Course Description

Japan’s most prominent animation studio, Studio Ghibli, has produced many animated films that are wildly popular, both in the domestic and international spheres, due to their fantastical and imaginative story-telling abilities. These films are typically deemed to be “feel-good” films for children, however, under the layers of heartwarming love stories, epic battles, and wondrous explorations is a pro-environmentalism stance. While providing a fanciful escape, these films also allow deeper learning on the connection between man and environment and the consequences of neglecting that relationship. Ghibli Studios and director Miyazaki Hayao (宮崎 駿) lend their support to environmental activism through their award-winning animations, making the studio not only a center for animation but also a key component of the environmental movement. By comparing different works produced by Studio Ghibli and by analyzing intersections of Japanese pop culture and activism, we will develop a greater understanding of how the tools of animation are used to highlight environmentalist critique. Through comparing different works, we will develop a greater understanding of how the tools of animation are used to highlight environmentalist critique.

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