   The last movie, My Neighbor Totoro, is different from the other two films in that rather than giving profound messages, it is mainly focused on capturing the beauty of nature and the innocence of children. The movie is about how the two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who moved to the countryside, encounter and build memories with Totoro, the woodland creature. The film showcases beautiful scenic views in Japan after World War II and they induce a great sense of nostalgia in the audience.

   Another charming point of Ghibli films is their unique vibe, which Koreans refer to as Ghibli gam-seong. This is produced through the excellent aesthetics that each film has. The background images that are hand-drawn grab the attention of audiences with their vivid colors and beautiful scenery, and they are all visually stunning. Also, the fantastical worlds that the films introduce are depicted in detail and this instills a certain sentiment in the audience that they remember and reminiscent as “Ghibli gam-seong.” In an interview with The Yonsei Annals, Kim Yoo-sin (Soph., Dept of Econ.) said, “as there are numerous scenes that depict the beauty of nature, the first thing that comes to my mind when thinking of Ghibli are hopeful and relaxing images of green plants.” People love Ghibli films and their gam-seong to the extent that they use scenes from the films as their phone or computer wallpapers.

   The audience’s affection for the films naturally leads them to fall in love with the characters, particularly because of each character’s uniqueness. Elizabeth Lee (Fresh., Underwood Div.) even gave “Totoro’s cuteness” as a reason why she likes the movie *My Neighbor Totoro*. Among numerous characters, Totoro, Gaonasi, Calcifer, and Ponyo are some of the most popular ones. There are stores that sell a diverse range of merchandise to satisfy the fan’s desires, and these goods have become another main factor behind people’s long-lasting love for Ghibli films. One example is Do to ri sup*******, a store where Ghibli characters come to life. People can purchase numerous products, including stationery, interior decorations, and fashion accessories that either have illustrations or 3D figures of Ghibli characters.

Ghibli soundtracks

   Ghibli soundtracks have garnered immense popularity and have been widely used on several media platforms. This popularity grew with the development of YouTube as it has a complete collection of Ghibli soundtracks. Park Ga-young (Fresh., Underwood Div.) explained, “I think the reason why people are into Ghibli music is that despite the lack of lyrics, they could associate the music with the movies.” Kim had a similar opinion and described them as “pictorial music.” Merry-Go-Round of Life is the most popular soundtrack that demonstrates this phenomenon. The movie begins with Howl saying, “I was looking everywhere for you,” and towards the ending, Sophie shouts to young Howl, “find me in the future.” The beginning and end of the soundtrack have the exact same components, reflecting this cyclical process of Sophie going back to Howl's past, and Howl searching for her until he finds her in the future. Kim also said that he likes the soundtracks because “they touch people’s minds, even though they are closer to classic and do not have any fancy technicalities.” Ghibli soundtracks are certainly the spices that enrich the taste of its films and deepen the love of fans.

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   “Disney movies touch the heart but Studio Ghibli films touch the soul,*******" is a quote that could best summarize the reason behind Ghibli films and their long-lasting popularity. Each film has characters with distinct personalities and scenes that depict the wondrous worlds. The diversity of the film’s themes and soundtracks that pull on people’s heartstrings also leave a lifelong effect on people. If you want to enjoy breathtaking scenes and heartwarming stories, try one of Ghibli’s timeless masterpieces.

*The Guardian

**Netflix

***Gogonihon

****Award from the Oscar

*****Bubble generation: refers to people who are born around the late 1960s when there was a rapid increase in market value.

******Also known as Kaonashi

*******Located in Hongdae, Yongsan, and Jamsil; You can check out their work at www.dotorisup.com or www.instagram.com/dotorisup

********Goodnet