Studio Ghibli is usually hailed for its stunning animation, immersive worlds, and emotionally charged storytelling. Although the studio has never been interested in big, sweeping love affairs like those found in Western romance movies, it has built some of the most complex and subtle relationships in animation.
One such relationship that usually stands out for fans is the intense, passionate bond between Ashitaka and San in Princess Mononoke. Ashitaka and San might be Ghibli’s most celebrated power couple, but do you know that it is Jiro and Naoko from Hayao Miyazaki’s other work The Wind Rises who best capture the studio’s most touching and emotionally resonant depiction of love?
The ultimate Studio Ghibli couple: Passion versus devotion
In Hayao Miyazaki‘s Princess Mononoke, Ashitaka and San are from two very different worlds. Ashitaka is the last prince of the Emishi, a warrior burdened with a curse that will ultimately take his life. San, on the other hand, is a wolf-raised girl, who feels she belongs to the forest and hates humans for their destructive practices.
Initially, during their first meeting, San views Ashitaka as an enemy, whereas Ashitaka seeks merely a means to mediate peace between mankind and nature. But as they battle together, their bond develops into a mutual respect. Ashitaka never attempts to change San, nor does he insist that she abandon her struggle for the forest. San, while at first suspicious, learns to respect Ashitaka’s beliefs and acknowledges his sincerity.
Theirs is a love of equals, two warriors standing together, united by common ideals and not by the desire to own or complete each other. By the time the movie ends, San decides to stay in the forest, and Ashitaka vows to go see her whenever he can.
Their love does not end on a typical happily-ever-after but instead in a melancholic embracing of their responsibilities and identities. They are a couple not based on physical closeness but on an unbreakable bond formed by trust and respect.
While Princess Mononoke provides us with a love tale of struggle and common conflicts, The Wind Rises presents us with something far more heart-wrenching, a love story centered on unwavering support and irretrievable loss. Based on the real-life story of Jiro Horikoshi, the film takes us through his life as an aeronautical engineer developing combat aircraft for the Japanese Imperial Air Force in World War II.
It is within this deeply personal and historical narrative that Jiro finds his greatest source of strength: his love for Naoko. Since the time they meet, Jiro and Naoko share a tender and understated love. Naoko, who has tuberculosis, is aware that she does not have much time left, but instead of driving Jiro away, she decides to spend whatever time she has left with him.
Jiro, on the other hand, never wavers in his devotion. He does not try to find a cure or resist destiny, rather he just loves her, appreciates her being around, and continues his work knowing that she believes in him. Their romance is free of melodrama, but it is profoundly moving.
Naoko’s quiet strength and Jiro’s unwavering support form a relationship that is both heartbreaking and beautiful. Even when Naoko leaves Jiro to keep him from having to watch her decline, the unspoken understanding between them remains. His work, his own dreams, are in essence driven by her existence. When she is dead, part of him dies as well.
The many faces of love in Hayao Miyazaki’s stories
The comparison between these two relationships is what showcases the various manners in which love is depicted in Ghibli movies. Ashitaka and San’s is a relationship of action, driven by passion, strength, and a desire to battle for what they hold dear. They are fighters who discover love amidst turmoil, which shows that romance does not have to be traditional to be powerful.
In contrast, Jiro and Naoko’s love in The Wind Rises is one of quiet suffering. There are no declarations of love, no tearful breaks or reunions, only the plain and gut-wrenching act of standing by one another, and holding onto every second until time runs out. This is love in its most intimate and devastating form.
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For some, Ashitaka and San might be the most powerful couple, but Jiro and Naoko’s is the story that remains in our hearts. It is love that reminds us of how things really are in life, that at times, love is not so much about winning against everything but discovering beauty in the time we have.
It is about commitment, not fireworks. It is about the silent moments, the unspoken knowledge, and the acceptance that even in saying goodbye, love does not end.
Princess Mononoke and The Wind Rises is currently available to watch on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
