By Nrl Liya
Edited by Nadya R.
Studio Ghibli’s films have garnered attention for their aesthetic visuals and beautiful soundtracks, but some critics have labelled the movies as boring and mundane. These adjectives are commonly used due to the lack of explosive and tightly-knit plots that we usually see in animated films. This lackness has been attributed to the dislikes of a few critics and viewers who find the narrative bad and, as Gen Z says, overhyped. This is because Studio Ghibli often opts for high-intensity moments that are intertwined with slow-paced scenes and complex narratives, leaving viewers feeling confused and unsatisfied.
As an avid fan of Studio Ghibli, I understand the sentiment behind finding their movies boring and mundane. I agree that the films occasionally portray scenes where nothing particularly important happens, often lack clear-cut villains, and have ambiguous narrative messages. From these attributes, it is no wonder that viewers and critics feel the urge to dislike the films for their confusing and dissatisfying narratives.
However, these weaknesses I have listed can be viewed and perceived as strengths and integral aspects of Studio Ghibli's charm.
Before we delve deeper, it’s worth noting that the aesthetic visuals and soundtrack of the films undoubtedly attract viewers. I viewed these as a form of ‘pretty privilege’, and thus the visual and soundtrack would defeat my purpose of expressing the depth of Studio Ghibli’s film narratives. These aspects, however, are discussed not as the main focus of this article but rather, to elucidate my points, as they still play a role in the narratives.
Boring Because Nothing Happened
In my previous article, “Spirited Away: Captivating the Magic of Hayao Miyazaki’s Masterpiece”, I touched on this notion about the scenes where nothing happened. I have stated in the article that the scenes where nothing happened and the characters simply exist as a part of their journey, are how Hayao Miyazaki was able to captivate the audience's hearts. Why are these scenes important in Studio Ghibli’s narrative and is it their strength?
Well, I would argue that Studio Ghibli has played out perfectly the humane elements of their narratives and how this has impacted the realism in them. Often when we watch a movie, a lot of plots are squeezed into a scene to reach optimum storytelling. But is a tight-knit plot always a good movie? Studio Ghibli, I presume, takes pride in realism through their slow-paced narratives, not only to immerse their characters in the surroundings but their audience too. These specific moments where nothing happened are purposeful and are not to simply lengthen the time. It is to give a breather to the characters and the audience to sink into and reflect on the previous adventures and eventful moments they have had.
Studio Ghibli embraced the stillness of life—the humane characteristic—through this portrayal of realism that inevitably brings the character to life. I’m sure you’ve heard of the saying – the journey is as important as the destination, and this encapsulated this ‘nothing happened’ scene. The moment where nothing happened is also the moment when everything happened; we just have to reflect and look deeper into our humanity and soul.
Overhyped: Ambiguous Narratives
Often, animated shows that are targeted at children used to have a clear-cut depiction of the heroes and villains. This, however, does not apply to Studio Ghibli’s films. Take, for example, their famous film “Howl’s Moving Castle”. When the film began, we thought that The Witch of the Waste was the villain of the story, as she was the one who cursed Sophie into becoming old. But as it progresses, Sophie makes peace with the witch when she turns old and rather takes care of her. So we are left with a hero with no villain, so who exactly is Sophie fighting? What plot, then, does the story want to tell?
This doesn’t only apply to “Howl’s Moving Castle”, but also to “Ponyo” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service” (I include these two films mainly because they are well-known). There is no clear-cut villain: an antagonizer that the protagonist is trying to fight off and obtain an ultimate win. This, being a movie targeted at children, thus left the audience in a daze with the character.
As previously mentioned above, Studio Ghibli illustrated an elevated portrayal of humanity in their characters, and who is our biggest enemy if not ourselves?
Yes, the films (selective films) do not have a specific character as a villain, but rather it is human nature itself that betrays the character. Human flaws and nature cause struggles and challenges that weren’t even there in the first place. For instance, Sophie’s curse of becoming old is rooted in her own manifestation of insecurity and perceiving herself as unattractive. This can be applied to Kiki too, who loses her ability to fly when she finds her flying skill being replaced with modern technology, not realising her self-worth.
By challenging the traditional storytelling style of heroes and villains, Studio Ghibli focuses on offering a profound and thought-provoking cinematic experience. Yes, the narrative might have been ambiguous, but these complexities are what humans are, and Studio Ghibli thrives on realism in their storytelling.
To conclude, when examining the narrative depth behind Studio Ghibli’s visuals and soundtrack, it is evident that it deeply explores human nature and immersive realism in its storytelling. Studio Ghibli’s films, then, I would say, are not boring but rather focus more on the introspection of themes and characters, inviting viewers to contemplate the mundanes of life that could offer richness in a way we never thought before. Lastly, a disclaimer that this is not an active argument of hate for people who do not prefer Studio Ghibli, as everyone has their own preferences. Instead, this article is simply me trying to share my opinions and thoughts, which may potentially be biassed.
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