“My Neighbor Totoro”
Studio Ghibli movies are beloved around the world for their earnest stories and charming art style. It’s not just that these titles are critically acclaimed, they are also emotionally uplifting and inspiring. Now, it turns out the fuzzy feelings these movies leave us with are not only in our heads, as they have been backed by science.
“Young people feel increasingly anxious and sad nowadays. Engaging with works of art and entertainment, such as playing open-world games or watching Studio Ghibli films, can be more than just a pastime,” write researchers from Imperial College London, Kyushu Sangyo University, and Georgia State University, who set out to analyze the effect of these movies. “However, the extent to which, if at all, open-world games and feelings of nostalgia affect overall happiness in life remains unclear.”
To corroborate their hypothesis, the researchers gathered 518 postdoctorate students, asking some to watch movies like My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki’s Delivery Service, and/or play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The mission was to determine whether the nostalgia tied to these properties evoked a “sense of exploration, calm, mastery and skill, purpose and meaning, and, ultimately, happiness in life.”
The researchers published their results in the peer reviewed journal JMIR Serious Games, devoted to the relationship between gaming, education, and health. They noticed a “significant and positive impact of playing an open-world game on overall life happiness,” further enhanced by watching a Studio Ghibli movie. The outcome suggests that carefully chosen leisure activities may be beneficial to mental health, as they can help young people navigate stress and sadness by sparking their sense of curiosity and reassurance about one’s place in the world.
“The current study reveals a fascinating finding: Immersing oneself in the exploratory freedom of Breath of the Wild and the mindful wonder of Studio Ghibli films can actively nurture essential human capacities—exploration, tranquility, purpose-finding, and happiness—and, thus, offer valuable pathways to enhance everyday well-being,” study author Andreas B. Eisingerich told Phys.org.
So if you ever feel down, a Studio Ghibli movie may be just what you need. If you’re not familiar with them, give some of their softer titles a try, like the aforementioned My Neighbor Totoro or Ponyo. If you’re looking for something more cathartic or packed with adventure, you’ll be sure to find it in Spirited Away or Howl’s Moving Castle. Just get cozy, make some popcorn, and let these amazing movies soothe you. If you're in the U.S., you can find almost all of Studio Ghibli’s catalogue on HBO Max. And for a complete afternoon of leisure, give their free printable board game a go.
Love how Studio Ghibli movies make you feel? A new study confirms that watching these films is good for your mental health.
“Kiki’s Delivery Service”
“Immersing oneself in the exploratory freedom of Breath of the Wild and the mindful wonder of Studio Ghibli films can actively nurture essential human capacities and, thus, offer valuable pathways to enhance everyday well-being,” write the researchers.
“Spirited Away”
The researchers published their results in the peer reviewed journal JMIR Serious Games, devoted to the relationship between gaming, education, and health.
“Howl’s Moving Castle”
If you’re not familiar with Studio Ghibli, give some of their softer titles a try, like My Neighbor Totoro or Ponyo. For something more cathartic, check out Spirited Away or Howl’s Moving Castle.
“The Boy And The Heron”
Studio Ghibli: Website
Sources: Effects of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Studio Ghibli Films on Young People’s Sense of Exploration, Calm, Mastery and Skill, Purpose and Meaning, and Overall Happiness in Life: Exploratory Randomized Controlled Study
All images via Studio Ghibli.
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