Makkuro Kurosuke Totoro Black Dust Balls
Set of 10 decals available for $14.99 USD at Design By Cut.
The Women of Miyazaki
When people say movies, shows, books, etc, with female leads can’t sell and/or don’t have a market in mainstream media I simply shake my head and think of Miyazaki. I think of his movies and how a majority of them, over the course of many years, have all starred female leads and are considered classics.
Some people seem to think that women want the world when asking for female characters in mainstream media that aren’t; stereotypes, love interests, or sex objects. These people seem to believe we’re asking some sort of impossible task and yet again I’m left thinking about Miyazaki and his amazing movies starring these amazing women.
It’s not impossible, and we’re not asking for the world. We’re asking for women, in our fiction, to be characters, to be presented as people. Not as the love interest, not as the prize the male hero wins at the end of his struggles and rides off into the sunset with, not as a collection of body parts contorted to be sexy for the male gaze. We’re asking for women to be good, to be bad, to be gray, to be heroes and villains, and morally in between. We’re asking for women to be people. To be shown as such.
When I watch Miyazaki’s films starring these women I see that. I see women, or young girls, being strong, weak, capable, hurt, upset, smart, powerful, cunning, dreaming, struggling, women who are able to drive their own stories, make their own decisions, and be the heroes of their own tales.
I see women who are presented as people.
If you need an outline on how to write women, well, take some notes from these films and learn something.
Take it from someone who grew up with Ghibli movies since day one, the emphasis and role given to female characters has always been impressive. Even when they’re side characters. I won’t deny that I’ve put these characters first before any Disney character or princess (not to dis the Disney crew in any way, they’re still great).
I still remember how Kiki, Nausicaä, San, or Chihiro were significant role models to me when I was in grade school. Or how I always wanted to have as much fun looking for Totoro as Mei and Satsuki did when I was a toddler. Even now I’ll frequently look back to these characters and use them as an inspiration to my actions. They really are incredible and I’ll always consider myself very fortunate to have known them my whole life.
Also, I seriously believe Theo from Porco Rosso deserves an honorable mention.
I still have yet to stay up till morning working my “larger-than-it-looks” butt off. I’d be dammed if I don’t try.
