This Studio Ghibli Film Has Surprisingly Nuanced Neurodivergent Representation
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Many people related to (and aspire to be like) Prince Ashitaka of Princess Mononoke. Studio Ghibli produces many kind and admirable characters who rise to fan favorite status, like Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle and Chihiro from Spirited Away. Ashitaka is a particularly compelling character because of his strong moral code and his ability to see with clarity, never deviating from what he knows to be correct.
There are no canon-confirmed autistic characters in Studio Ghibli films, but many fans speculate that some Ghibli heroes are indeed neurodivergent. One of the best parts about fiction is audience and reader interpretation. There are many aspects about Ashitaka’s character that fans who identify as neurodivergent relate to.
It’s important to note that there is no one true depiction of autism and neurodivergence, and sometimes people wander into stereotypical territory. But there’s a reason that many Studio Ghibli fans on the spectrum speculate about autism-coding in Ghibli characters. When anime depicts characters with autism, the focus tends to be on how the character interacts socially with others, and on their expressions, which normally have a flat effect. Autistic characters tend to defy or misunderstand social norms. They speak very bluntly, and devote themselves to their interests. Many viewers on the spectrum may relate to these parts of a character to greater or lesser degrees. These traits are sometimes incorporated on purpose in anime, or they simply code the characters as possibly neurodivergent, and it’s up to the audience to interpret.
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