Ghibli Heroines tag! (Original)

I was just going through the blogs I follow when I saw a Disney Princess Book Tag. I loved the idea and wished I could do it (I wan’t tagged) when an idea struck me; what if I did a tag featuring Ghibli heroines?  So that is how this idea came up! However, I haven’t seen all the Ghibli movies yet. So I won’t include When Marnie Was There, Pom Poko, Ocean Waves, Only Yesterday, Tales from Earthsea, Grave of the Fireflies, and  From Up on Poppy Hill. 

THE RULES:

• Please pingback, rather than link to me as Kate@Melting Pots and Other Calamities. I will only know if you’ve done this tag if you pingback.
• Tag as many people as you want. Ghibli movies aren’t as popular as Disney or Pixar, so be careful that those you tag are at least somewhat familiar with Ghibli. 
• You can 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! 

Sadly, no graphics for me…although you can make graphics! 

Questions: 

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. 

The first one that came to mind was Reyna from the Heroes of Olympus series. I think she and Nausicaa are around the same age too…

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. 

Hmm…how about Monica from Hooky? She may not be physically strong, but she’s resilient and has amazing character development. 

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 wi 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). 

Hmm….maybe Carter and Sadie Kane from the Kane Chronicles? They’re pretty darn cool. 

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.

Well, as I’m currently reading The Mortal Instruments, how about Clary Fray/Fairchild? She has the ability to not only use runes, but to create them. 

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. 

Well, the first one is a little harder. Let’s just celebrate one of my favorite Webtoons that recently ended, and I’ll say Kyun Yoon from Bastard. I didn’t like her at first, but she is tougher than she looks. For the second, how about Nano from Nano List? She’s pretty tomboyish. 

Angel, On Your Mark- On Your  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 may people are aware of its existence. Name an underrated heroine. 

I’ll just say the lead female character from my latest addiction; Go-Eun Ma from American Ghost Jack. That whole manhwa is underrated, but she stands out as a heroine; by episode five, we care about her while not knowing much about her.

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. 

While Shizuku still ranks highly as one of my most relatable characters of all time, I’ll say Seol Hong from Cheese in the Trap. We’re both studious and have a habit of analyzing situations…sometimes a little too much. 

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.

I’ll just name a few characters from my Analyzing Women’s Strength in Fiction articles:  Evaline Stoker from Stoker and Holmes, Sameen Shaw from Person of Interest, Mulan from Mulan, and Sera from unOrdinary.

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.

I just rematched Coraline, and I think that fits the profile very well! Similar to Chihiro, Coraline starts off as being rather whiny and bratty, but finds the courage and fast thinking she didn’t know she had. 

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.

Ai Yun from Annarasumanara. She’s a high schooler who is cynical, tough skinned, yet finds worth in her old dreams again throughout the story. 

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.

I’ll give you guys a character from my next Analyzing Women’s Strength in Fiction article; Caitlin Snow from  The Flash. I’m amazed that she hasn’t had some sort of emotional breakdown yet, just by watching the first two seasons.

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.

The first one to come to mind for me was Matilda from Matilda. She’s a child prodigy who survives an abusive household and is able to save her school. 

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.

Mattie Ross from True Grit is way more capable, independent, and brave at the age of fourteen than most adults. She is able to barter, is economically smart, and tracks down her father’s killer.

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. 

Since I’m not limiting myself to physical illness, how about Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games? She has some obvious PTSD and depression. 

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.

Audrey Rose Wadsorth from Stalking Jack The Ripper may like pretty dresses and makeup, but she also wants to work in forensics and perform autopsies, which is considered a man’s job. 

 I tag:

The Hermit Librarian
Elou Carroll

Weekend Otaku
Jamie @ Book Pandamonium

The Otaku Judge
Sophie @ Blame it on Chocolate

However, if you want to try this tag or have a knowledge of Ghibli movies, please try this tag out! I don’t want it to die! Thanks so muc.