Studio Ghibli represents anime’s artistic peak. In an era of seasonal shows and streaming wars, Miyazaki’s studio remains culturally vital. Here’s why Ghibli still matters.
The Miyazaki Legacy
Hayao Miyazaki isn’t just a director—he’s anime’s most important artist. Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro transcended the medium to become cultural touchstones. His films screen in museums alongside Kurosawa.
His “final” films keep coming because he can’t stop creating. Each retirement announcement precedes another masterpiece.
Timeless Aesthetics
Ghibli films look hand-drawn because they are. While other studios embrace digital shortcuts, Ghibli maintains traditional animation. This creates warmth that CGI can’t replicate. Their films from the 80s look as good as modern productions.
Complex Themes, Accessible Stories
Ghibli doesn’t dumb down for children. Environmental destruction (Nausicaä, Mononoke), capitalism (Spirited Away), war (Howl’s, Grave of the Fireflies)—heavy themes delivered through engaging narratives that work for all ages.
Female Protagonists
Long before anime discourse about representation, Ghibli centered complex female leads. Nausicaä, San, Chihiro, Sophie, Kiki—women with agency, flaws, and growth. This wasn’t progressive marketing; it was good storytelling.
No Villains
Ghibli’s antagonists are rarely purely evil. Lady Eboshi protects lepers while destroying forests. The witch in Howl’s serves a king. Yubaba employs spirits while exploiting them. Moral complexity defines Ghibli conflict.
Food Animation
Ghibli food looks impossibly delicious. The attention to meal preparation, the colors, the steam—no studio animates eating better. It’s become a meme because it’s genuinely impressive.
Influence on Modern Anime
Every anime film aspiring to “Ghibli quality” proves their influence. Makoto Shinkai’s work directly descends from Ghibli aesthetics. The studio defined what animated films could achieve.
Streaming Availability
The Netflix/Max deals finally made Ghibli globally accessible after years of limited distribution. New generations discovering these films ensures continued relevance.
The Boy and the Heron
Miyazaki’s 2023 film won the Oscar, proving 40+ years into his career he still operates at the peak. If that’s truly his final film, it’s a worthy conclusion.
Why It Matters
Ghibli proves animation is art. Not content, not product—art. In streaming’s algorithm-driven era, their commitment to craft over metrics matters more than ever. They’re the standard against which anime films are measured.
Studio Ghibli matters because beauty matters.