Cover At 85, Hayao Miyazaki’s films, like ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, feel more relevant than ever, offering warmth, reflection and comfort in every carefully drawn frame (Photo: IMDB)
At 85, Hayao Miyazaki’s films, like ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, feel more relevant than ever, offering warmth, reflection and comfort in every carefully drawn frame (Photo: IMDB)
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As legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki turns 85, his films remain the Internet’s favourite escape—here’s why his quiet scenes and sizzling breakfasts are more relevant than ever
When Hayao Miyazaki celebrated his 85th birthday on January 5, it highlighted something many already felt: his work remains woven into everyday life. The Japanese animator’s films have become lifestyle templates for a generation seeking slowness, comfort and beauty in everyday rituals. From TikTok’s obsession with his animated meals to the lo-fi study aesthetic that mirrors his storytelling, Miyazaki’s work has transcended cinema to become a philosophy of living. His concept of ma—the intentional negative space between moments—offers something radical in our overstimulated age: permission to simply exist. Here’s why the quiet scenes from his films are more relevant than ever.
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‘Ponyo’ (2008): the viral ham ramen meal on TikTok
Above Ponyo’s steaming bowl of instant ramen with ham and egg has inspired thousands of comfort food recreations
When Sosuke’s mother prepares instant noodles—boiling water poured over chicken ramen, topped with thick ham slices and a soft-boiled egg—it becomes more than sustenance. The scene’s tactile details (Ponyo burning her fingers stealing ham, the steam rising) spawned a viral recipe phenomenon, with creators recreating the dish frame-by-frame on TikTok.
‘My Neighbor Totoro’ (1988): the rain scene that teaches you to breathe
Above Totoro waiting at the bus stop in the beloved Studio Ghibli classic ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ exemplifies Miyazaki’s mastery of ‘ma’, the meditative space between action
The bus stop sequence defines Miyazaki’s ma philosophy—Satsuki wait silently as rain drums overhead, then Totoro arrives. No dialogue. No plot advancement. Just atmosphere, patience and the sublime strangeness of a forest spirit holding an umbrella. Originally released as a double feature with the tragic Grave of the Fireflies, My Neighbor Totoro has become among the studio’s most beloved creations.
‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004): the sizzling bacon that is pure ASMR
Above Calcifer cooking breakfast in ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ became an ASMR sensation before the term existed
Long before ASMR dominated YouTube, Calcifer frying thick bacon and eggs provided sensory bliss. The sound design—fat sizzling, shells cracking—paired with Sophie’s morning routine created what fans now recognise as proto-ASMR content. Howl’s Moving Castle depicts a wizard who refuses to fight, wrapped in the most baroque and visually dense animation of Hayao Miyazaki’s career.
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‘Spirited Away’ (2001): the lo-fi train ride for mental clarity
Above Chihiro’s train journey across flooded landscapes offers the most contemplative moment in ‘Spirited Away’
After the climactic chaos, Chihiro and No-Face board a train gliding across submerged fields. No dialogue. No action. Just reflective faces and melancholic piano. This scene—serving no plot purpose—became the blueprint for lo-fi chill aesthetics, offering the emotional catharsis central to Miyazaki’s style. As the only non-English hand-drawn film to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar, Spirited Away remains a gold standard for world-building.
‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ (1989): the bakery aesthetic you want to live in
Above The European seaside town and bakery home in ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ defined the cottagecore movement decades early
Set in a pastiche of Stockholm and Visby, Kiki’s life above Osono’s bakery—fresh loaves, rustic furniture, coastal views—predicted cottagecore by decades. Often read as a parable about creative burnout, Kiki loses her magic when depressed and over-exhausted, only regaining it when she stops pleasing others and finds her own inspiration. This metaphor from Kiki’s Delivery Service still resonates deeply with anyone navigating burnout culture.
‘Whisper of the Heart’ (1995): the ultimate ‘study with me’ vibe
Above In ‘Whisper of the Heart’, Shizuku writing at her lamp-lit desk shares DNA with YouTube’s famous lo-fi study streams
Shizuku hunched over her manuscript, lamp glowing, books scattered—these sequences influenced what became YouTube’s “study with me” phenomenon. The film understands creative struggle intimately, making it essential viewing for anyone navigating artistic ambition. Directed by his protégé Yoshifumi Kondo in the only feature film Kondo would complete before his untimely death, Whisper of the Heart is Hayao Miyazaki’s meditation on finding one’s voice.
After more than a decade in lifestyle media, Clifford has mastered the art of writing seriously about things that are fun—and writing fun things about people who take themselves very seriously. At Tatler Asia, he helped steer its flagship lists, Tatler’s Most Influential and Asia’s Most Stylish. And today, he leads T-Labs, Tatler Asia’s content innovation hub, where he continues the noble pursuit of lifestyle storytelling, spinning stories on wealth, entertainment, necessary style, Hallyu, Hollywood, beauty and more for audiences across Asia.
