[Boudica]

I started watching a bunch of Ghibli films for the first time this year:
My Neighbor Totoro
Spirited Away
Howl's Moving Castle
Kiki's Delivery Service

I've seen a couple others in the past as well.

I've come to Ghibli films late in life and assumed they were just Japan's version of Disney: All cute kids films. I was a little shocked at how dark some of the underlying themes are, especially in Spirited Away. I don't know if I would have picked up on everything as a child, but it definitely shocked me watching them.

So far, only Kiki's Delivery Service seems to be the particularly relaxed one out of the 4 above.

[Dismas]

I don't think it has aged badly compared to other shows. It's an older style, but many of Ghibli's titles are classics and had great animation at the time.

I was a little shocked at how dark some of the underlying themes are, especially in Spirited Away.

Grave of the Fireflies comes to mind.

[Boudica]

I don't think it has aged badly compared to other shows. It's an older style, but many of Ghibli's titles are classics and had great animation at the time.

I was a little shocked at how dark some of the underlying themes are, especially in Spirited Away.

Grave of the Fireflies comes to mind.

I feel like Grave of the Fireflies is not a kids film, although I cannot see what age rating it has in Japan. I'd be curious to see what it would get.

I found a great page on reddit where someone asked if that film was ok to show to an 8 year old, and one person's response was "If you hate this 8 year old with the fire of a thousands suns, and you won't have to deal with the repercussions, I say go for it!"
Apt response.

[Ximtum]

Anybody want to kindly explain what a ghibli film is?

[Boudica]

Anybody want to kindly explain what a ghibli film is?

Ghibli refers to Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation studio. They're often considered Japan's own version of Disney (typically a Westerner view). Their movies are some of the most famous in the anime industry, often aimed at kids/families and include the below titles:

• My Neighbor Totoro
  
• Kiki's Delivery Service
  
• Princess Mononoke
  
• Spirited Away
  
• Howl's Moving Castle
  
• Ponyo
  
• Grave of the Fireflies
  
• Arrietty
  

A lot of these are now available to watch on Netflix and other mainstream streaming services, which has led to me trying them out for the first time.

Hope that helps!

[RoyKerry]

I don't consider them dark. I'd say there's a special romance to them, but it's not dark.

[FosterKitty]

I don't consider them dark. I'd say there's a special romance to them, but it's not dark.

Yeah I'd agree to this. I would say fairytale-ish which can have a dark-ish element to them, but still light enough for the family

[Boudica]

I don't consider them dark. I'd say there's a special romance to them, but it's not dark.

I don't consider them dark. I'd say there's a special romance to them, but it's not dark.

Yeah I'd agree to this. I would say fairytale-ish which can have a dark-ish element to them, but still light enough for the family

I know what you mean. Even the more "serious" stuff is portrayed in a somewhat whimsical way, so it doesn't seem that bad. Disney does this too to some extent, but I think Ghibli goes further.

There's a fair amount of death, injury and even slavery of kids in their films. Those are very dark themes in themselves, and very conceptually serious topics. Losing family, seeing friends gravely injured, watching people get literally eaten.. But because of the animation style and dialogue, it makes it easier to swallow. That darkness is very much there though.

Some of their films are dark in their own right, e.g. grave of the fireflies. It's about kids surviving during wartime, but that one isn't masked by pretty scenery and characters. That one is more raw.

[7om 8rady]

Is there any Ghibli movie that is not sad or bittersweet?

[Boudica]

Is there any Ghibli movie that is not sad or bittersweet?

I'm not sure. I've only watched a handful of their more famous films so far. I do really love them.