BBC (2014) Shinto      

      Analyzes the Shinto religion. This will help better understand it, so I can examine its properties within all three films as well as in the life of Hiyao Miyazaki.

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Blog (2012) A Critical Introduction to the Works of Studio Ghibli

      This blog post compares the plots of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. It discusses how both movies have themes of humans and our relationship (and destruction) of nature. The post also looks at sins such as gluttony and temptation.

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Blagrove, A. (2015) Oceans, Forests, and Kami: Environment, Location, and Spirituality in Miyazaki’s Films

University of East Anglia

       Examines Kami, which is an aspect of the Shinto religion that believe that spirits reside in everything. This is a prominent theme in all three of his movies. Also examines how Kami believes that there is (and that we should have) profane (sacred) land.

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ChannelFrederator (2016) 107 My Neighbor Totoro Facts – (Tooned Up #182)

      Analyses My Neighbor Totoro and considers it to be one of Hiyao Miyazaki’s most renowned and popular works. The YouTube video looks at the film and each of its individual aspects which will help in understanding the movie. I will watch this video alongside the movie itself.

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D., John (2014) Miyazaki’s Shinto Themes

      Discusses how Miyazaki’s are laced with Japanese belief systems and their cultural values. It also looks at how the religious beliefs of Shinto and Kami are still believed by people who live in the regions in which the movies were set. 

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Danico, M. (2014) Asian American Society: An Encyclopedia

      Analyses how Americans have come to love the Studio Ghibli films and how it has helped Asian Americans gain respect as a minority. It has also explained how the films have helped others understand Shinto and various other religions.

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Matthews, K. (2006) Logic and Narrative in ‘Spirited Away’

      Discusses how Shinto is not one organized religion but instead incorporates different aspects of various religions. Goes on to state that that because of the fragmented nature of Shinto it’s often difficult to pinpoint individual aspects.

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Miyazaki, H. (1988) My Neighbor Totoro

      The original film released in 1988. The film will be analyzed alongside scholarly articles, videos, and blogposts so the religious themes will become prominent. Buddhism is an important aspect of this film.

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Miyazaki, H. (1997) Princess Mononoke

      The original film released in 1997. This film will be analyzed alongside scholarly articles, videos, and blog posts so the religious themes become more prominent. Shinto is an important aspect of this film.

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Miyazaki, H. (2001) Spirited Away

      The original film released in 2001. The film will be analyzed alongside the scholarly articles, so the religious themes will become prominent. Kami is an important aspect of this film.

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Pageau, J. (2017) Symbolism in Spirited Away; In Between Worlds

      A deep analysis of symbolism within the movie. Covers religious aspects and non-religious aspect of the film.  This YouTube video helps expand my knowledge of the film, so I can review the movie in pieces and not just as a whole.  

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Rodriguez, F. (2016) Miyazaki's Animism Abroad: The Reception of Japanese Religious Themes by American and German Audiences

      Analyzing religious themes in Japanese works and doesn’t directly focus on work by Studio Ghibli. This will broaden my knowledge on Japanese films and their relationship with religion.\

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Wikipedia (2018) Hiyao Miyazaki

      By analyzing his life via this page, it will give me a better understanding as to why he chooses to incorporate religion in his anime works. It also looks at his views of his movies as well as why certain elements are present in his films.

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Wright, L. &C. (2005) The animated works of Hiyao Miyazaki: Filmic Representation on Shinto

      Discusses how Shinto is directly correlated with all Hiyao Miyazaki’s films. This will provide me with exact examples from all three films I will be examining.

 

Wright, L. (2016) Forest Spirits, Giant Insects, and World Trees: The Nature Vision of Hayao Miyazaki

      Article discusses Hiyao Miyazaki’s relationship with the ancient art of Shinto and how he incorporates it in his films. Analyses Spirited Away as well as an overview of other films he’s released.

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Wu, C. (2016) Hayao Miyazaki’s Mythic Poetics: Experiencing the Narrative Persuasions in Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo National Dong-Ha University

      This article examines how god-like figures are prominent in the film Spirited Away. The examples will help fortify my argument that the two religions are in Spirited Away. The article gives an overview of the film which will also help in understanding the film as a whole.

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Zoelom, A. (2012) Hayao Miyazaki: Recovery of Japanese Cultural Values

      Discusses the Japanese idea of Shinto, the belief that all living things such as rivers and trees are pure but can be contaminated. This will help in developing the idea that Shinto and Buddhism are prominent in Hiyao Miyazaki’s early work.

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