Studio Ghibli Movies Boost Calm and Mental Health

Ghibli Films & Mental Health: What Does the Study Say?

A new research study found that watching Studio Ghibli films can help improve mental health. 

What people in the study did

• 518 postgraduate students took part.  
• They were put in four groups:
  1. Play a video game (open-world game: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) and watch Ghibli films.  
  2. Play the game but no Ghibli films.  
  3. Watch Ghibli films but no game.  
  4. Neither game nor Ghibli films.  
•  

What they measured

They asked students about:

• Sense of exploration (“I feel curious, I want to learn and see new things”)  
• Sense of calm (“I feel peace, relaxed”)  
• Sense of mastery and skill (“I feel I can do things, I have skills”)  
• Sense of purpose and meaning (“My life has meaning, I feel purpose”)  
• Overall happiness in life.  

What they found

• Just playing the game (Zelda) increases happiness compared to not playing.  
• Watching Studio Ghibli films adds more effect. When people also watched Ghibli films, their happiness was higher.  
• The study found that Ghibli films help by evoking nostalgia (happy memories or feelings from past) which makes the person feel better.  
• The improvements in happiness happen because people feel more exploration, calm, skill, and meaning when they watch Ghibli + game.  
•  

Why it matters

• Many young people feel sad, anxious, or lose hope. Activities like watching good films or playing uplifting games may help.  
• Studio Ghibli films are gentle, beautiful, often about nature, family, wonder, doing small everyday things. These stories help people feel safe, calm, and connected.  

Simple Tips: How to Use this Study for You

1. Watch a Studio Ghibli movie when you are stressed. Try My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service.
2. Let yourself feel nostalgic — it’s okay to remember good times.
3. Combine with something active (or creative) — maybe drawing, walking, games.
4. Make a habit: once a week, watch something peaceful, enjoy the little scenes.

Limitations & Things to Know

• The people in study are students with higher education (postgraduate). Results might be different for others.  
• It’s still short-term: we know watching helps now, but we don’t know how long it lasts.  
• It’s self-report: people wrote how they felt. Not always perfect.  

Conclusion

This study shows that watching Studio Ghibli films can be more than entertainment. They can help your mind: bring calm, purpose, and more happiness. If you like gentle stories, nature, beauty — Ghibli might help you feel better.