Female Characters from Ghibli Movies That Inspire Us!

Studio Ghibli‘s female characters are unforgettable because they’re brave, wise, and full of heart! These heroines show us what true courage looks like in magical worlds. Let’s take a look at five protagonists with incredible stories! 

Princess Kaguya (The Tale of Princess Kaguya)

Princess Kaguya, the main character in The Tale of Princess Kaguya, experiences big changes in her life. She starts as a tiny girl found in a bamboo plant and grows quickly in the countryside. Kaguya loves nature and playing with her friends. But when her father moves the family to the city to make her a proper princess, things get tough for her.

Kaguya has to follow strict rules about how a noble girl should look and act in the city. She doesn’t like these rules and fights against them. For example, she refuses to change her appearance to what people think a princess should look like. Kaguya also turns down all the men who want to marry her, even the Emperor. This shows how she stands up for herself and doesn’t just do what others expect.

As the story continues, Kaguya learns more about life and understands why people do things. She realizes she cares about her family and friends on Earth but must leave them to return to the Moon. In the end, Kaguya’s experiences on Earth change her forever. She leaves knowing both the good and bad parts of being human, even though she couldn’t stay.

Sophie Hatter (Howl’s Moving Castle)

Sophie Hatter is the main character in Howl’s Moving Castle. At first, she’s a shy young woman who doesn’t believe in herself. But when a witch puts a spell on her that makes her look old, Sophie’s life changes significantly.

Even though she’s scared, Sophie shows how kind and responsible she is. She starts caring for Howl’s messy castle, cleaning it up and making it a better place to live. She also looks after Calcifer, a fire demon, and Markl, Howl’s young helper. Sophie is always thinking about others and trying to help them.

Throughout her adventures, Sophie becomes braver and more confident. She helps Howl, who initially seems selfish, become a better person. Sophie’s caring nature is her real strength. She shows that being kind and responsible can make a big difference in people’s lives. By the end of her journey, Sophie has changed a lot and learned how strong she is.

Chihiro Ogino (Spirited Away)

The protagonist of Spirited Away, Chihiro Ogino, begins as a typical 10-year-old girl who is sullen about moving to a new town. However, her journey through the spirit world transforms her into a courageous and resourceful young person.

At the start of the story, Chihiro appears whiny and easily startled. But when she’s suddenly thrust into the strange and often frightening spirit world, her true strength emerges. Despite her initial fear, Chihiro shows remarkable bravery by facing numerous challenges to save herself and her parents.

Chihiro’s courage shines through in many ways. She bravely asks for a job at the bathhouse, even when faced with the intimidating witch Yubaba. She helps various spirits, including the mysterious No-Face, often putting herself at risk. Perhaps most importantly, Chihiro’s bravery isn’t about being fearless but taking action despite her fears. She consistently pushes through her anxiety to do what needs to be done, whether it’s crossing a narrow bridge or standing up to powerful spirits.

By the end of her adventure, Chihiro has become more confident and self-reliant. Her experiences in the spirit world teach her that she can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles. This newfound courage and self-assurance help her face the challenges of her new life with optimism, showing that true bravery often comes from facing our fears and growing through our experiences.

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Kiki (Kiki’s Delivery Service)

Kiki is a 13-year-old witch in the movie Kiki’s Delivery Service. She leaves home to train alone for a year, which all young witches do. Kiki has to learn how to fit in and find her place in a new city called Koriko.

At first, Kiki has a hard time. She doesn’t know what she’s good at or how to help people in the city. But then she had a great idea – she started a delivery service using her flying broom. This shows how Kiki can be creative and solve problems.

As Kiki lives in Koriko, she faces many challenges. Sometimes, she feels unsure of herself and even loses her magic. But Kiki doesn’t give up. She makes new friends and keeps trying her best. By the end of the movie, Kiki feels more confident and knows she belongs in Koriko. She learns that finding your place in the world takes time and that it’s okay to keep growing and changing.

Ponyo

Ponyo is a magical fish-girl in the movie Ponyo. She lives in the ocean but wants to see what life is like on land. Ponyo is super curious and loves to explore new things.

At the movie’s start, Ponyo sneaks away from her dad to check out the world above the water. This is when she meets a human boy named Sosuke and decides she wants to become human, too. Ponyo isn’t scared to try new things, even if they might be dangerous.

Ponyo’s love for exploring helps her change her life in a big way. She uses magic to grow arms and legs and even makes a considerable storm happen to get to Sosuke’s house. These choices cause some problems, but they show how brave Ponyo is and how much she wants to learn about the human world. Ultimately, Ponyo’s curiosity helps her find a new life and family on land, proving that exploring new things can lead to great adventures.

Why are these Ghibli female characters important?

These Ghibli female characters are important because they show that girls can be strong and brave and grow as people in ways we don’t see in other movies. Characters such as Princess Kaguya, Chihiro, and Sophie Hatter are young women who stand up for themselves, face tough challenges, and show kindness even when things are hard.

Studio Ghibli makes movies with female characters who are the heroes of their own stories. This helps people watching, especially young girls, see they can be brave and do amazing things. These characters inspire people of all ages to believe in themselves and follow their dreams, even when challenging. Which of these characters is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!