Michelle Bardon 

Hayao Miyazaki’s titles often utilise the child’s intuition and empathy to construct strong-minded, capable young leads. Oftentimes these young protagonists make tremendous strides in the development of their confidence and courage through the external factors of unfamiliar journeys, in which they either chose to embark on or unwillingly pushed to experience. My writing examines the representation of childhood and explores the maturation of the protagonists through the use of narrative and visual elements in four of Studio Ghibli’s works: Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Ponyo. I also examine the pivotal moments of Miyazaki’s own childhood that informed both the creation and development of these characters and environments.