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Films that are powerfully centered on the environment can be a great choice. Change our thinkingThese connections connect us to nature in ways that scientific papers can’t. For example, Studio Ghibli, a renowned Japanese film production studio founded by animators Hayao MiyazakiComplex visual stories about human-nature relations are created by, which transcend cultural and age barriers. A key message of Miyazaki’s work is that we must respect nature – or face our own destruction.
Miyazaki’s films offer viewers moments of escape into fantastical worlds that nonetheless echo problems of modernity, demonstrating that it’s possible to portray complex environmental issues through animation in a way that retains mainstream appeal.
As a conservation scientist and Studio Ghibli enthusiast, I’ve Analysed the environmental themes in three of its most well-known films: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), My Neighbour Totoro (1988) and Princess Mononoke (1997).
Nausicaä
Nausicaä, released with a special recommendation from the World Wildlife FundFor Nature tells the story about an apocalyptic event which causes havoc in global ecosystems. Human survivors must coexist with the Toxic JungleThe Toxic Jungle is a dangerous area populated with poisonous fungalspores. Most people fear the Toxic Jungle and want to eliminate it. But what they don’t understand is that it’s cleansing the environment for their benefit.
Miyazaki created the film to reflect our society. PrioritizingIt is predicted that collapse will result from short-term materialistic growth versus long-term environmental sustainability. The film reminds viewers that war against nature ultimately leads to our destruction. demise. We must create a sustainable future. Work with natureInstead of fighting it.
My Neighbour Totoro
In My Neighbour TotoroA pair of young sisters moves to the countryside with their father while their mother recovers from illness. The girls discover their new home and the forest surrounding it, and form a friendship with Totoro, a large forest spirit.
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During Lockdowns in the UKLocal green spaces were established. HavenIt supports my mental health, and reminds me of my intrinsic connection to nature as well as other humans. As I saw children climbing trees and playing on the grass, I realized how important it was to support their mental health. Unstructured playtimeIn nature. There is a growing number of Research suggests that children’s interactions with the natural world are invaluable for their wellbeing.
In Miyazaki’s film, the young sisters become friends with Totoro, explore their surroundings, and discover their affinity for their environment. Totoro is depicted in Miyazaki’s film as a nurturing mother figure, encouraging and representing the young sisters. Healing effectsto connect with nature: Which have been well-documentedIn research and culture
Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke is now in place Japan in the 14th centuryThe constant struggle between humans and the world of. forest kami(spirits) can lead to casualties on both ends. In ShintoThese are some of the traditional Japanese religions, such as. kami are part of nature – but they’re not soft-natured entities. If humans don’t respect their environment, they can seek to exact revenge.
The film’s most powerful kamiThe Forest Spirit (Shishigami), who is neither good nor evil but represents the pure power of nature. Shishigami appears in the form of a deer during daytime. It transforms into an eerie Night Walker at night. This transformation reflects the dual nature of nature as a bringer and taker of life and death, echoing the fact that the natural world can do both. Support and destruction humankind.
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Similarly, the antagonist of the film, Lady Eboshi, isn’t in fact a clear-cut villain. Although she wants to cut down the forest to feed iron mines, she’s also the kind, generous leader of Iron Town, providing a haven for social outcasts and espousing gender equality. Yet despite her wish to build a better society, her actions – however well-intentioned – will destroy the forest and the homes of the kami.
This is a microcosm for ongoing Environmental justiceIssues across the globe, where poor or marginalised groups, such as Women and Indigenous peopleThe actions of the wealthy are a burden on the poor. In particular, although wealthy countries contribute the most to climate change, it’s poorer countries that must carry the greatest Climate-related burdens.
As viewers of Princess Mononoke, we’re being encouraged to move beyond dichotomies of “us versus them”, thinking which allows groups with more power to distance themselves from those without: or even to DehumanizationYou can’t go wrong with either of them. Miyazaki’s work is a lesson in seeking intrinsic commonalities – what connects us rather than what divides – and using these to imagine fairer, more equal societies that live in harmony with nature.
