Why Studio Ghibli Films Feel So Different

To celebrate the theatrical release of The Boy and The Heron, let's take a look at the differences between Western story structure and the story structure used by Hayao Miyazaki and other anime directors.
Correction: Gustav Freytag was born in Kluczbork, which is a part of modern day Poland, but at that time it was a part of Silesia, which itself was first a part of Prussia and later a part of the German Empire. So, Freytag wasn't born in Poland, but rather in Prussia, my mistake.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:05 Part 1: Traditional Western Story Structure
04:22 Part 2: Kishōtenketsu
07:48 Part 3: Character Arcs & Changes
09:25 Part 4: Gained in Translation
10:55 Part 5: Antagonists
13:02 Epilogue
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If you want to learn more about the differences between original and English versions of Spirited Away:
• Spirited Away #1-10 Tr...
tenkensmile.blogspot.com/2017...
Visuals: Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Porco Rosso, Whisper of the Heart, Princess Mononoke, Studio Ghibli 25 Years Live Show, Spirited Away Behind-the-scenes, The Kingdom of Dreams And Madness, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Adaptation, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, Shrek, My Neighbor Totoro, Ghost in the Shell, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Children of Men, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Coraline, John Wick, The Last of Us: Part 1 Remake, A Short Hike, Parasite.
Stock Images and Footage provided by - Freepik and Pixabay
A Short Hike footage courtesy of @Ludophiles
Music: The Winterlands Night (Octopath Traveler II), Lonely Cold (by thatjeffcarter freesound.org/people/thatjeff..., Electrical Engineering (Anno 1800), Prismatic Lens (Citizen Sleeper), Forget to Forget (TUNIC), Stillwind (Final Fantasy XVI), Angelo Bronte Theme (Red Dead Redemption 2), Invitation to Mystery (Dragon Quest XI), Palisade Blades Atrium (Deus Ex: Mankind Divided), Omen (Bloodborne), Docarri Village (Sea of Stars), Bureau of Reclaimed Spaces (Kentucky Route Zero), The Temperature of the Air on the Bow of the Kaleetan (Chris Zabriskie)
#studioghibli #hayaomiyazaki #storystructure

[@thebookofive]

Thank you for watching! If you like what I'm doing consider supporting this channel on Patreon for more essays on storytelling, art, video games and more: www.patreon.com/TheBookofIve

[@cabbanis]

Wonderful work, thanks for the video!

[@LawrenceAaronLuther]

Well done. It was interesting, when I watched Kiki's Delivery Service with my Mom, she was absolutely convinced the two old ladies (the one who made Kiki the cake and her assistant) would do something bad to Kiki and that they were the antagonists. When she told me I was surprised at first, but then realized she primarily watches western dramas and it makes sense to always be suspecting the antagonist(s) to be hidden within the characters.

[@thebookofive]

Yes, exactly! Makes you think how these storytelling conventions affect the way we see the world

[@darknessincarnate138]

That happened with me while watching Spirited away

[@kevinlevin992]

I thought that the old lady in Nausicaa was the villain the first time I watched it

[@cabbanis]

Yeah, but I think that this sense of paranoia was intentional

[@SmileyTrilobite]

Some kindergartners recently watching Kiki thought the same, and there is a change in their scene’s atmosphere - one they may have misinterpreted as a Pixar-Disney hidden villain, coated in calm authority. My mother was at first weirded out by Spirited Away’s structure; because the dangerous characters did not play themselves out to be typical Western villains, she said she didn’t know what to expect from the characters.

[@xXNekou]

I really love that in Ghibli movies the "bad" guys are not pure evil, they have just different perspectives and different goals than the main character, and we can even sympathise with some of them, especially after they turn out to not be that horrible in the end after all :)

[@Nertsypandaanimations]

Same! Although lots of movies/series do that as well

[@Roadent1241]

And suddenly I realise where my game 'villains' root from. I've been Ghibli-brained XD I haven't had a solid evil person yet, they've got reasons for doing what they're doing even if they're going about it in a risky way.

[@Roadent1241]

​@@Nertsypandaanimations Would you mind suggesting some?

[@bots4294]

An antagonist doesn't always have to be a person. The antagonist in Totoro is the girls' fear that their mother is sicker than she is.

[@thebookofive]

You're right, an antagonist doesn't have to be a person. But I would disagree, that the fear is the antagonist in Totoro. It's introduced towards the end of the story, it does not act (the way an antagonist would) and besides, it doesn't really have any goals nor is it an obstacle for the girls' desire to see their mom come home. Not saying that a feeling of fear can't serve as an antagonist, but in this case it lacks a lot of important features, so as to be considered a character

[@The2mcool2]

​@@thebookofive Due to your last line "...in this case it lacks a lot of important features, so as to be considered a character" I think you're still associating the idea of the antagonist to the figure of the character. The antagonist doesn't have to take the form of a character or to have any sort of active will. There are such things as antagonist forces, like for example, weather conditions. The wind can be the sole antagonistic force in a particular narrative, and a very powerful one at that. However it isn't active, it doesn't want anything, it just is. What I would argue is that Asian cinematography is much more contemplative and non-linear. Instead of having one single "pin-pointable" conflict, they have several periods of tension that are constantly being resolved and brought up again, like a song. I truly think conflict and resolution is an essential dicothomy in storytelling, otherwise you would just have a statement: "The boy walks the dog"; "The monster is slain", etc.

[@sharongillesp]

Not having the antagonist be a person is a good thing. In western culture people are deemed good or evil simply because of their looks, with CERTAIN looks conscripted as one or the other. For example: skin color; body build; gender; wealth, lack of wealth, eye and hair color and texture. If those become your determining factor for judging, then you will make false evaluations. See the new movie “Saltburn.” The ENTIRE MOVIE is based on looks and the false perception of reality they can be misleading . . .with devastating outcomes.

[@The2mcool2]

@@sharongillesp Nice, I've hear a lot of good things about it! Eager to check it out

[@SmileyTrilobite]

I suspect Totoro’s “antagonist?” is the discomforts of adapting to the family’s new living situation, at least it birthes a lot of the conflicts that Totoro and other characters exacerbate or ameliorate over the course of the story, but it is important to note that both their fear and sense of wonder, their alienation and elation come from adapting to their new life. Miyazaki has draws on the Daoist “things are mixed” idea for many stories, and this is also seen in Nausicaa: humans don’t live in an entirely pure or entirely corrupt world - they cannot survive in such extremes.

[@undecidedarchives]

Wow, this really put into words what I admire about studio Ghibli films but wasn’t able to place before. As a writer I struggle so much with the idea of conflict and antagonists because I don’t like writing violence, but I didn’t realize how I was only thinking in the typical western storytelling structure. I feel very inspired to create something of my own now!! Awesome video man :D

[@thebookofive]

Thank you for watching, good luck with your stories! Yeah, it does open up a lot of possibilities. As an interesting sidenote that didn't fit into the script, because Kishōtenketsu is a sort of "low-level" structure, you can use it to not only plan the whole story, but also individual acts or scenes. Also, I really recommend watching Whisper of the Heart to you

[@zellafae]

I was having this same problem as well. I’m going to try to write in this way and see how it turns out

[@dezainaa]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish%C5%8Dtenketsu

[@HM-kc4ky]

In Japanese creativity, a distinctive feature is its dreamlike image and story. Works from Studio Ghibli, Haruki Murakami, and many classical Japanese tales (such as “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter,” “The Tale of the Heike,” “The Tale of Genji,” and many more) often embrace this dreamlike essence. Japan tends to create through abstract and irrational imagery, resulting in a chaotic yet enchanting experience, akin to wandering through a captivating dreamworld.

[@cabbanis]

Agree

[@donttouchmycat]

Howl's Moving Castle is an interesting view point because it was adapted from a western book, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, where the witch of the waste was treated soooo very differently. Just some info for anyone interested. Both the book and movie are masterpieces.

[@koolili2276]

How different

[@donttouchmycat]

@@koolili2276 There are a ton of major differences but I'm not giving spoilers.

[@koolili2276]

@@donttouchmycat valid. About to pick up a book. Reading is indeed fundamental.🫡

[@cabbanis]

I just started reading it, seems really good

[@Irrlichtwinter]

I'm a big fan of Ki-Sho-Ten-Ketsu as a structure, ever since I learned about it from "Manga in Theory and Practise" by Hirohiko Araki. It's such a versatile structure, and especially great if you want to write something that has a slow or 'slice of life' feel to it. I've never analysed Gibli movies through this lense, seeing it applied there makes me appreciate the structure even more.

[@sparxstreak02]

9:38 They did the same with KiKi’s Delivery Service by giving JiJi that cat 🐈‍⬛ more lines, including one where it’s implied that KiKi regained her ability to talk with him, whereas in the original she doesn’t.

[@thebookofive]

Yeah, exactly

[@thatoneguy9399]

This was done but upon Miyazaki’s request, they removed it in future versions of the film. Unless the director is unable too, Ghibli’s contract with Disney states they can’t release the dub until the director has approved it & its changes.

[@Klehan]

That's why I always watch the original, Japanese version first; I have to assume the English dub will add unnecessary dialogue.

[@d_c_C]

Western story telling is just different from Asian story telling. It’s not to say that one is any better or worse. But when Americans see non-western stories the differences become more prominent and that’s why these foreign films are often so confusing to them. But it’s important to see and hear stories from different perspectives because it lends new ideas and ways of looking at the world.

[@Juko563]

The editing on this video is superb! I’ve heard people talk about Hayao and his material before, but I’ve never really heard anyone mention Kishotenketsu and how it’s connected. Great work!

[@thebookofive]

Thank you!

[@protastudios]

I would also like to point out that, possibly thanks to the nature of Kishōtenketsu, Miyazaki in specific seems to like to play with the concepts of plot and feelings in a way where both are completely interchangable. For example, when abstract concepts become literal, like when Chihiro takes the train to Zeniba's home, very obviously resembling the concept of going back home from work visualized in a way that is both literal to the worldbuilding and to the feelings being conveyed towards the viewer. His ability to disregard the reality he builds in his stories just in the right moment to make you feel the feelings that the fictional world can only go so far with makes his latest movies astonishingly beautiful to me. The boy and the Heron was full of this and I loved it. Also, great video! It was super interesting.

[@thebookofive]

That's a very interesting take, thank you for sharing! I remember something like this in Howl's Moving Castle, when Sophie seemingly switches her age without any explanation. Took me a while to get that this might represent the way she sees herself. Thank you for watching!

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

I think this is part of the reason Ghibli movies are so beloved, they are warm and comforting. There's not some "big bad" to overcome and then everything is fixed, its more grounded and realistic that way.

[@thebookofive]

And even if there's some kind of big bad (like a toxic jungle in Nausicaa, for example) you don't fix it by fighting

[@bluedotdinosaur]

It's telling that Ghibli's adaption of Howl's Moving Castle tweaked the story to make the foolishness of warfare the "big bad" and not personify a character as the villain. Even the most directly villainous character, The Witch of the Waste, ends up with a sympathetic end. While in the original book, she was a more cliche and evil antagonist.@@thebookofive

[@sharongillesp]

@@thebookofive Excellent!

[@thomasmaughan4798]

Excellent evaluation. I have explained to many people that Boy and Heron isn't really a *story* in the usual sense, with a purpose, beginning middle and end; but more of a reflection of Miyazaki and character development. I *love* how nothing Miyazaki does is "deus ex machina" or something just happens because it CAN. Also, good people do not suddenly, surprise, they're actually bad (or vice versa). They *develop* but good people stay good, they are *reliable* and something you can believe in. Even where there's conflict, as in Nausicaa, the conflict is often portrayed as simply different people trying to solve a problem in different ways and those ways come into conflict. Or in a sentence, the conflict is *resolved* rather than *conquered* .

[@thornray1025]

So am I on the right track if I suggest that in the Western story structure, the main conflicts tend to be external while in the Eastern story structure they're internal? Like in Totoro, the main conflict isn't that the mother is in the hospital, the main conflict is that both sisters are sad about it. At the end of the film they both see their mother, who IS still in the hospital, but now they see that she's fine and they return home happy. Their minds are now at ease and thus the conflict has been solved, even if the situation hasn't actually changed that much. When the main conflict is internal, it's more meaningful and the audience can often get more meaning out of it than if the conflict is external. Plot driven story can be full of external conflicts that get solved without teaching the audience much at all about life, unlike when the conflict is internal. Solving internal problems can actually teach the audience meaningful life lessons unlike when the story is more focused on the external plot. Take highly regarded series like Berserk for example. (Off topic, I know.) Having caught up with the manga this past year, I think it's safe to say that Berserk is a revenge story. I doubt I'm too far off if I state that. The MC Guts wants to get revenge on the main enemy who did a bad thing in the past. However I'd argue that, at least where the story is at this point, the main conflict ISN'T the fact that the revenge hasn't happened yet. The world has clearly moved on from the unjust tragedy that the bad guy committed. Although I'm sure we will get to the physical revenge eventually happening, the main conflict is actually internal, not the external revenge. The main conflict of Berserk is the fact that our protagonist IS on a *revenge* *journey* and how it affects him and how he eventually concludes it. Whether it's by succeeding in the revenge but getting completely ruined by the vengeful and destructive path he chose, OR if he's able to let go of the hatred and find peace, thus also solving the conflict. This makes the story of Berserk way deeper than if the main issue was simply: "I have to kill the enemy cause that will solve all my problems." Plot like that would be far too predictable and restricting for the author. Internal conflict leaves more options for the author, which can make it more fun for the audience as well.

[@thebookofive]

Yeah, I think you can definitely look at it that way. In general stories built on Kishotenketsu are much more introspective. But also there's a whole slice of life genre where the main thing is lack of any sort of overarching conflict (although I'm not a huge expert on that particular genre).

[@soniaweiskopf7262]

I have no idea why you have so little views on this. The quality of the video is very high and i can see your effort! I really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing!

[@thebookofive]

Thank you for watching!

[@Misakachichan]

Why don't you ​(@@thebookofive) have more subscribers?!?!

[@thebookofive]

Beats me, KZbin being KZbin, I guess. 😄 But then again, I'm just getting started

[@alexhopewell449]

Super beneficial video. Thanks for making it. I'm currently working on the last chunk of my first novel and have found myself trying to force resolution or character change where it doesn't really fit. Your analysis helped me to realize that my story isn't missing as much as I thought it was.

[@thebookofive]

Oh, that's awesome! Glad to be of help.

[@thebookofive]

What's the novel about, if you don't mind me asking?

[@spudsbuchlaw]

I also wanna know!

[@ssssssstssssssss]

In the US storytelling in movies has become extremely rigid in the West with a lot of films aligning the story to the Save the Cat structure. This is a bit concerning because it has also resulted in the audience tastes becoming much more limited.

[@Klehan]

The algorithm was kind and suggested your video. I really enjoyed your dive into storytelling; well done! I look forward to seeing what more you will bring to your channel!

[@ElfoAlluc]

It is so good to see new generation of Miyazaki’s work, we can always learn more and have yet new perspectives, we didn’t even see. Thank you for this video! Keep writing pleaseeee!

[@la9406]

There's a line in the epilogue of your video (which I found very thought-provoking and well-done, gj) where you say "in recent times in the writing community we have been overpowered by the whole idea that there is one right way to tell stories...or no one will enjoy your work." My perception as an amateur writer sort of dabbling with starting things that may someday be 'published' is, it's usually not a fear about people *enjoying* your work, it's about people *buying* it. That "content culture" that has kinda warped a lot of art fields, where just making something for fun seems wasteful or improper. I can't count the number of times I've shown someone something I wrote and they say "You should become a writer!" There's a pressure, even obsession, with monetizing it, and to effectively do so, you have to follow the 'algorithm.'

[@smalldewdrops]

such a good video!!! I really enjoyed your explanations :)

[@eliamorris1619]

You managed to put into words my feelings on traditional western storytelling. I have always felt a strange disconnect from the ways so many people in the US tell their stories, and wondered if there was any other way to do so. The idea that a story NEEDS an antagonist, and central conflict, and character flaws, and rising tension, esc. It all felt so restrictive to me and created an expectation that these elements need to be in a story in order for the story to work at all. I can't tell you how many writing advise channels follow this formula. It feels pretentious to me and almost never helps when it comes to actually writing stories. Thank you for this video. I look forward to seeing more from you.

[@thebookofive]

Thank you for watching! I totally see what you mean and I've been seeing the same writing tips and formulas rehashed thousands of times over the years by many KZbin channels and writing gurus. This in part was my motivation for this exact video and I want to take a really close look at the mainstream hero's journey type of story structure that many writing experts try to sell as the "one and only way to write good stories". Although I'll be shifting gears a bit for the next one

[@eliamorris1619]

I'm exited to watch whatever you have coming next regardless. So few subs for these high quality videos is criminal. @@thebookofive

[@morleywritesbooks]

@eliamorris I've been feeling the same way. A lot of author-advice on youtube feels formulaic and restrictive, and ignores outliers or non-western styles that gained popularity at one point or another. I was trying to explain the significance of The Tale of Genji, since my most recent work has a lot of influence from it, and i just wasn't doing a good job putting it into words.

[@achor85]

This was the lost piece of a long and arduous puzzle of mine. Thank you for reminding me about stopping along the way to just smell the roses.

[@randommeasures4618]

I think it's important, when talking about story structures, that conflict isn't confused with antagonists. A story needs conflict, not necessarily an embodied antagonist, and Western theory often frames it this way when the structure's most simplified (exposition, rising action, climax/conflict, falling action, denouement, and...). With that in mind, the Western structure neatly overlays kishotenketsu with one vital omission: resolution. You're exactly right; this is precisely why Spirited Away's ending is changed in translation. Japanese storytelling isn't afraid of ambiguous endings, whereas Western storytelling is often consumed by HEAs and/or an ultimate sense of catharsis. Ironically, this is partly why so much of Western modern horror is open-ended. Personally, what I feel sets Ghibli and Miyazaki apart, even from a lot of Japanese creators, is a focus on characterizing the world, where even supposedly mundane characters or tasks reveal facets of the world (consider how Disney changing the simple act of Kiki being served coffee by her landlady to hot cocoa reflects on Kiki's story). This concurs with the slice-of-life genre in Japan, but such execution is still finding its feet in film to this day. Other examples include Tezuka's "Metropolis," Watanabe's "Cowboy Bebop," Kon's anything 😄; and, I think Gainax's worldbuilding in "FLCL" vs. that of "Evangelion" demonstrates the point beautifully.

[@Multilipstik]

KZbin kept pushing this video to me and I’m so glad I finally watched it! I’ll keep an eye out for your next videos! I just watched Princess Mononoke with my father (him watching it for the first time) and while I think he liked it he was definitely bewildered by the structure. I’m so happy I now have the words to try and explain to him the difference in the structure of stories he’s used to vs ghibli films.

[@liselotte8129]

really interesting video, thank youu for your research 🌟

[@ahousecatwhohasacellphone]

this was really interesting and eye-opening! i like to write in my free time, and I recently showed a work of mine to a friend in installments. they were into it, but they kept making guesses to who the red herring is or who the antagonist was, and it made me realize that a lot of western readers do tend to follow a specific formula (subconsciously or not) when we read. always looking for the villain and always anticipating a heroic battle and a victory afterwards. it's fun to divert from those expectations :)

[@Jollimark]

thanks so much for this informative video! As someone who appreciates a lot of different types of stories and doesn't know as much about writing it's interesting to know about these theories.

[@mariaplucinska8332]

What a beautiful exploration of the subject! Thanks a lot!

[@Julie.Miette]

I’m glad KZbin recommended me this one, it was a great video, I’m sure it will get a ton more views and I’m excited to see what you have next! Keep it up 😊

[@thebookofive]

Thank you!

[@lucazandrades1904]

great video, nice work!

[@whispersignal1]

It's my first time watching your channel, and I really enjoyed it. Great stuff! Liked and subscribed.🙂

[@HanNguyen-zy8vj]

You gave me a new perspective in storytelling. Thank you! 💖

[@thebookofive]

Thank you for watching!

[@Ma2P_Vision]

Great video man ! Well written, very clear pronunciation 🎉

[@thebookofive]

Thank you!

[@Zotrax1946]

Brilliant analyses, imo. Thanks! I have got to show this to my daughter, she is a huge fan of the studio.

[@Joaza998]

I just watched The Boy and the Heron and I have always wanted to try to be more familiar with Miyazaki’s work as well as Ghibli’s library. This video was incredibly well made and made me more curious about their story telling. Keep up the good work!

[@samanthapateman8054]

Thank you, this was a very interesting breakdown and like you said it sounds like a freeing way to think and I needed to hear that.😊

[@MartaTaylor]

This was really insightful and interesting to watch. Thank you!

[@paperboy1116]

I always love Miyazaki films because they feel so much more true to life without being absolutely depressing (well, not all of them). The Boy and The Heron is one of his best.

[@refugeofthewise]

there is alot of insight here. great work.

[@rosanarichet1809]

Thanks for that, i love the métaphore of the hike, it's really an interesting point of view and it gives an idea of how free writing really is, so thanks !

[@dianajin3861]

Great job on this video

[@isacsilva1252]

very nice research, thanks for this

[@LadyBlueRR]

Thank you for this well thought out and researched explanation of the differences in culture and writing styles I have been watching anime all my life and I am 50 years old but now I have a greater understanding of the storylines. I will probably rewatch all my favorites with a different understanding ❤❤❤

[@seabinic]

Great video!! The editing is spot on, you deserve way more subscribers!

[@thebookofive]

Thanks for watching!

[@SpaceCityTuan]

Thank you for making those video! I like that I learned a different way to look at stories and i am more interested in ketsu as a writing theory.

[@SpaceCityTuan]

You did such a great job I had to revisit this video.

[@JUL-Nomad-Soul]

I love your perspective , you got yourself a new close follower , Good job brother

[@thebookofive]

Thank you!

[@7kuro7hyo7]

wow what an amazing video! This helps a lot, thank you

[@solgarbini]

Thanks for the video. I loved it. I have realized the things that you mention about both ways of storytelling but I've never went deep into it. Now I feel more freedom to write my stories without getting obsessed with structure.

[@BmacSoundsLab]

Overcoming yourself vs. Overcoming an adversary. Something I must master to truly bring out me story… thanks for the insight. I’ve loved Ghibli films since forever but have never related it to western films before.

[@Voicespider]

Very well done video. Thank you.

[@moonshineonsunflowers]

Thank you for this, it's very helpful 🙇

[@thebookofive]

Thank you for watching!

[@vw2770]

Great job pointing out the differences! There is a certain beauty in Miyazaki theme. It gets you thinking about life. His characters make choices and there aren’t just black and white options. It’s more realistic in a way.

[@blancoxyz7074]

Awesome video I'm glad I found you

[@thebookofive]

Thank you! Glad you've liked it.

[@anaceciliathrummartins2813]

Cool video, you explain things so well dude!!

[@thebookofive]

Thank you!

[@Ekpap]

One of the best analyses of ghibli I've seen!

[@DanCreaMundos]

really cool video and analysis

[@windflower1399]

About 9:26, actually the second time Chihiro walks with her parents through the entrance to the spirit world she acts the same way: clinching to her mother. I was a little confused about that because I saw a personal growth within her throughout the film, but it just proves what you said about character development.

[@thebookofive]

Yeah, which makes the added lines in the English version make even less sense. My perspective is that the English version treats Chihiro clinching her mother's arm as a sign of "character weakness", while the original sees it as "being a normal child".

[@Zeitlupenstille]

Thank you for this surprisingly informative video. It's actually helping me better understand why some stories feel different from others and why Ghibli has such a special place in between. In fact, I'm currently writing one of my first full-length stories and have often faced the problem of feeling like my characters don't fulfill the stereotypes that fit Western standards. I racked my brains for a long time about what I could do to make the story more "attractive" to the audience. But it just never fitted in with the idea I was pursuing. In the meantime, I've reached the point where I want to tell the story exactly the way I intended to from the beginning, without the typical Western narrative styles you outlined in your video. Your video even encourages me in this decision, because this kind of storytelling just doesn't fit the story I want to tell. I am glad that the video was suggested to me. Great work!

[@morleywritesbooks]

Go for it! Break the rules >:D

[@thebookofive]

Thanks for watching! That's awesome, good luck with your story!

[@ndwerashinha3511]

Awesome! Good luck!!! 💚

[@juliab3326]

I feel you. When I was younger I didn't know anything about story structures and enjoyed making up stories. Then I tried to write a "ReAl full story" for Nanowrimo 2023, slid into authortube, learned about story structures, got frustrated and even more confused... and was just not happy writing. I'm proud of myself because of how far I've come with this story, but there have been many times where I felt like the process was too restricted and "fake". I didn't just let my creativity run, I let those story structures squeeze my ideas into pre molded pathways and got demotivated and dissatisfied. Who the hell even cares if scenes are structured "correctly"?! I don't. I'll try to finish this story, but afterwards I'll banish all advice of authortube and ... well, do whatever I want. I don't intend on becoming a published full-time author, I don't care whether my stories would be regarded as "masterworks" or "good" based on how many boxes they check. Anytime I hear people say "oh, most stories unintentionally follow this story actually", I'm curious to know whether that's just their confirmation bias speaking or if it's real, and how reliable this assumption is, considering the difference between many different..

[@craigtheflux]

This is a great highlight. I didn’t realize in detail, the differences but, you hit hit on the nail. I just knew I liked them better😂😅😂!

[@JustWojtek]

Well done. This was well worth watching and invaluable to anyone considers storytelling a craft and art.

[@orusloublie3178]

Wonderfull ! Thanks a lot, i'v got a lot to think about ^^

[@PrehistoricVendingMachine]

Thank you so much for making this video. I’ve always loved Studio Ghibli and when I was working on my book I must have subconsciously incorporated some of there story telling style. I changed the ending last minute to “add an antagonist”, but after your video I feel at peace leaving the ending as the original 😊

[@thebookofive]

Thanks for watching, glad to be of help!

[@IchigoThePrincess]

You just explained why I'm writing my story a certain kind of way to me. Thank you! I had no idea about this except for a vague instinct.

[@czarcoma]

I have been struggling to describe what's different in Ghibli movies. Thanks for distilling it in such terms I can understand

[@murmurelamusique]

thank you ive ❤

[@Kotifilosofi]

Even before I'd seen my first anime movie, I've always felt like I liked the first quarter of many movies the most; the part where there's just world building and the characters affiliating with each others before the conflict. Until the climax part, I've usually lost the interest in many movies, even to some of my all time favorite movies. And I think it's exactly the black-and-white perception and the need to address "the good guy" and "the bad guy" and how that makes the storyline very predictable. I like the explorative, more cooperative and optimistic way of storytelling, where we get explanations to the characters' evils (and hero tendencies) rather than making it an unrealistic caricature of human interactions.

[@josrodsedre5142]

YES! So many late Disney movies do this, after 15/20 min of very immersive worldbuilding, you feel like they stop working on the material and just let the structure work for them, it’s so frustrating!

[@Kotifilosofi]

@@josrodsedre5142 exactly. If I can guess most of the plot final, or the effort of making it unpredictable still follows the same over-used plotline just with some superficial changes, I feel so frustrated to have been spending time watching it 😆

[@Johnny2Cellos]

Loved this video

[@thebookofive]

Thank you!

[@EvaWhoDraws]

I'm basing my graduation project (studying illustration at art school) on ghibli story structure, this video was very helpful!

[@thebookofive]

Happy to be of help!

[@guyriddihough]

You did. Thank you very much. I did watch it. It is too long but has some brilliant scenes, and deserves watching again.

[@RandumoAnkle]

One of the things I like about Ghibli is that they can just take an idea, and make it a lot better. In the original book, Howls Moving Castle was that type of story that took an evil witch making a problem, then at the end they die and it’s happily ever after. Ghibli changed it up a bit, and the idea of the witch living with them just stuck. I like both pieces of media anyway. I loved this video essay, I hope to see you become popular!

[@timetraveler9105]

wow thank you! I’ve strugle a lot making slice of life story because not really fitting in conventional western story structure. It really liberating me as comic writer

[@harsyakiarraathallah2222]

So this is about the Journey of the Character that comes with Many Twist, Development, and Miss Adventure.

[@dianabolanos9766]

This is really cool, thanks for sharing your research. :D

[@thebookofive]

Thank you for watching!

[@morleywritesbooks]

It's nice to have this concept in words. I've been failing to explain a lot of the differences between east and west styles of story telling -- often using these films as an example -- among peers who are very committed to the idea of the 3 act structure with clear villains and heroes. Since my own writing tends to ignore the 3 act business and i'm told often that i have no clear antagonist because every character has despicable and redeemable qualities, having someone help shift perspective and widen creative avenues (especially when most people aren't familiar with eastern story telling aside from Ghibli films, and even then...) is really useful. Thank you :)

[@thebookofive]

Thanks for watching!

[@ssssssstssssssss]

There are other styles in the East as well.. like India has different structure. I think exploring different structures can help one understand what the true core components of a story are and help you innovate. Though the problem is people are conditioned on Western story-telling so you may have a tough time

[@thebookofive]

Absolutely! I think it also shows a lot of cultural background that is tied into the storytelling, like how most of the core components of the western story structure can be tied to the Christianity (the need to overcome your inherent flaws, the conflict between good and evil, and the presence of antagonist). I took a brief look at the native American storytelling traditions while researching this video and it does show that there are more ways to tell stories than just the same ol' hero's journey.

[@morleywritesbooks]

I only know 2 or 3 folktales from native tribes, so maybe i ought to look into more of their stories. Previously, i've been overwhelmed in trying to grasp tales from India -- fascinating, but overwhelming -- and i think i need to grow more as a reader to better understand and appreciate them. Lately, i've been engrossed in various African mythos and folk tales, a lot of which are situational stories lacking a present antagonist (or one that is discarded early on to make way for the adventure of the protagonist) and it's been a wonderful experience seeing bits of familiarity between stories from different places :)@@thebookofive

[@thebookofive]

@@morleywritesbooks Sounds super interesting! Now I think I REALLY need to take a look at different storytelling traditions from different cultures. Thank you for sharing!

[@WeebiDash]

Very insightful video Ive, thanks for the new knowledge! This was really helpful in catching that essense of ghibli and why it's so captivating without the driving plot the west often uses

[@Aadams2424]

Thank you for this video. I discovered Kishotenketsu earlier this year within my own research, trying to uncover why the stories that impacted me impacted me the way they did so that I may do it for others. I've been in a bit of a creative rut lately, bu your video was a reminder of the power of this story structure and of the power of freedom and play in writing. Thank you for that. :)

[@thebookofive]

Thank you for watching! Glad to be of help!

[@andActionOne]

Oh wow! ✨

[@thebookofive]

Hello there 🌚

[@andActionOne]

@@thebookofive (gigantic inhale) General Kenobi!

[@clerk-555]

Well done

[@aboubenadhem9066]

Your description of how the kishotenketsu story structure tests the protagonist’s character instead of changing it sounds a lot like Mikhail Bakhtin’s discussion of Hellenistic novel forms. It makes me wonder if the western “character arc” paradigm emerged specifically within Greek drama, not even Greek literature in general-but it spread to other literary forms due to Aristotle’s using tragic drama as the ideal art form.

[@Villainilla]

With notvotw specifically there is so much deeper context missing in the film relative to the manga. I had so much fun reading it paired with how it recontextualized the film for me.

[@Fatcat-ss6nh]

Yeah I always thought that stories don’t have to have a conflict. Otherwise you wouldn’t have slice of life stories that just tell the mundane everyday events of the human experience. And sometimes it’s boring but not to people who find enjoyment in them and their simplistic nature.

[@WolfmanArt]

For me at least, it all boils down to what helps the story-telling. I love Ghibli films, they're definitely impressive on their visuals as much as the writing.

[@retrosuperheroart2202]

Great video on 起承転結 kishoutenketsu (起 rouse, wake up, get up -as in "okiru" 承 acquiesce, hear, listen to, be informed, receive -as in "ukeru" 転 revolve, turn around, change -as in "korobu" 結 tie, bind, contract, join, organize, do up hair, fasten -as in "musubu") They played Spirited Away on tv yesterday and youtube sensed my brain itch about what makes it so different ;-)

[@Goatythemeow]

"finding the solution to the problem is much more important than defeating someone." thats a very good way of putting it. i wonder how many western stories would benefit from this idea

[@thebookofive]

Yeah, I'd be really curious to see some reimaginings like that, although I guess you'll basically have to write the whole new story from scratch.

[@Kaegri]

Citizen Sleeper soundtrack as BGM…! love that game

[@lindsaychambers]

Miyazaki is one of my favorite writers of all time! I love how magical everything is but still grounded in life concepts such as life and death.. nature.. I’ve been an avid appreciator of his work for many years!

[@starsss007]

well said

[@mirathurner2641]

Thankyou for opening up interesting lines of thought. It really clarified for me, why Miyazaki's storytelling is so compelling.

[@bennyboot]

Thanx man, I’ve always wondered what story structure the east use. Question: Does Scavengers reign use Kishōtenketsu?

[@thebookofive]

I haven't seen Scavengers Reign yet (but it's on my list for sure). Depending on what you're asking (the whole season structure or the structure of each episode) I'd say it is possible to use that, but tv shows usually build their episodes around a five-act-structure (sometimes with a teaser and a tag at the beginning and end).

[@bennyboot]

@@thebookofive thank you for the reply. ☺️

[@mrdarryljones1]

Thank you.

[@gabl1459]

Thankyou for making this video - i think western story telling is very distinct in how it draws upon very specific feelings and love being exposed to different ways to tell stories

[@thebookofive]

Thank you for watching!

[@germanvegacastro4238]

Dragon Quest XI background music?

[@blackiethecat5609]

this video made me realise that my novel is a combination of a traditional 3-act structure and kishotenketsu

[@redvli8746]

I’m interested in writing simple children stories, this video is brilliant! I also appreciate your music choice 😌🙂

[@thebookofive]

Thank you, good luck with your writing!

[@matthewwhite8035]

The conflict in the story is usually internal or has already happened within the film. But what's fun, is that it can be specific from character to character. However if you know Miyazaki as a person, he follows the essentials of story telling. But he is an animator at heart, so a lot of the story is also told through movement as well. But also movement, within the setting of each film. With a focus on the characters having individual histories, and experiences outside of what's happening in the story. As if they were real living people. However, not everyone are animators. So those small details can be missed. However, they add more life to the films. There are specific scenes that convey the message of each film. But there are also a lot of scenes that are insanely fun to animate. Which is usually how he rolls, but those crazy scenes can understandably confuse anyone. Another thing to note is the culture as well. In Japan, it's a very work oriented culture. Sometimes to the extreme degree. However, experiences from that sort of environment can be seen in some of the films. Like when two characters bond by working a job together. But these sort of details just help with figuring out the "message" of each film, and the message is usually a lot more simpler than what can be though up. The films are also just fun to watch as well

[@arthuralban8195]

Thanks. I aspire to write… this helps.

[@milo_thatch_incarnate]

To me, this is one of the key reasons Ghibli films are the perfect comfort movies. In our regular lives, we almost never experience our struggles as coming from a single, villainous person. In both our lives and in Ghibli movies, the "antagonist" that drives conflict is a force, like fear, or depression, or loss of faith, or conflicting values. THOSE are realistic antagonists. I love a good old-fashioned movie villain, but they always feel kind of cartoonish. In contrast, many Ghibli films feel like a beautiful, idealized look into my OWN life. That's why they make me have hope again in my own life, and see the beauty in the everyday routines of my life. I put on The Secret World of Arrietty, Kiki's Delivery Service, Only Yesterday, Spirited Away, or Whisper of the Heart, and I both feel seen as a young woman grappling with making my way in life, AND I see the beautiful "ma" moments of food preparation and soaking in nature, and I feel a renewed sense of the beauty of those things in my own life. That's FAR more valuable to me compared to another fantastical villain/hero story. Most modern hero/villain movies are escapism from my life. Ghibli films make MY life feel more beautiful and special than I think it is. After finishing a Ghibli film, I FEEL like living my own beautiful, simple life again -- not putting on the next fake fantasy.

[@thebookofive]

Kiki's Delivery Service and Whisper of the Heart are just essential watches for anyone who does any creative work, imo. They're amazing deconstructions of many anxieties of the creative process (though, to be fair they apply to larger things in life just as well). Also, yes, the food scenes in all the Ghibli films never fail to make me hungry (except maybe the one in Spirited Away :D).

[@masudaharris6435]

The problem with having an obvious structure is that when the audience is "on" to you, the ending falls flat.

[@AndresWalsh]

Brilliant. Thanks. So it seems that basically, western conflict is replaced by a moment of enlightenment, or opening of the spiritual eyes, in Kisho Tengetsu story arcs.