LOVE IN THE WORLD OF STUDIO GHIBLI

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animated film company that was founded in 1985 with the directors Miyazaki Hayao and Takahata Isao. These films are filled with loveable characters and the visuals are beautiful. I want to break down the relationships and love in the films. The first kind of love I want to talk about is family love, the movie I thought of was “My Neighbor Totoro”. This film follows a family of two daughters (Mei, and Satsuki) , their father moving into a house while her ill mother is in the hospital. While the kids are looking through the house they keep finding these spirits and during the nighttime they spot a creature named Totoro. It just follows the girls trying to find and keep Totoro in their lives, it has a beautiful magical feel to it. I feel as if Totoro brought the girls together more and they spent so much time together, and grew so much love for each other and Totoro bringing them into their family. This is definitely such a cute, cozy, and family film to watch with your loved ones. 

My next type of love is a friend's love, the movie I thought of was “Ponyo”. Ponyo is a story during a magical journey to see the surface world. A goldfish princess sees a boy named Sosuke, and gives her the name Ponyo. Ponyo’s legs become human as her friendship with Sosuke becomes stronger, she becomes more human-like. But sadly, Ponyo’s father brings her back into their ocean kingdom, but Ponyo’s wish to live on the surface is so strong she breaks free. Ponyo is such a sweet, heartwarming film that reminds me of my childhood friends and how they made me who I am today. I love the way that Ponyo becomes more human as the friendship becomes stronger. Your friends help you shape who you are, they help you grow and find out who you are and what you want in life, they show you what true or not true relationships are like. I definitely recommend this movie to anyone absolutely amazing. 

ROWEN BLOMME AND JAIDYN CALKINS TAKING A PICTURE WITH A TOTORO STUFFED ANIMAL; PHOTO BY JAIDYN CALKINS

I think Valentine's day is more important than just relationships and partners because we have so much love in this world with many different people. I just think Valentine's day is always thought of as a couple's holiday when we forget everyone else. So maybe spend this holiday season watching these films!