Journal Entry – Week 13

Prompt 2

This handscroll is an outstanding example of Japanese art, and it is very old. It shows the key features of anime. The lines are well-defined, making the textures of each element clear. The use of pastel colors and gradient color palettes is unique and well-balanced. This handscroll also tells a story, similar to manga books today. Each part contributes to the narrative, and we can expect the next part to complete the idea.

Studio Ghibli’s work often has themes about conflicts between man and the natural world. Pick one of the films they produced and explain how this theme is integrated into the story. Which characters represent the natural world? How is the conflict shown? Is it resolved?

One Studio Ghibli film that shows the conflict between humans and nature is Princess Mononoke. Lady Eboshi represents humans trying to expand and use natural resources, while San and the forest spirits represent nature fighting to survive; and the conflict is shown through battles between Iron Town and the forest creatures. It’s not fully resolved, but by the end, there’s hope that both sides can find a way to live together.

The 1839 scroll “Six Jewel River” by Sakai Ōho has a lot in common with the style and mood of anime. You can see similarities in the way the artist uses clean, delicate lines to define the figures and nature kind of like how anime relies on strong line work to highlight characters and movement. The scroll also has a peaceful, emotional vibe, using nature scenes like flowing rivers and seasonal plants to set a reflective tone. That’s something anime often does too, especially in slower-paced or romantic scenes. The soft, natural colors (like blues, greens, and earth tones) are also very common in alot of anime backgrounds, which tend to be gentle and atmospheric rather than super bright.

“Princess Mononoke” (1997) stands as Studio Ghibli’s deepest story on humanity vs nature and conflict resolution. Nature is symbolized through the characters, San, the wolf-raised Princess Mononoke who embodies the wild and love for nature. There are Forest Spirit/Night Walker, the mysterious kodama spirits, and the god-like animal tribes led by Moro the wolf goddess and Okkoto the boar god. “These supernatural beings showcase nature’s power, wisdom, and vulnerability while emphasizing its mysterious essence beyond human comprehension” according to google. As tenstions rise between Irontown’s residents and the forest guardians, Miyazaki decides to fight. Though the Forest Spirit is decapitated and ancient gods perish, the final scenes show Ashitaka and San respect and acknowledging their separate but connected worlds while kodama spirits return to the healing forest. This lowkey bummer ending suggests not victory for either side but the possibility of uneasy coexistence, humanity-nature relationship requires ongoing negotiation rather than absolute solutions.