Studio Ghibli, Movies and Mental Health

Movies as therapy is your permission to worry less about too much screentime and consider more what you’re watching is doing for you.

Studio Ghibli

Recently we co-viewed The Boy and the Heron with members of our Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) and they told us that watching Studio Ghibli films bring them comfort and joy.

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio behind some of the most popular anime films of all time, such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro. Whether you watch them in Japanese, or the English dubbed versions, the films transports viewers into new worlds.

We discussed the themes frequently found in Studio Ghibli films, including new release The Boy and the Heron and YAP members told us that they gravitate towards these films because they can be good for your mental health.

• The films tend to promote themes of resilience, empathy and self-discovery which can be a powerful tool for fostering emotional intelligence – especially for tamariki. (See My Neighbour Totoro)
• Through visual storytelling and music, the artistic focus of the studio can help viewers articulate and process emotions. (See Spirited Away)
• Storylines prompt viewers to ask questions about and identify the emotions of characters and how they feel themselves. (See Ponyo)
• The films promote self-awareness and reflection when viewers pay attention to their own emotions while watching. (See Howl’s Moving Castle)
• The films strike a balance between the realities of real like and the imaginative world of Studio Ghibli. This gives viewers a chance to explore emotions and challenges in a safe way. (See The Wind Rises)

There is so much going on right now and we are constantly being told many ways on how to look after our mental health. However, sometimes it isn’t as simple as throwing your phone in the bin and avoiding content altogether. Creating moments of purposeful screentime might be an easy way to bring some joy into your world or give you the opportunity to release some of the emotions that sit uncomfortably in your chest. Find your own comfort watch, put on a film so you can have a good cry, or choose a series that makes you laugh. Take notice of your emotions and cut yourself a bit a slack…because you deserve it.

Make sure to check the rating and content warning, and find out more information about other Studio Ghibli film ratings on our Find a Rating page.

Further reading:

Watching movies could be good for your mental health – The Conversation

Spirted Away guide

Kiki’s Delivery Service guide

Ponyo guide

The Wind Rises guide

Porco Rosso guide

Castle in the Sky guide

Howl’s Moving Castle guide

Princess Mononoke guide

My Neighbor Totoro guide

The Boy and the Heron guide