“When a man is shooting a handgun, it's just like he is shooting because that's his job, and he has no other choice. It's no good. When a girl is shooting a handgun, it's really something.”
-Hayao Miyazaki
It is pretty clear of what Miyazaki means by this quote. In his films, he always tends to use something amazing and exciting, like shooting a gun, and add something a little special and different to bring it to a whole new level.
It is no wonder Miyazaki tends to put more emphasis on his female characters. He may be considered sort of a mainstream animator due to his popularity and influence through his films, but he definitely incorporates unusual aspects into his film.
This is a really interesting Miyazaki quote, where did you find it? While the modern gal in me hesitates to agree that depicting a girl with a gun is something novel or sensational, I find that in Miyazaki's films this definitely holds true. I wonder if this has to do with the viewer's tendency to identify with the female protagonists? Obviously there are historical explanations for why it feels comfortable or familiar for male characters to use violence or weapons, but when female characters in Miyazaki films resort to violence it feels very significant.
ReplyDeleteTo me, it symbolizes maturation and responsibility, as the girls who can fight can survive. Even seeming pacifists like Nausicaa discover violence as a channel into adulthood, even though it is a destructive one. I think it is epitomized by Lady Eboshi, however, who in fighting to protect her financial stake empowers the women in her factory to defend themselves and function as autonomous adults.
I heard this quote before, so I just looked up Miyazaki quotes on google.
ReplyDeleteI agree, female characters resorting to violence really brings out the meaning in scenes. The one part that ties to this well is when Nausicaa goes berzerk and kills some soldiers.