Today’s real world has never been more divided. We are plagued with 24/7 news, dominating prominent issues, and a lot of opinions. Many people are burnt out; being stuck isolated due to Covid-19, we are left to consume TV, social media, radio, even the newspaper which are constantly shouting about issues. So how can someone get away from all of this?
For many, media is their escape from reality. In todays climate it’s almost impossible to dodge the political and societal rifts and just be able to relax; but diving into what many consider an obscure or childish art may be the out that many are looking for.
Studio Ghibli for many rings a bell of childhood movie memories. Kiki’s delivery service, My Neighbor Totoro, Howls Moving Castle, and Spirited Away, are just a few to name the many critically acclaimed classics the studio holds. All movies take place in a form of fantasy setting yet upon viewing you find them playing out many universal problems everyone faces.
After a friend of mine recommended re-watching one of these movies, I responded like any good friend would, “Yea I’ll put it on my watch list” with no real intention on watching. I had much better things to do, I thought to myself as I opened Facebook and scrolled through a mine field of ranting political opinions, posts of anger and an overall soul crushing feed. Across all my outlets I saw the similar trend. I set my phone down and realized, maybe I don’t have anything better to do.
Out of options and desperate to not think about my problems, I opened Netflix and for the next 100 minutes I completely forgot about the world I was in.
Beautifully animated hand drawn scenes of grass blowing in the wind started the movie. To be honest I felt silly watching a movie about a 13-year-old witch leaving home, but this movie was not at all what I remembered.
Kiki’s delivery service is about a girl going off on her own to discover what kind of witch she want to be. Leaving home for the first time, struggling to find out who she is and the dream crushing realization that life is a lot harder alone; For a kid this premise seems fun, but any adult who has now gone through this watches through a different lens. Even in a fantasy world, we all face the challenge of growing up and fighting to be independent. Through this universal truth you find the bond between yourself and the main character. Reliving life’s hardship, it gives you the escape to go back and see the success happen again.
As I’ve said the movies worlds might be complex, but the problems are all to real. The problem with todays movies is that, although entertaining, you lose that complete relatability. With high stakes world ending events like Avengers Endgame, the fight for the galaxy in Star Wars, and whatever Cats was… We have lost a genre of relatable media.
Losing your parents, being on your own, loosing focus about what truly matters. These themes are all wrapped in a colorful animation, with scenes that often slow down the pace to give you a moment to be present as the bow on top. These films give us the breath we need in a world that constantly demands from you.
After watching more of the studio Ghibli films, I found these to be Chicken soup for the soul. In a time were everything around us is bad, our nation divided and a constant food fight of insults from one side to the other. Through these you find your escape. You come out the other side feeling optimistic, sympathetic, and hopeful. Something we all desperately need in these trying times.
These films might not be able to save the world but maybe, just for a short time, it can save you from the world.
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