Spirited Away (2001): How Does Chihiro Know Her Parents Aren’t Pigs?
Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 animated feature, Spirited Away(Studio Ghibli Official), left me without much to say when I first saw it. I think I was in middle school at…
Chronological archive
Latest Stories
Browse every SifrInsight article in reverse chronological order, from the newest publication back through the archive.
Princess Mononoke (1997): Characters, Voice Actors, Analysis & Character Map
Princess Mononoke(Official Studio Ghibli Website) is an animated feature directed by Hayao Miyazaki, released in 1997. Here, I want to revisit the film#8217;s characters and English voice cast,…
Princess Mononoke (1997): Synopsis, Ending, and Analysis
Released on July 12, 1997, Princess Mononoke(Studio Ghibli Official) is an animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Its tagline was #8220;Live.#8221; It was the first Studio Ghibli film,…
Princess Mononoke (1997): What Is the Tatarigami? Hatred as Calamity
Hayao Miyazaki#8217;s animated film Princess Mononoke(Studio Ghibli Official) was released in 1997. Here I want to consider the Tatarigami—the cursed god that appears at the beginning and causes…
Princess Mononoke (1997): How Ashitaka Becomes the Protagonist
Hayao Miyazaki#8217;s Princess Mononoke(Studio Ghibli Official) was released in 1997. Here I want to look at Ashitaka, particularly his role as the film#8217;s protagonist. That raises a question…
Princess Mononoke (1997): Why Does Ashitaka Give Kaya’s Dagger to San?
When I first watched Hayao Miyazaki#8217;s Princess Mononoke(Studio Ghibli Official) in sixth grade, one scene made me stop short: Ashitaka hands the dagger Kaya gave him to the…
Princess Mononoke (1997): The Forest Spirit and the Meaning of “Deicide”
Princess Mononoke(Studio Ghibli Official) is a 1997 animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. In an earlier article, I considered why its end credits appear against a black background.…
Princess Mononoke (1997): Why Are the End Credits Black? A Reading Alongside Evangelion
Hayao Miyazaki#8217;s Princess Mononoke(Studio Ghibli Official) was released in 1997. Ghibli had recently released Isao Takahata#8217;s Pom Poko (1994) and Yoshifumi Kondō#8217;s Whisper of the Heart (1995); its…
The End of Evangelion (1997): Gendo Ikari, the First “Sekai-kei” Protagonist?
#8220;Sekai-kei#8220;—roughly, #8220;world-type#8221;—is one of those terms that seems intuitively suggestive even when it is difficult to explain. Since I want to ask who the first sekai-kei protagonist was,…
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Gundam Parallels and the TV Finale
Hideaki Anno#8217;s Neon Genesis Evangelion aired from 1995 to 1996. Set in Japan, it follows Shinji Ikari and NERV in their battles against the mysterious beings called Angels,…
Whisper of the Heart (1995): Characters, Voice Actors, Analysis & Character Map
Whisper of the Heart(Studio Ghibli Official) is a 1995 animated feature directed by Yoshifumi Kondō. Here, I revisit the characters and voice actors of Whisper of the Heart…
Whisper of the Heart (1995): Synopsis, Ending, and Analysis
Released in 1995, Whisper of the Heart (Studio Ghibli Official) is an animated feature directed by Yoshifumi Kondō. Its promotional tagline was #8220;I’ve found someone I like.#8221; Miyazaki…
Whisper of the Heart (1995): Why the Trains and End Credits Matter—A Reading Alongside Pom Poko
In earlier articles, I discussed Sugimura’s place in the film and the promises Seiji and Shizuku make. This time, I want to consider the trains that keep appearing…
Whisper of the Heart (1995): Seiji and Shizuku’s Promises—and Did the Grandfather Lie?
Last time, I considered Sugimura’s story in Whisper of the Heart(Studio Ghibli Official). I deliberately looked beyond the protagonists, but avoiding them altogether would feel like a cop-out.…
Whisper of the Heart (1995): Sugimura’s Tragedy and Shizuku’s Perspective
Whisper of the Heart(Studio Ghibli Official) is a 1995 animated feature directed by Yoshifumi Kondo. I was still in elementary school when it came out, but somehow I…
Ocean Waves (1993): Characters, Voice Actors, Analysis & Character Map
Ocean Waves(Studio Ghibli Official) is an animated film first broadcast in a 90-minute slot on the Nippon TV network on May 5, 1993. Here, I revisit the characters…
Ocean Waves (1993): Synopsis and a Reading of Taku’s Self-Deception
Ocean Waves(Studio Ghibli Official) was broadcast on Nippon TV on May 5, 1993, in a 90-minute slot. From Kiki’s Delivery Service onward, Ghibli began employing animators as permanent…
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (2025): After the Ending—Challia as Char, Sayla as Haman?
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX(Official) aired on Nippon TV from April 9 to June 25, 2025. It was directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, known for FLCL and Gunbuster 2! Personally,…
Pom Poko (1994): Characters, Voice Actors, Analysis & Character Map
Isao Takahata’s Pom Poko(Official Studio Ghibli Website) was released in 1994. Its tanuki characters are full of quirks, and there is plenty to consider in the roles they…
Pom Poko (1994): Synopsis, Ending, and a Reading of Defeat
Isao Takahata’s Pom Poko(Studio Ghibli Official) was released on July 16, 1994. I once watched it as part of an elementary school lesson. I suspect the teacher wanted…