Learn the secret of how Studio Ghibli master animator Hayao Miyazaki’s movies inspire a wide variety of religious responses! In this video, I’ll explore Miyazaki’s personal brand of spirituality, as well as academic and fan takes on the relationship between religion and anime.

This is a video version of my 2019 article for Beneath the Tangles, “As the Spirit Moves You: How Studio Ghibli Films Leave Room for a Range of Religious Interpretations” https://beneaththetangles.com/2019/09…​

00:00​ Growing Up with Anime
00:34​ Intro–How Miyazaki Changed My Life
01:50​ Spirited Away Is Still #1
02:15​ The Secret of Miyazaki’s Global Success
03:27​ Miyazaki’s Mixed Messages
03:47​ Is Miyazaki Shinto?
05:18​ Miyazaki’s Personal Brand of Spirituality
06:15​ Scholarly Takes
06:50​ Fan Takes
9:50​ The Theory of Playful Religion
10:10​ The Theory of Vernacular Religion
10:22​ Language Games
10:34​ Miyazaki Mad Libs