How Ghibli Writes Men

How does Studio Ghibli manage to write men who actually feel human? In this video I go through nine characters (Porco, Pazu, Ashitaka, Haku, Howl, Jiro, Shun, Sosuke, and Tatsuo) and talk about how each one shows a different side of what masculinity can look like in Ghibli films.

Pazu’s hopeful drive, Ashitaka’s wounded calm, Haku figuring out who he even is, Howl hiding a soft heart under all the drama, Jiro chasing beauty in a world at war, and Porco carrying grief he never talks about. Even the younger ones like Shun and Sosuke, plus Tatsuo’s steady, gentle dad energy in Totoro, all fit into this bigger picture of how Ghibli shows men growing, caring, and dealing with their emotions in real ways.

These characters hit harder when you’re older because they’re dealing with identity, responsibility, loss, and love in ways that feel honest. That’s why Ghibli’s take on masculinity stands out so much.

If you’re into Studio Ghibli, character psychology, or just love digging into why these movies work, I think you’ll vibe with this one. Tell me which Ghibli character you relate to the most!

MY BOOK:
How Ghibli Writes: What Studio Ghibli’s Films Understand About Being Human
Written under my pen name, L. C. Alderidge. A deeper look at the emotions, relationships, and ideas that make these films stay with us.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HCH72SM8

MUSIC:
Music licensed through Epidemic Sound.

Explore the music I use through my referral link:
https://share.epidemicsound.com/bppohc

00:00 Introduction
00:48 Porco (Porco Rosso)
01:51 Pazu (Castle in the Sky)
02:51 Ashitaka (Princess Mononoke)
03:29 Haku (Spirited Away)
04:07 Howl (Howl's Moving Castle)
04:36 Jiro (The Wind Rises)
05:09 Cross Examination
06:21 Shun (From Up on Poppy Hill)
06:36 Sosuke (Ponyo)
07:01 Tatsuo (Totoro)
07:32 Conclusion

Venmo - for support :)
https://www.venmo.com/u/pullthethreads
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