The Miyazaki Philosophy: Why Ghibli Moves Us So Deeply Spiritual Ecology The Wind of Freedom Aviation, flight, the wind... Miyazaki is obsessed with the skies. From Porco Rosso to The Wind Rises , his heroes always seek to soar. Flight is synonymous with absolute freedom, with detachment from earthly burdens, but also with danger. This metaphor resonates with us: who hasn't dreamed of flying away from their problems? But in Ghibli's world, freedom comes at a price: you often have to leave childhood behind, accept growing up, and make difficult choices. What makes these films so soothing is their use of "Ma," a Japanese concept referring to space, emptiness, and pause. In Ghibli films, there are moments where nothing happens. You watch the rain fall, listen to the wind in the grass, or prepare noodles. These breathing moments are essential. They give life its depth. Taking this quiz is also a moment of "Ma" in your hectic day. Pacifism and Childhood Marked by war, the studio advocates radical pacifism. Conflicts are shown in all their absurdity and ugliness (as in Howl's Moving Castle ). The true heroes are not those who win the war, but those who try to stop it or heal the wounded. Often, they are children or young girls, because they still possess that purity and capacity for wonder that adults have lost. Ghibli invites us to rediscover our inner child — the one who can see the Soot Sprites in dark corners or the Catbus arriving in the rain. Empty Space: The Concept of "Ma" Studio Ghibli is not simply an animation factory. It is a philosophy, a worldview carried by a master craftsman, Hayao Miyazaki, and his collaborators. Unlike Western productions often centered on Good triumphing over Evil, Ghibli films explore the gray area, complexity, contemplation, and the sacred relationship between Humanity and Nature. The central theme of Miyazaki's work is ecology. But not a political or punitive ecology. It is a spiritual ecology, inspired by Japanese Shintoism, wher...