Last week, the Student Union Movie Organization (SUMO) held a double screening of “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and “Spirited Away,” two iconic Studio Ghibli films directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Studio Ghibli films have been frequent favorites for SUMO fests, and it’s easy to see why. Most of Studio Ghibli’s films are renowned for their gorgeous animation, serene vibes and touching stories. But what I believe makes Ghibli films special is their grounded nature. The world, the character … they all feel natural and fully realized. These are films that are extremely human when it comes to showcasing the triumph of will in the most dire of times. 

I believe this is exemplified with how “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and “Spirited Away” showcase the concept of entering the adult world. The two may seem like fundamentally different films — one focusing on an ordinary girl attempting to save her parents while the other focusing on a witch trying to make a living for herself. But the films are more similar than they seem in the way they focus on the ways in which we grow up. Both of these Ghibli films explore what it means to venture into a new world, exposing young protagonists to the responsibilities and pressure that come with it. Both Chihiro and Kiki find themselves taking on adult tasks all on their own. While we see these characters knocked down by the harsh conditions of the world, both of these films offer a cathartic message on how we can rise above our insecurities and find the perseverance to move forward. 

Chihiro and Kiki begin their respective stories in radically different positions. While Chihiro is against the idea of going beyond her old home, Kiki is eager to explore the world and go beyond her boundaries. These are two common feelings felt inside many of us whenever we find ourselves having to face change. Feelings of nervousness and uncertainty are a given with such a radical change, but we also feel this spark when it comes to travelling toward a new corner of life. But no matter our feelings, new responsibilities are inevitable, as seen with Chihiro and Kiki both acquiring jobs; Chihiro with the bathhouse and Kiki with the delivery service. The very notion of having a job at such a young age is quite a distinction for these two characters; that toughness is reflected near the beginnings of these films, where both are hit with rather rude awakenings. With Chihiro, she is forced into an environment where she faces harsher expectations than ever before. While Kiki certainly faces better living conditions, she finds difficulty in performing her job, as seen with her first delivery. It’s particularly demoralizing for Kiki given her training as a witch. This difficulty is to be expected for such unfamiliar environments, and struggles are but a natural stepping stone for people of all experiences.

But it’s more than dealing with difficult customers or losing important items, because both characters are heavily affected by the world around them. Chihiro’s predicament is one of imprisonment, as she is confined by the witch of the bathhouse. Kiki’s conflict is  more internal, as she compares herself to other people and believes herself not to be as worthy as them. Whether internally or externally, these two protagonists have burdened themselves with the expectations of society. Chihiro is expected to conform to the requests of everyone around her, while Kiki feels the need to compare herself to others around her. These pressures are something all too common in our personal lives. We grow cynical by treating life as a competition, absorbed with our relation with other people, that we fail to realise where our room for improvement lies. In order for Kiki and Chihiro to overcome their struggles, both are required to look inside themselves. Kiki takes time to recover from her burnout and Chihiro takes time from the bathhouse to talk to the witch’s twin sister. The notion of taking time off from work may be seen as a waste of time, but these two instances show how breaks are necessary for overcoming our doubts. These are opportunities for our protagonist to think outside of their work environment, to find the antidote to their struggles. 

The finales of both of these films rely on each protagonist resolving their inner conflicts. In order to free her parents, Chihiro must trust herself to make the right decision. In order to save Tombo, Kiki must find the strength to fly her broom. It’s a rather abstract concept, the power of sheer belief. It’s a concept that we find ourselves believing in less and less. As we grow older, we start to understand that things don’t come down to good luck charms or blowing dandelions, as raw performance in a workplace environment often yields the most evident results. But that’s the magic of being so young, neither protagonist is jaded by such thoughts. They still believe in trusting in themselves, a tough yet strong way of moving forward.

“Kiki’s Delivery Service” and “Spirited Away” offer a valuable outlook on the world we live in. It is necessary for us to engage in tasks of work, whether it be of our own will or not. We live in a world where heavy work is heavily encouraged, where people are admired for staying past midnight or trapping themselves in a workathon. But effort is only half of the job. In order to move forward in life, we must take the time to reflect on this inner self. If Chihiro and Kiki never found the time to take in their surroundings, they would’ve never been able to face the world. And ultimately, it’s this simple message that is so important for all of us, no matter what stage of life we are in.