Studio Ghibli films are renowned for their enchanting storytelling and the sense of magical realism that blows one away. Ghibli’s works not only have breathtaking animation, but they also have extremely profound underlying themes.

Ponyo, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. [Credit: Studio Ghibli]

Hayao Miyazaki might have won the Oscar twice, but there is one recurring trend in many of Studio Ghibli’s works that has given the studio a bad reputation. The usual way that the themes start to show is after the portrayal of parents as either absent, flawed, or deeply troubled.

This has been a constant, going from Spirited Away to Princess Mononoke. The parents in the Miyazaki world often fall short of traditional ideals, leaving their children to navigate complex worlds all on their own without any idea or support.

Ponyo depicts the magic of parenthood

Ponyo, Ghibli’s work from 2008 stands out as a rare exception to this pattern.