Sustainability Leadership Skills Discussion Group

Fun fact about me; I love to watch Japanese anime! What really draws me in is the storytelling and the sheer artistry behind it. And no one tells these stories quite like Hayao Miyazaki. His films are full of breathtaking landscapes, mystical creatures, and big questions about how humans and nature can - and should - coexist.

Miyazaki’s approach is so special that he doesn’t just show destruction but also offers hope. His characters learn to understand and respect nature.

Here are a few of his films that really capture sustainability themes:

🌿 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) – A post-apocalyptic world where toxic forests are taking over, and a young princess realises that nature isn’t the enemy—it’s trying to heal itself.

🌱 Princess Mononoke (1997) – Probably his most direct environmental film, showing the battle between industry and the natural world, with no clear heroes or villains—just complex relationships.

🌊 Ponyo (2008) – A cute and chaotic little sea creature meets a human boy, but their friendship highlights the effects of pollution on marine life.

🌾 My Neighbor Totoro (1988) – Less about environmental destruction and more about the pure joy of connecting with nature (and riding a giant cat bus, of course).

🌬 The Wind Rises (2013) – More about innovation and responsibility than nature itself, but it raises big questions about the impact of human progress.

All of these movies are currently on Netflix! My personal favourites are Ponyo and Nausicaa. So, if you don't know what to watch this weekend, do yourself a favour and watch one of these masterpieces. If anyone else also watches anime and has good recommendations, I am all ears 👂