For years now, as an anime fan, I have enjoyed watching the many different genres, art styles, and unique stories that anime offers. But there is a pattern that runs throughout the anime industry that is disheartening; the treatment of female characters. Female characters in anime, often even minors, are frequently sexualized in uncomfortable ways. As a female viewer, it is alienating and painful to witness characters who appear to exist only for fan service. This objectification makes it difficult to fully enjoy anime, especially when female characters are reduced to one-dimensional, hypersexualized figures.
Yet, in a medium that too reduces its female characters in uncomfortable ways, HayaoMiyazaki's Studio Ghibli films have always been a breath of fresh air. They have complex, meaningful stories with authentic girls and women whose worth is not simply based on their appearance. These films remind me why I fell in love with anime in the first place and give me hope that there is room for better representation within the anime world.
Miyazaki's Movies Feature Empowering Female Protagonists
A Refreshing Take On Strong Women In Anime
One of the best qualities of Miyazaki's work is his dedication to creating empowered female characters. His female protagonists are independent, strong-willed, and resourceful, but are never solely defined by these traits. From Nausicaä in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind to Chihiro in Spirited Away to Sophie in Howl's Moving Castle, Studio Ghibli heroines face many harsh challenges with bravery, resilience, and wit, showing that they are capable of leading their own stories.
Hayao Miyazaki criticizes children who watch anime as "lazy" out of care for their wellbeing and future endeavors as human beings.
Beyond their bravery, Ghibli protagonists also have a deep sense of compassion. Characters like Nausicaä in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind show that true strength lies in kindness. Nausicaä fights for peace not with force, but through understanding and connection. Her courage comes from a commitment to protect both her people and the natural world. This empathetic heroism inspires audiences to see strength as much more than just physical, where gentleness and resolve coexist. These portrayals of female characters remind viewers that power is not just about defeating opponents, it is about standing up for what is right.
These characters are not just there to look pretty, they actively shape the plot. Chihiro's journey through Spirited Away's spirit world teaches her about courage, loyalty, and personal growth. Sophie's transformation into an elderly woman in Howl's Moving Castle teaches her self-discovery, reminding viewers that aging is natural and that beauty and strength come from within. These and all the other Miyazaki female characters do not rely on sexualization to appeal to audiences, instead they are beloved by viewers because they are relatable and feel real.
Realistic And Diverse Female Representation
Complexity Beyond Physical Appearance
Studio Ghibli films celebrate the diversity of womanhood in a way that few other anime do. Miyazaki's female characters span a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and personalities that all capture the depth and variety of real women. In Kiki's Delivery Service, Kiki is a young witch learning independence and self-confidence in a new city. While My Neighbor Totoro portrays Satsuki as a caring older sister grappling with family struggles and change.
Ghibli's realistic approach to female characters extends to their everyday struggles, making their stories relatable. In Only Yesterday, Taeko's journey of self-discovery resonates with viewers as she looks back on childhood memories and goes through adulthood challenges. This inner exploration of identity is refreshing in a medium that often focuses on a woman's physical features instead of their minds and souls. By normalizing this self-reflection and personal growth, Miyazaki and Ghibli portray women as deeply complex individuals, allowing audiences to connect with them on an emotional level and feel seen in their own life journeys.
Rather than forcing women into roles to appeal to male audiences, he builds worlds where they are allowed to be flawed, vulnerable, and complex. This diversity is not only refreshing, it is desperately needed within anime.
Miyazaki respects his characters' individuality. Rather than forcing women into roles to appeal to male audiences, he builds worlds where they are allowed to be flawed, vulnerable, and complex. This diversity is not only refreshing, it is desperately needed within anime. Ghibli's stories offer young girls and women positive role models they can look up to, reminding them that their worth is so much more than physical appearance.
Challenging Societal Norms And Stereotypes
Redefining Femininity In Anime
Miyazaki's films are not just about adventure or fantasy, they often have subtle critiques of societal norms. By creating stories that go beyond stereotypical gender roles, Miyazaki challenges the over-sexualization and objectification that are unfortunately common in anime. In Princess Mononoke, San is a fierce warrior who fights to protect her forest home. Similarly, in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Nausicaä is a powerful princess with compassion and love for her people and the natural world around her. Both of these characters' strength and resolve are respected, not fetishized, showing that they are equal partners to their fellow male protagonists.
Miyazaki's films also challenge the conventional definitions of beauty and femininity. Characters like Umi in From Up on Poppy Hill and Sheeta in Castle in the Sky find beauty in acts of kindness, intelligence, and quiet resilience rather than in physical appeal. This alternative portrayal defies mainstream anime trends where beauty is equated with allure and sex. By focusing on these characters' inner qualities, Miyazaki shifts the lens to their intelligence, bravery, and compassion. These kinds of depictions encourage viewers to see beauty as something far more substantial than physical appearance, emphasizing the importance of inner strength.
This refreshing and amazing take is rare in anime, where female characters are often treated as accessories or objects of desire. Ghibli's films prove that femininity can exist alongside strength and independence. Miyazaki's respectful storytelling has helped pave the way for better women's representation, showing that female characters can be multi-dimensional, compelling, and, most importantly, human.
Custom image created by Evan D. Mullicane
Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli films have redefined my expectations for anime, offering inspiring female characters who stand apart from the shallow portrayals in many other series. These stories give me hope for an industry that often undermines its female characters. Studio Ghibli proves that anime can celebrate women without resorting to objectification. Miyazaki's films are not just my favorite anime, they are my reminder that anime can be a medium of respect, beauty, and deep storytelling.
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