In the time of acute climate crisis, the world of celluloid has taken the place of primary role of school to create awareness about climate change. Yuan Pan argues that these animation focus on intrinsic commonalities which help in creating more equal societies of harmony with nature.
Films with powerful environmentally centred narratives transforms the thinking and also connects us more to nature. For example, Studio Ghibli, a renowned Japanese film studio co-founded by animator Hayao Miyazaki. This animation creates visual stories about human -nature relationships that transcends the barrier of culture and age. The Romantic movement in English literature was initiated after the mass cutting down of trees and Wordsworth gave the slogan of “return to nature”. Literature and arts have always invoked people to raise awareness against the issues faced in the society. The key message of Miyazaki’s work is that we must respect nature-or face our own destruction.
Miyazaki’s films offer viewers moments of escape into fantastical worlds that nonetheless echoes problem of modernity. Here are some of the other film which have strong message in their animated film. Which will surely raise the question in the mind of children and adult and as well entertain them.
Wall-E (2008)
After planet Earth is overrun by rubbish, robot Wall-E is programmed to clean up the mess, one block at a time. While warning us of the problems of poor waste management. Wall-E leaves us with a hopeful message, as the end of the film, life had returned to earth and humanity is restored.
The Lorax (2012)
The film is set in a distant future where trees are extinct, and oxygen has been capitalized into being sold in bottles. Voices of youth writes how Seuss’s expectation of the future in ‘unnervingly similar to the state of current society’. Promoting the protection of trees and sustainable production to avoid such a dire reality.
Moana (2016)
In a more musically inclined genre, Moana follows the story of young girl. Who sets out on a mission after an environmental disaster befalls her home island of Motunui. The film highlights issues of climate change affecting natural resources and the importance of environmental balance to provide harmony.
Raising and educating the younger generation to be aware of these issues seems to be an important theme for film-makers, and for the future of our earth. Demonstrating that it’s possible to portray complex environmental issues through animation in a way that retains mainstream appeal.
