Whispers of Taste
Investigating food narratives and cultural influence in Studio Ghibli's films
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24135/y5wp6v98Keywords:
Food and society, Food and film, Semiotics, Studio Ghibli, Food Culture, Pop CultureAbstract
Filmmakers have consistently acknowledged the inherent allure of food as a means to augment scenes, imbuing them with dynamic action and emotional depth. A luminary in this regard is Hayao Miyazaki, a filmmaker who has undeniably achieved mastery in this craft.
By conducting a critical analysis of the portrayal of food in the films produced by Studio Ghibli, this study aims to unveil the complex dynamics that exist between food, culture, and society within the realm of cinema. Through an exploration of prevalent narratives and nostalgic elements, the objective is to illuminate the intricate relationship between food and societal constructs.
References
Batkin, J. (2017). Identity in Animation : A Journey into Self, Difference, Culture and the Body. Taylor & Francis Group.
Bower, A. L. (2004). Reel Food : Essays on Food and Film. Taylor & Francis Group.
Bradley, P. (2015). Food, Media and Contemporary Culture : The Edible Image. Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Brulotte, R. L. (2014). Edible identities : food as cultural heritage. Ashgate.
Cavallaro, D. (2006). Anime Art of Hayao Miyazaki. McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers.
Cavallaro, D. (2014). The Late Works of Hayao Miyazaki : A Critical Study, 2004-2013. McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers.
Cavallaro, D. (2015). Hayao Miyazaki's World Picture. McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers.
Chandler, D. (2002). Semiotics : the basics. Routledge.
Ferry, J. (2003). Food in Film : A Culinary Performance of Communication. Taylor & Francis Group.
Hertweck, T. (2014). Food on Film : Bringing Something New to the Table. Rowman & Littlefield Unlimited Model.
Holdsworth, A. (2011). Television, Memory and Nostalgia. Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Hviid Jacobsen, M. (2021). Intimations of Nostalgia : Multidisciplinary Explorations of an Enduring Emotion. Bristol University Press.
Keeling, K. K. (2020). Table lands : food in children's literature. University Press of Mississippi.
Lenburg, J. (2012). Hayao Miyazaki : Japan's Premier Anime Storyteller. Infobase Learning.
Miyazaki, G. (2006). Tales from Earthsea [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki, G. (2011). From Up on Poppy Hill [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki, H. (1986). Castle in the Sky [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki, H. (1988). My Neighbour Totoro [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki, H. (1989). Kiki's Delivery Service [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki, H. (1995). Whisper of the Heart [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki, H. (1997). Princess Mononoke [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki, H. (2001). Spirited Away [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki, H. (2004). Howl's Moving Castle [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki, H. (2008). Ponyo Studio [Film]. Ghibli.
Miyazaki, H. (2009). Starting point : 1979-1996. VIZ Media.
Miyazaki, H. (2013). The Wind Rises [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki, H. (2014). Turning point : 1997-2008. VIZ Media.
Piatti-Farnell, L. (2011). Food and Culture in Contemporary American Fiction. Taylor & Francis Group.
Rath, E. C. (2010). Food and fantasy in early modern Japan. University of California Press.
Routledge, C. (2015). Nostalgia : A Psychological Resource. Taylor & Francis Group.
Sprengler, C. (2009). Screening Nostalgia : Populuxe Props and Technicolor Aesthetics in Contemporary American Film. Berghahn Books, Incorporated.
Takahata, I. (1988). Grave of the Fireflies [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Takahata, I. (1991). Only Yesterday [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Thelen, T. (2020). Longing for the “Absolute Satoyama.” Reconsidering Nostalgia and Environmentalism in My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro). https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110663815-004
Yonebayashi, H. (2014). When Marnie Was There [Film]. Studio Ghibli.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Prang Ittikul

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.