For years now, as an anime fan, I have enjoyed watching the many different genres, art styles, and unique stories that anime offers. But there is a pattern that runs throughout the anime industry that is disheartening; the treatment of female characters. Female characters in anime, often even minors, are frequently sexualized in uncomfortable ways. As a female viewer, it is alienating and painful to witness characters who appear to exist only for fan service.
Related "It Gobbles Children For Breakfast": Miyazaki Has One Sharp Criticism Of The Anime Industry That Is Deeply Ironic Hayao Miyazaki criticizes children who watch anime as"lazy" out of care for their wellbeing and future endeavors as human beings. Realistic And Diverse Female Representation Complexity Beyond Physical Appearance Close ✕ Remove Ads Studio Ghibli films celebrate the diversity of womanhood in a way that few other anime do. Miyazaki's female characters span a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and personalities that all capture the depth and variety of real women. In Kiki's Delivery Service, Kiki is a young witch learning independence and self-confidence in a new city.
Miyazaki respects his characters' individuality. Rather than forcing women into roles to appeal to male audiences, he builds worlds where they are allowed to be flawed, vulnerable, and complex. This diversity is not only refreshing, it is desperately needed within anime. Ghibli's stories offer young girls and women positive role models they can look up to, reminding them that their worth is so much more than physical appearance.
This refreshing and amazing take is rare in anime, where female characters are often treated as accessories or objects of desire. Ghibli's films prove that femininity can exist alongside strength and independence. Miyazaki's respectful storytelling has helped pave the way for better women's representation, showing that female characters can be multi-dimensional, compelling, and, most importantly, human.