Book Tag Thursday: Ghibli Heroines Tag
Welcome to my segment where I find awesome book tags throughout the vast, wide interwebs made by lovely bloggers like you! I hope you’ll have fun and participate with me as well!
Today’s Topic: Ghibli Heroines Tag
Found At: Melting Pots and Other Calamities
- Pingback to Kate at Melting Pots and Other Calamities so that she’ll know you did the tag too.
- Tag all your peeps! Ghibli movies aren’t as popular as Disney or Pixar, so be careful that those you tag are at least somewhat familiar with Ghibli.
- Use examples from books, movies, TV shows, anime/manga, and webcomics.
- As this tag celebrates heroines, please name either a piece of fiction or a female character, if you’re able.
- Have fun.
Nausicaa, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind: (Even though this isn’t technically Ghibli, it’s still marketed that way). Nausicaa is a princess in a post-disaster world. She is compassionate and brave, a daring explorer who is capable and selfless. Name a strong female leader.
Yona of the Dawn by Mizuho Kusanagi is about a red-haired princess loses her family and her kingdom—now she must rise and fight for her throne! Yona is such a strong leader even after she has to flee her kingdom and she works hard to right the wrongs that have befallen her kingdom.
Sheeta, Castle in the Sky– Although Sheeta may have a quieter demeanor than other Ghibli heroines, she is not a damsel in distress. She’s royalty but doesn’t stay on the sidelines; she is involved, kind, and despite a sad past, hopeful. Name an inspiring member of royalty.
Shanti from How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole. Though she becomes royalty from marrying the king of Njaza, her dream of becoming a queen finally comes true. But it’s nothing like she imagined. So she takes matters into her own hands to show she more than capable of being a queen and to help the people of their kingdom.
Satsuki and Mei, My Neighbor Totoro- Before Anna and Elsa, before Lilo and Nani, there was Satsuki and Mei. Satsuki was incredibly young when their mother was hospitalized, and with their father at work, she has to take care of Mei. And Mei is only four, with a big imagination. Name a pair of siblings (or two friends who act like siblings).
Azumanga Daioh by Kiyohiko Azuma chronicles the everyday life in an unnamed Japanese high school of six girls and two of their teachers. I also find that this manga is relatable since it focuses on a coming-of-age theme, navigating through school life, and friendship. I admire the girls tight-knit friendship in this series, and they have a sibling like bond.
Kiki, Kiki’s Delivery Service– Kiki has to go off on her own to live alone, as is the custom among witches. She goes through many things that newly independent young adults face, like money problems, finding a place to stay, job searching, and loneliness, before finding her way thanks to her special abilities. Name a female character who has supernatural gifts.
Rust in The Root by Justina Ireland is a thrilling and entertaining fantasy that takes readers through an alternate version of US history. The novel follows the main character, Laura, who lives in a world divided full of technology and magic. Laura is a mage who is able to think on her toes in times of danger and find resources in the most barren of places.
Gina and Fio, Porco Rosso- Gina and Fio are both heroines in this film, and they couldn’t be less alike. Gina is a young woman who is very feminine, a singer and a restaurant owner. However, she is very resourceful and capable. Fio is a teenage mechanic who is independent, goes against the flow, and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She may be one of the best mechanics of her time. Name two inspiring heroines; one who is unabashedly feminine, and another who is more of a tomboy.
Nina is very feminine in The Queen’s Game by Carla de Guzman. The story follows her journey of struggles with calling Cincamarre (her kingdom) her home because of her difficult past. It’s a fun friends-to-lovers romance novel where Nina gets to reconnect with a Price from her past.
As for a tomboy, I would choose Li-Zhen in The Well Jake Wyatt and Choo develops personal growth as she is faced with the horrors and unforeseen twists of trying to fulfill each wish from the coins she steals from a sacred well in order to cover a debt.
Angel, On Your Mark- On You Mark is a music video that Ghibli helped a music group with. It may not have much of a story, but it’s beautiful and interesting, and not many people are aware of its existence. Name an underrated heroine.
Readers will root for Eliza who is tasked with solving the mystery along with discovering the power within in Bacchanal by Veronica G. Henry. Everyone underestimates her skills in the dangerous but whimsical gift for communicating with animals. A mysterious traveling carnival, unseen supernatural forces, and a twist of fate are all powerful elements of this fantasy historical fiction novel.
Shizuku, Whisper of the Heart– Shizuku is an eighth-grade student who can’t quite focus on school as much as on her favorite books. However, through encounters with an ambitious boy who seems to have a likely chance at meeting his goals, a cat who rides trains, an antique shop owner, and a cat statue called The Baron, Shizuku is determined to meet her own goal and become a writer. Name your most relatable character.
There are so many to choose from but one more recent character I can relate to is Rinko from the manga series Tokyo Tarareba Girls by Akiko Higashimura. This is relatable because it has themes of self-discovery and reflections on life. Rinko feels like she’s stuck and not progressing in life and her career as a scriptwriter and in the last couple of years I’ve felt the same way. I feel a bit stuck in a creative rut!
San, Princess Mononoke- San has been raised by wolves her whole life. When humans begin to invade her home forest to make towns and use the resources for themselves while killing the spirits and animals within, San refuses to let it be. She takes a stand and becomes the village’s greatest obstacle. She is such a force to be reckoned with that they even give her a name; The Princess Mononoke. Name a female character who is physically strong.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree follows Viv who decides to change her lifestyle from conquering quests to opening up a coffee shop. Viv gets to show her physical strength in the story despite retiring from her old job and through the experience as a new business owner, is able to try something out of her comfort zone.
Chihiro, Spirited Away– At the beginning of Spirited Away, Chihiro starts off as a whiny, spoiled ten-year-old girl. However, during her time working at the spirit’s Bath House, she discovers parts of herself she didn’t know she had. The story is about her finding the strength she already had but was unaware of. Name a character who has an amazing character journey.
Following our main character Miuko, her life is suddenly changed when she encounters a terrifying demon and has to find a way to break the curse in the novel A Thousand Steps Into Night by Traci Chee. Readers traverse through the land of the living and sports, and encounter trickster goblins, revered demons, and unsightly ghosts. It’s exciting and dangerous as Miuko has to make the choice if the people she meets will be a friend or foe.
Haru, The Cat Returns– Haru is a typical high school girl; kind, clumsy, and a little forgetful. But she soon finds herself involved in events that are out of her control. In a way, it is because of her normalcy that she can find her way out of her situation and become stronger because of it. Name a female character who may not have any supernatural abilities herself, but is memorable anyway.
In Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia, readers follow the story of the main character Louise, as she gets roped into finding the dark truth behind missing Black girls who end up dead in her neighborhood. Louise is a charming, quick-witted, and clever woman making her detective skills even sharper. She uses her resources to find clues and her character is one that readers will want to root for.
Sophie, Howl’s Moving Castle– Sophie doesn’t think much of herself for a lot of the story. She doesn’t think she’s pretty or memorable, especially when compared to her younger sister, Lettie. It gets even worse when she’s cursed to look like an old woman. When she finds a new life that involves the mysterious wizard Howl, a fire demon, Howl’s apprentice, and many others, she is shown to be resilient and intuitive. Name an emotionally strong character.
Nubia: Real One by L.L. Mckinney. This is a superhero story with Black Girl Magic flair! Nubia has lived such a sheltered life because she has to keep her powers a secret, but seeing others in danger makes her want to use her powers for good. She deals with a rollercoaster of emotions dealing with new revelations and how to properly use the skills she’s been given.
Ponyo, Ponyo- Ponyo is one of the youngest Ghibli heroines at only five years old. But she still gets a lot done, including becoming human, discovering things, finding a best friend, and saving the world. Name a hero who happens to be a child.
In A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée, the main character Shayla learns to stand up for what you believe in, and that “good trouble” is needed to show how important something is (and to get others’ attention). The novel discusses the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. It brings up many nuanced conversations that can lead to larger discussions.
Arrietty, The Secret World of Arrietty- Arrietty is a Borrower; she is tiny and survives by stealing small things that humans won’t miss. Yet she’s curious about the human world, and does braver things than most humans would be incapable of doing, despite her tiny size. Name an unlikely hero.
The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin the maid servant Yue-ying teams with aristocrat Bai Huang to become a detective duo when murders start happening in the area. Though she is judged by her appearance and background Yue-ying cleverness and skills lead to help solve the mystery that is happening in her neighborhood.
Nahoko, The Wind Rises- Nahoko has tuberculosis during World War 2. However, she doesn’t allow this to cripple her, and enjoys life to the fullest anyway, which includes painting and falling in love. Even being placed in a sanitarium doesn’t break her. Name an inspiring character with some sort of obstacle.
The main character, Nisrin in Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin’s Hijab by Priya Huq goes through something traumatic that will shape the rest of her life. She is incredibly resilient and strong. She doesn’t allow fear to overcome her life and to fight for what she believes in.
Kaguya, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya- in a time where women were expected to follow social norms such as blackening teeth, shaving eyebrows, and being forced into arranged marriages, Kaguya refuses to play along. She would much rather be outside, dance, and play with friends. Name a female character who challenges social norms.
In Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese, the author takes on a reimagining of the woman who inspired Hester Prynne, from of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. In this novel, she is determined to challenge the societal norms set for women at that time by making a name for herself and her business.
Tag! You’re it! Comment with your answers below or participate by writing your own post and link back to me.
