I have this very odd memory of being younger, at some guy’s party, and as it was winding down he put on Spirited Away. I commented that in my house, we grew up with Ghibli movies, and that I was happy he was putting it on. But this guy was trying very hard to be cool, so he just rolled his eyes and told me to be quiet. I remember feeling so stupid in that moment, yet also so annoyed: why did this random white guy get to claim ownership of a thing he only liked to appear cool?
Yes, it’s petty I bring this up now, but I can’t help but feel vindicated in a way. Whereas for some people, getting into Ghibli movies was just another niche way to feel different from the herd, for me and other Asian kids, it was just another rite of passage. I’m not trying to gatekeep here: I’m trying to re-open the gates, to remind everyone that artsy/nerdy white kids aren’t the only ones who can watch these movies! Spirited Away is a special movie, and everyone deserves to enjoy it—because it was made for everyone to enjoy. And, luckily for us, there are quite a few other movies like it!