Studio Ghibli Greeting Card
Over the years, Studio Ghibli, Inc. or in short, Studio Ghibli has produced countless of movies that have inspired not only children but also adults. Ghibli’s movies also provide an experience which individuals can relate to on a daily basis. If you haven’t known, Ghibli is only next to Disney as the most successful and profitable animation studio company in the world, creating iconic characters such as No-Face, Totoro, the Laputa robots, Ponyo, Chihiro, Kiki, Jiji, and Princess Mononoke just to name a few, while also immersing audiences in an adventure that is unparalleled in animation movies produced by other studios.
Due to its massive success, Ghibli has also partnered with various companies to produce merchandise such as toys, clothes, school supplies, and other collectibles. Ghibli has shown no signs of slowing down and continues to produce and release quality films, all thanks to its visionary founder Hayao Mizayaki, who has now retired from the studio but continues to act as a consultant in the studio’s various projects.
In the next section, presented are the different examples of Studio Ghibli greeting card designs. Check them all out below!
Ghibli Milestone Card Example
Princess Miyazaki Greeting Card Example
Totoro Watercolor Greeting Card Example
Studio Ghibli Totoro “I Love You” Card Example
Essential Life Lessons from Studio Ghibli Movies
In every Studio Ghibli movie, life lessons are always a major plot point. Miyazaki focuses on the story and not on the visual spectacle (although Ghibli movies are wonderfully made), and always makes sure that audiences learn something after watching a Ghibli film. Listed below are few but important Ghibli life lessons you can learn and apply in your everyday life:
Be Strong and Independent
In life, there are times that we need to be independent in order to stand up to whatever challenges come in our way. Just like Satsuki in the film My Neighbor Totoro, she stood strong for her sister Mei when their mother could not return home after being admitted to a hospital. Satsuki also became a role model for her little sister especially when their father was busy at work and could not care for them both.
Similarly, in the movie Ponyo, the main character Ponyo wanted to be independent even at an early age despite the reservations of her father. Eventually, with the help of her mother who believed in her capabilities, Ponyo went her own way and lived the rest of her life happily.
It is when you trust yourself and believe in your own capabilities that you can become stronger, wiser and can adapt to any situation that life brings.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
There are certainly times when we don’t want to get out of our comfort zone because we are afraid of the things that await us on the other side. We feel uncomfortable when we are placed in a new situation or in a new environment. But always remember that being stuck in your own shell the rest of your life is detrimental not only to you but to the people around you. You will never learn new things, and you may never gain new friends.
Just like the character Chihiro/Sen in the film Spirited Away, she hesitated to move to a new place with her parents because she was afraid of the new world that was waiting for her. But circumstances changed when she and her parents got transported to another dimension. Eventually, she accepted her fate and took on life’s challenges in the dimension she was stuck in.
Selfishness Will Not Take You Far
This is a common life lesson that we already know. But unfortunately, people do not put it into practice. People will easily exchange money and gold for their dignity and principles in life. One example would be in the film Spirited Away, Chihiro/Sen’s parents turned into pigs because they continued to partake in a buffet that was not meant for them. Another example would be in Grave of the Fireflies, where Seita had all the chances to return to his aunt’s house to save his sister Setsuko who was suffering from malnutrition. At the end of the movie, both Setsuko and Seita die.
Believe in Yourself
This may be a cliche but a very powerful and popular statement nonetheless. The more you believe in what you are capable of doing, the better professional and personal life you will have. As displayed in the movie Kiki’s Delivery Service, Kiki, a witch-in-training started to doubt herself and her purpose in life, thus losing her ability to fly. She wanted to give up but the support of her friends motivated her until she managed to fly her broomstick again and also helped her regain her witch powers.
You just have to take what life gives you. Even if you fall down over and over again, get back up and keep on fighting until you reach your goals in life.
Don’t Be Afraid of Death and Suffering
Death and suffering are inevitable. Sad to say, people, are afraid to even mention it in daily conversations. In Studio Ghibli movies, a lot of tragic deaths and painful sufferings occur. A good example is The Wind Rises which features the story of Jiro, an engineer who designed fighter aircraft used by Japanese fighters in World War II and his wife, Naoko. Unfortunately, Naoko was suffering from tuberculosis and knew that her days were numbered. She still lived her life to the fullest and constantly reminded her husband to continue his work as an engineer despite her illness. The same situation goes for Grave of the Fireflies, where Seita continued to be optimistic despite him and her sister Setsuko suffering from poverty and malnutrition.
Totoro Anime Greeting Card Example
Totoro Lino Print Greeting Card Example
Essential Life Lessons from Studio Ghibli Movies (continuation)
Prioritize Your Family
Your family should always be your top priority. Just like in the film My Neighbor Totoro, siblings Satsuki and Mei share an adventure together and eventually end up meeting a fluffy and rabbit-like forest spirit named Totoro. Yes, they have their typical sibling fights, but in the end, they still love and care for each other. Family can also mean friends, especially if you don’t have close relatives in the first place. This can be seen in the movie The Secret World of Arrietty, where a sickly boy named Shawn managed to become close friends with a dwarf named Arriety. He helps Arriety and her family move out from his house after his aunt decides to kill them using pesticides. The family will help you get through life’s most difficult challenges and will assist you without any hesitation if they see that you are struggling.
No Man Is An Island
In real life, we survive because we have support from a number of people. Life would be so boring and depressing if we do things alone. Can you imagine going through your daily tasks without no one to talk to? In Studio Ghibli films, we notice strong relationships between humans with humans, humans with animals, and humans with spirits. In the film The Cat Returns, two cats and a raven help a girl get back home from the Cat Kingdom. Another example would be in When Marnie Was There, where Anna recovered from her depression because of the constant inspiration and motivation from her friend in the countryside. One last example would be in Princess Mononoke, where Princess Mononoke, Ashitaka and a pack of wolves bond together to save the forest from destruction.
Last Words
The life lessons learned in Studio Ghibli movies are innumerable. Hopefully, you have remembered those lessons when you watched those films, but if you forgot, watch them again. Besides, Ghibli movies deserve multiple viewings because they are that good (take for example Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky, and Kiki’s Delivery Service just to name few). Aside from watching, don’t forget to purchase our collection of beautiful yet very attractive Ghibli greeting card designs. Your recipient will love them!
Share :
