So here's our discussion question for Monday's class, sorry that it's so late. Having a bit of technical difficulty. Read this article, there's a lot of great information about Miyazaki's views on women's roles. Remember, you don't have to respond to all of the questions for the weeks, but it'd be great if you guys participated.
http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/heroines.html
"When I think about making a male a lead, it gets really intricate. The problem isn't simple. I mean, if it's a story like, "everything will be fine once we defeat him," it's better to have a male as a lead. But, if we try to make an adventure story with a male lead, we have no choice other than doing Indiana Jones. With a Nazi, or someone else who is a villain in anyone's eyes."
You can choose to respond in a number of ways
Relating to last week's discussion.
1) How are Miyazaki's heroines "real?" Are they more so than, say, a Disney Princess? And if so, how?
2) Is having a female lead "more complex" than having a male lead?
Relating to this week's discussion (a bit of a preview)
1) Why does Nausicaa have to die?
2) Is the implication of the ending nihilistic or hopeful in terms of human nature and identity?
3) If Nausicaa is the "proper response" to life, then what is Miyazaki saying?
Okay! post away! This time we'll be a bit more lenient about it especially since this is posted so late. See you tomorrow!
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27 comments:
Miyazaki's heroines are "real" in the sense that they are faced with realistic challenges, albeit in a fantastical context, and overcome them through their own strength of character with the help of those who struggle with their own problems. In this sense, they are more "real" than Disney princesses, who are not only faced with challenges that are unrealistic and/or seemingly trivial as a result, but are also the recipients of help from those who seem to be above the problems of those they help. For example, Cinderella's problem is that she needs to impress Prince Charming, and she has her Fairy Godmother, who has no struggles of her own, to transform mice into horses and a pumpkin into a carriage. Of course, there is the idea that Cinderella was always a princess at heart, and not all Disney movies are quite as lacking in substance, but in general their heroines can't seem to measure up to those of Miyazaki. This is because, for example, Chihiro in "Spirited Away" is faced with the challenge of growing up and maturing in a fantasy world. She begins as a sullen and spoiled representative of the modern Japanese adolescent and through her struggles with identity (in the form of the value of one's name), greed (which consumes her parents but which she overcomes by never accepting No Face's offerings), and the environment (which Haku, who helps her on her journey, struggles with too as the spirit of a river that has long been fogotten).
[Aileen Ritchie: bukopaz@gmail.com]
On last week’s discussion:
1)Miyazaki’s heroines are, in a sense, more “real” than a Disney princess because, even in fantastical situations, their characters are more genuine. While yes, Cinderella, Belle and Ariel all exude genuine hopes and dreams, as well as experience emotions—they are still largely controlled by their situations and the Disney fairytale formula (ie: boy meets girl, there is a conflict/villain to overcome, the antagonist is vanquished, boy and girl live happily ever after. The end). Miyazaki, on the other hand, creates characters that must change and grow in order to reach their goals. Moreover, even while he creates unrealistic situations (for instance, Chihiro’s parents are transformed into pigs), there are still core ideas to which almost any audience can relate (for instance, a child losing his or her parents to something outside of his/her control). In order to grow and find happiness, Miyazaki’s heroines feel and show emotions, and transform because of/through their adventures—and often, they overcome their situations.
2)Yes, in the sense that having a female lead is already breaking through the stereotype as well as perpetuating some stereotypes. For example, the stereotype that “women are more complex than men” it is generally agreed upon to a certain extent. While that is purely a surface assumption, there is some truth in it—and in the way that our society perceives women and their emotions. Moreover, because there are so many stereotypes about women in relation to the world, Miyazaki’s female leads are constantly overcoming those common stereotypes (ie: women can’t fight; women are weaker than men). This already creates a more complex thought process than if a male lead would be vanquishing his enemies (since this is already a generally accepted idea). In addition, females are often portrayed as more in touch with emotions; this, mixed with the logical steps to overcoming opposition or oppositional situations, creates infinite layers for the audience.
Relating to this week’s discussion:
1)Nausicaa dies because, rather than fight, it is the giving that allows one to overcome trials. Her sacrifice, and her trust and convictions concerning all life, lead her to her death—and yet, also allow her to be reborn. Miyazaki is simply putting into action what our mothers and wives and daughters of society have been putting into action for all time; however, he presents it in this dramatic way in order to appreciate what is often taken for granted.
2) Sheesh, I totally believe that it is hopeful in terms of human nature and identity. Even among a group of fighting, resistant and corrupted people, Nausicaa offers the hope of change. Moreover, even in the villains, Miyazaki creates the hope of change and the beauty of humanity via each of their situations. Villains cease to become just “villains”—they just happen to be people with different goals and beliefs than our protagonist. Through the main message (ie: sacrifice, understanding the protagonist of their world—the Ohmu), the world can change positively.
Please excuse my poor English!
Making a female character achieve things that primarily male character usually do does give the action more of an impact, but to what level is the impact hinging on crossing stereotype boundaries and how much it actually stands up on it's own as character development? For example, is a female character who was always strong and commanding more impressive than a male character who was established as shy and will-less but grows to be confident and outgoing? Does the former only "pop" purely because she is female? If the genders were reversed, how would the situation change? That is not to say that Miyazaki's character's do not grow, since they do, but it's important to recognize a part of the "complexity" exhibited is just a product of our society.
On classic Disney princesses with Miyazaki heroines ... I feel many of the princesses do not change as much, or they don't have as many complex motivations, and the interaction between different motivations between the princess and villain isn't as multi-layered. Characters like snow white, sleeping beauty, cinderella, etc. they seem to have all the arch-typical "I just want to find true love and live a happy life and be a good person, yadda yadda" motivation, which is not bad, but it does get a tad formulaic. Like-wise the villain's motivation pretty much ranges from "She is too pretty, I must get rid of her!" to "She stands in the way of my power, i must get rid of her!". Sure they are opposing each other and it's entertaining to watch the same ideas animated with different situations and settings, but at the core they are all the same kind of princess/villain/doothingy. On the other hand, a Miyazaki movie may have girls that want to change the world, or keep the world the way she needs it, or needs to escape some where or fix something or are just living their lives,but may or may not find true love, happiness or be a good person on the way there. Many times there is no clear villain, many times villains end up being anti-heroes, thing aren't as clear cut just like real life. There's always more than one side to a story and i think Miyazaki tries to show this no matter what the situation.
Sorry for making you read through a million run-on sentences and "i think.."'s hoho
I feel that the "real"-ness of Miyazaki's heroines (and his other other characters, too, to an extent) comes from their rounded characterizations. Not to say that all of the Disney princesses come off as completely flat...but as others have written, the princesses seem to only serve their stories as damsels in distress. They're usually carried by the usual fairy tale plot line; each princess is treated like a placeholder for the Princess character and they are pretty much interchangeable. Not so with Miyazaki's heroines. They each have different backstories, different motivations, and different approaches to the problems that they face. What makes them more than cardboard cutouts is how Miyazaki packages them as unique individuals who have their little habits and quirks (the scene in Spirited Away where Chihiro quickly stuffs her feet into her shoes comes to mind). Despite the fantastical situations they are in, Miyazaki's heroines have personality and behavioral traits that we can identify with. This aspect of the heroines' characterizations makes each of them unique in a way not found in the early Disney princesses, but at the same time, the attention to the heroines' individuality makes them universal because each of us in the audience can find a little bit of ourselves in the heroines.
As it's been a while since I've seen Nausicaa, I'll just go ahead and answer the questions from this week.
1) How are Miyazaki's heroines "real?" Are they more so than, say, a Disney Princess? And if so, how?
I feel that most of Miyazaki's heroines are "real" in the sense that they act in complex ways while growing and maturing as characters. Although their situations are fantastical, their reactions seem grounded in realistic human behavior.
In many ways, the heroines of Miyazaki's works are more real than the Disney princesses. With the princesses, the viewer has very little conception of their thought processes: we know, for instance, that Ariel is motivated by love for Prince Eric (despite the absurdity of the fact that she only caught a glimpse of him once before falling completely in love), or that Jasmine (one of my favorite Disney princesses) wants to defy the laws of her kingdom and marry whomever she chooses, even if that person is a commoner like Aladdin. Yet we don't really see them struggle, whereas we often witness the growth and struggles of Miyazaki's characters: Chihiro learning to become more independent and less whiny, or Sophie (from Howl's Moving Castle), learning to develop confidence and to assert herself. So the major difference (which some people posting here have already touched upon) is that Disney princess are fundamentally static characters, while Miyazaki's heroines are dynamic.
2) Is having a female lead "more complex" than having a male lead?
In some ways, having a female protagonist gives the creator more ability to be creative and work outside an established template. We all have a preconception of what a male lead (particularly in animation) "should" be: he is brave, heroic, noble; vanquishing the enemy and winning the heart of the princess, etc. It becomes stale, boring. On the other hand, there are fewer preconceptions about a heroic female lead (rather than a passive female lead, like Cinderella). A herione shares certain traits with the male hero: she is brave, noble, self-sacrificing, etc. Yet she can also be nurturing, compassionate and emotional. Although these are, of course, female stereotpes, they do lend themselves to a more complex characterization than the standard male hero.
Miyazaki's heroines as well as animation are very distinct from Walt Disney. The Disney stories are based on the happily ever after which, most of the time, has the heroine falling in love and defeating all evil. This is meant to be unrealistic, something that is based on make believe, fairytale, etc. I don't think that Miyazaki wants his animation or stories to be considered "happily ever after" stories. I believe that his characters go through moral and ethical challenges, personal battles, and sometimes love is involved. These are more humanizing and realistic compared to Disney, but mostly because they were meant to be portrayed that way (in my opinion). In the same sense, I also don't think that his heroines are very realistic. The catastrophic and life changing events that his characters are faced with makes them almost super human. They are able to react to things that most of us would be stunned by, and I just don't see how they are any more realistic than Disney princesses. As much as I would love to save a flying castle, help a wizard stop being a coward, be a teenage witch, help protect the gods of the forest, and save my parents from the spirit world, where does one even begin to find realistic qualities in these women? What I can relate to in Miyazaki's movies are the themes of struggle and triumph, having to find who you are and believe in yourself. For me, this comes from the overall movie and not just the heroines, but maybe everyone's discussion posts will enlighten me!
Having a main female character is more complex than having a male lead because of the negative stereotyping of males in anime. In numerous depictions of anime, the male lead usually is one of the following:
1. Clueless and indecisive when concerning issues of love (essentially every romantic comedy)
2. Gun totting gun nut who loves guns (redundancy emphasize)
3. Worthless, self-loathing whining loser
4. Being master of all things martial arts
5. Being on a simple mission of revenge to avenge *place holder name*
6. Wielding a large, phallic sword and being unable to convey actual emotions like love (“FF VII” and “Berserk”)
7. Smooth talking womanizer (“Bastard!” and “Sorcerer on the Rocks”)
8. One liner protagonist (“Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust”)
Anime has its fair share of anime women stereotypes (almost all the woman stereotypes include some male sexual fantasy to them), yet Hayao Miyazaki, Mamoru Oshii (Motoko Kusangi in “Ghost in the Shell”), and Satoshi Kon (Mima Kirigoe and Rumi from “Perfect Blue”, Chiyoko Fujiwara from “Millennium Actress”, and Paprika/Chiba from “Paprika”) portray woman as being “sensible.” In the movie “As Good as It Gets”, Jack Nicolson’s character describes how he is able to write woman so well in his novels, “I think of a man and I take away reason and accountability.” Yet, this is so opposite from the way women are portrayed in these anime director movies. The women in these movies are more than capable of making their own decisions, and they take greater responsibility in getting involved with the world around them.
These directors have memorable characters because they create characters that are deviants of the norm. It would be nice to live a world that sex has no preconceive connotation in judging on how an individual is capable of doing, yet this is not the case in our society today. However, these directors have succeeded in creating this idealized world in their movies, and the world that they craft transcends sex and allows the director to explore a deeper personal struggle that targets the core of a character rather than the appearance of the character.
-Mike I.
I'm tired of hearing how men are somehow inadequate or lack complexity. As a female, I would
have loved to see Miyazaki tackle the stereotypes and disillusionment surrounding men. I
still don't believe his words on why he chooses females as the lead roles. The statements make sense but he isn't challenging any of the views of society. In a way I feel he perpetuates and uses the common stereotypes of each gender role- bad or good. I would love to see Miyazaki tackle the issue that arise from the common "Indiana Jones adventure" male lead. If Miyazaki could depict a pure and innocent male character, I believe that this male lead could fulfill any pursuit Miyazaki needs. Men are no more emotionally different than women- they feel, they cry, they hurt, and they yearn. It's just not as seen too much and even discouraged by today's public. If Miyazaki was able to create such a male role he would definitely be making a statement to the world and challenging the norms of society by depicting a male lead with heartfelt emotion, angst, and drive.
I don't think "more complex" is the right work, because a female lead isn't necessarily as
complex as a male lead character. It depends on the environment, setting, and situation of the characters are put into. Women usually wear their feelings and emotions of their sleeves. Men keep emotions bottled inside and lack communication skills. That is what the world believes and that is what Miyazaki depicts.
1) How are Miyazaki's heroines "real?" Are they more so than, say, a Disney Princess? And if so, how?
I think Miyazaki's heroines are "real" because he draws the characters who are not in special position like Disney Princess. His characters always look just girls at first glance. That makes us think they are more real than chracters from Disney. Moreover, how they behave is very different from the characters from Disney. I always feel the characters from Disney act behave with exaggerated way. For example, their facial expressions, gestures, way of talking. On the other hand, Miyazaki draws his characters as more realistic in terms of the way of talikng, behave and facial expressions. Those differences between them are one of the reason why Miyazaki's characters seems to be more real.
2) Is having a female lead "more complex" than having a male lead?
I think having a female lead is more complex. The stereotypes toward men and women are greatly related with this issue. For example,in terms of Nausicaa, the heroine leads, fights, kill someone. She is just a normal looking girl but she does those kind of thing. Those are unusual in our real life. If women try to join the front line of a battle in our real life, then how do you think about that? When we think about fighting, especially about war, always men are fighting stereotypically. It is less usual. Because of these things I think having female lead is more complex.
Relating to last week's discussion.
1) How are Miyazaki's heroines "real?" Are they more so than, say, a Disney Princess? And if so, how?
2) Is having a female lead "more complex" than having a male lead?
1 Of course they are more real than a Disney princess. Miyazaki's heroines display a wider range of emotions which cause the viewer to better perceive the character as "three-dimensional" and more importantly, they grow and change. For example, San in "Mononoke Hime" begins to accept her humanity through her interactions with Ashitaka and in the process loses some of her "animal" nature. Usually the princesses of Disney have a change in circumstances, not character. This is I think, however, is not due to an artistic inferiority on Disney's part but rather a difference in purpose. Movies such as "Cinderella" and "Snow White" are focused more on reinforcing societal platitudes, than they are on vividly portraying the female. In "Cinderella" the idea that justice will always lift those who are kind and gentle out of horrible circumstances into ones more akin to what they deserve is given center stage and not a realistic portrayal of a female overcoming her circumstances. In "Snow White" the idea that "love conquers all" and is more powerful than hate is emphasized over a maturation in Snow White's character. So yes, Miyazaki's characters are more "real" by purposeful design.
2 No, having a female character is not more "complex" in itself. Perhaps the ways in which Miyazaki must form a realistic female character are more complex than those in which he creates male characters---but on the assumption that men and women are different in a psychological sense---a complex portrayal of a female will not be complex in exactly the same way a complex portrayal of a man would be.
Miyazaki's heroines are real in the sense that they significantly "develop" throughout the story. Kiki's Delivery Service is pretty much the story about the 13 year old girl learning to live independently. Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle gradually opens up her heart and becomes true to her feelings at the end. Chihiro from the Spirited Away used to be a typical shy girl in today's Japan but then grew up to be independent. It is hard to depict these significant internal changes if the characters were male, and I think this is part of the reasons why a female often leads Miyazaki's films. One exception to this is Porco Rosso, but I guess this movie is different from Miyazaki's other movies as it obviously targets older audience. Compared with the Disney heroines, they may have some development in the story. But in Miyazaki's movies, the entire story evolves around the lead female's development from the beginning to the end.
in response to Binky: I agree with you. I don't think that Miyazaki entirely hates men, or thinks that they are devoid of emotion. I think he just finds it easier to convey the points he wants to make with women, because there are too many stereotypes and "masculine expectations" surrounding men in lead roles. So he puts respectable men in supporting / co-leading roles. Master Yupa, for example, and Ashitaka (princess mononoke). They are not necessarily the emotional center of the films but they do have physical agency. They always are fatally loyal to the main character. I think that Miyazaki does acknowledge that there is nobility in a man being humble and respectful. Because if they have the presence of mind to respect other people's opinions and bow to them graciously, then that surely is the quality that is needed most for peace.
So maybe that's the point he's trying to make - rather than make a male the lead, he ennobles males by allowing them to fight for what they love.
Having a female lead can allow for certain things that would just not fit if a male were to be given the role due to current world views. For example, I don't think it would be quite the same if a male lead took on a nurturing, motherly role and at the same time be strong. Sure, there's the protective fatherly role, but it's just not the same. With the world view, females are seen as more emotionally sensitive, patient, etc. whereas males are more viewed as tough, prideful, etc. With Nausicaa, she shows a lot of qualities that we more or less accept as 'female'. Even tho she gives in to anger when her father is killed, she quickly sees her wrong actions. She is very nurturing. She'd rather obey in order to avoid casualties than fight with pride. Even tho she chooses not to fight, this in no way shows weakness. In fact it shows her strength, holding to what she believes in. She even sacrifices herself. With our view of males, I think a male lead would 'fight to the death with honor'. She, instead, accepts the fact that fighting is useless and tries an alternative. Instead of lashing out at the insects, she sympathizes with them. I think sympathy is an important character trait that is better portrayed by a female lead. Again, this is all due to society's view on the sexes. We're just used to it. Even tho Miyazaki's female leads are very strong, this in no way to me seems out-of-place. I think that he takes the strong characteristics of females and emphasizes them.
@ Binky and everyone else, check out Future Boy Conan 83
*such a dork*
I think Miyazaki's female main characters are real. And they are more realistic, distinctive, and unique than Disney princess. In this semester, personally, I take Children's Literature classes, and about 'Folk tales/Fairy tales' chapter, I learned some characteristics about them. The characters in fairy tales are usually 'flat' characters, and good ones always get some triumphs in the end, and fulfill their wishes fianlly. Disney's princess are not so different. They are usually flat, good, kind, polite, and accomplish their love at the end. Of course they go through some difficult situations, but they can be rescued by some magical helper, or princes. But in Miyazaki's movies, most heroines' experiences and wishes are quite different. Their wishes are far beyond from 'meeting Prince Charming,' 'want to go to Dance Prom,' or 'being free from wicked stepmother.' Miyazaki's heroines, for example, Princess Hime or Nausicaa confront the real apocalypse or violence of human under it. I think these make Miyazaki's heroines more realistic than Disney's princess.
I think Nausicaa had to die as part of the film's "economy of sacrifice," as was hinted during the screening. The world that Nausicaa inhabits seems to work around an economy where something must be sacrificed in order for something to be saved. Nausicaa, as an instrument in this economy, often sacrifices herself as part of this economy in order to keep the world at peace. At the end of the film, she allows herself to be shot by the Pejite men taking the Ohmu larva hostage. At the end, she sacrifices her body to the Ohmu to stop them from overruning the world. By putting herself in the way, she ends the cycle of violence and creates a world of harmony as implied at the end of the movie.
On the other hand, all the other characters in the film seem to focus on sacrificing others in order to save the world. The people of Pejite, for instance, sacrifice their city to kill their Tolmekian occupiers and are willing to sacrifice the Valley of the Wind to stop the Tolmekians and recover the God Warrior. The Tolmekians sacrifice the peace of the Valley of the Wind to activate their God Warrior and sacrifice the Sea of Decay in order to stop the destruction of human civilization. In the end, these battles of sacrifice are shortsighted and lead to a continuing cycle of violence that accelerates destruction. Nausicaa however, uses sacrifice on her own body, something the other people are not willing to do, and in doing so, stops the cycle from continuing.
How are Miyazaki's heroines "real?" Are they more so than, say, a Disney Princess? And if so, how?
Miyazaki’s heroines are ‘real’ than Disney princesses, of course, because they do not need a prince! Miyazaki’s films and Disney films are very different in a number of ways. Disney films are very fantastical, but Miyazaki’s films are more often realistic. (I’m not saying that it can happen in the real world, but rather what they do in those movies) Nausicaa went through a lot by herself and by her own decision making. Disney princesses can’t do this. They can’t overcome any kind of hardship by themselves. They need someone or something to help them. On the other hand, Miyazaki’s characters are more adventurous and brave enough to save others by themselves.
Even though the Disney and Miyazaki’s main characters are female, their main purposes are different. All Disney princesses want to marry the prince or find a true love and live happily ever after. In contrast, Miyazaki’s heroines need to find their own path to survive or live. We do not need prince to live a life. Love is great. However, Miyazaki draws more important issues than ‘love’.
2) Is having a female lead "more complex" than having a male lead?
Only in a world where it's trendy and hip to portray strong women. It also works well when you use a non-stereotypical woman role and contrast it against a stereotypical male role.
Honestly that question strongly smacks to me of reverse gender bias. Women are by nature no more complex then men. They're just different from one another. They express their feelings, thoughts, in fashions that are generally speaking, don't translate the gender divide well.
The ending of Nausicaa is definitely a hopeful ending in terms of human nature and identity. However, it shows that without struggle and hardship that the human identity can be lost. This stuggle is show by the three groups of people—the two warring countries and Nausicaa’s people. The mechanized nations saw that humanity lies in the past while Nausicaa’s people where trying to live in harmony with the current environment. While there was a sense of fighting with nature in Nausicaa’s group, Nausicaa herself was a messianic figure that the people looked towards of guidence. Thus, she represented the type of humanity that people ought to be. At the end with Nausicaa’s “ascension,” all the different groups saw that human identity is intertwined with nature through the “resurrection.” Therefore, the two warring groups were “converted” by Nausicaa’s death and resurrection, illustrating that human nature can be saved—but not without hardship.
Miyazaki's heroines are much more realistic than Disney styled heroines simply because while Miyazaki focuses on women as his main characters for his movies as well, they are not in any way put in the role of "damsel in distress", much like Disney does. For example, the Disney Princess movie, Snow White, presents the audience with a pretty girl who can cook, clean, and dance, but not much else. And when she eats the infamous poisoned apple that supposedly puts her to sleep forever, it is up to her Prince and the Seven Dwarfs to save her. Not to say she could save herself anyway (poisoned apple of death and all that) but it seemed even before she was "poisoned", her story had already set her up to be the one to be rescued. As a young, somewhat naive princess, there was no way Snow White was getting out of any trouble herself. Yet in comparison to Miyazaki's first princess, Nausicaa, who is much more capable in taking care of herself, the story was set up in for her to succeed. For example, Nausicaa's tale had her mostly relying on herself, while Snow White's tale had her rely on others since the very beginning (dwarfs, Prince Charming, etc.). And while their stories are very different-Nausicaa trying to save a doomed world and Snow White...not really doing anything but being at the wrong place at the wrong time-they are both are heroines effected by elements in their stories. Nausicaa had to deal with the Ohmu and the prejudge her own people had against them. Snow White unconsciously had to deal with the hatred of her stepmother, and the constant trickery the parent used against her to kill her. Plus, in comparison to the Disney Princess, Miyazaki's girls had much more personality, and the extent of their goals go beyond the realm of finding a prince and getting married.
(This is Hannah, btw?)
2) In the man-superiority-existing society, the typical hero has been always the masculine man who saves the world, wife and his children. It is because father usually takes a role protecting family while mother takes care of family.
Miyazaki's choice of using a girl-whom can be seemed very week and fragile- makes the story pretty complex. Some events happen that are not necessary to be happened when men are heroes. For example, nausicaa is caught by Kushana's soldiers. If Nausicaa was a typical man hero, she-he would destroy all the forces. However, she raher appealed them with her begging and caring about the nature and people in town. The female hero, here, solve problems in non-physical way and appeals to the audience in a new way/
1) Miyazaki's heroines are real in the sense that they actually are presented with problems and experience change and development. In comparison to Disney's princesses, Miyazaki's heroine are faced with realistic challenges that actually test their character. They are also real in the sense that whether or not they're a male or female doesn't really factor into play if you see the heroine as human being, an individual. This would lead to the answering of the second question where having a female lead would seem more complex because when a male lead is used, certain stereotypes are expected of the lead. However, with the use of the female lead, she is portrayed and seen as a female but her heroic actions and strength of character deem her a "male". This variation would lead to a more complex understanding of the character itself, lifting the character beyond the male or female question.
Lillian Guo
Hah! I finally got to posting this!
1.) Miyazaki's heroines are "real" in their depth of characterization and internal struggle, inherent Miyazaki's storytelling. Despite the fact that all of his films are set in some sort of a fantastical landscape, his heroines are genuinely human in their conflict and consequently, their emotional growth as characters. They usually must overcome sort of character flaw or prejudice in order to survive the circumstances they are placed in.
Disney princesses are in a category all their own. Stylistically, they are idealized young women. They are beautiful, youthful, and immediately likable. Their popularity stems from such idealization because, hey, who doesn't want to be a princess? Nevertheless, because of such idealization and the stories that they're put in, they're unrealistic. On an emotional level, their failures and flaws (if any at all) are overshadowed by their unusually saccharine optimism that isn't derived internal independence, but rather from the aid of some sort of quaint talking animal or fairy godmother(s). Whereas in Miyazaki's films, the heroines' flaws are driving forces in character growth, which stamps a very human experience to his heroines.
I think because of the heterosexual imperative—a film convention mostly found in musicals and, well Disney, in which the story is fulfilled when the male and female lead some how, someway, get together--Disney has placed in their films effectively simplifies gender dynamics and insults an adult audience's sensibilities about human interaction by playing on defined gender roles. Their value as females are defined by men and their pairing to a certain, ideally perfect man. In comparison, Miyazaki's heroines display a sort of resilience, a self-survival which displays the reality of the situation impacting the heroine, those closest to the heroine, directly at the audience. It is the universal human struggle, against external circumstances, but most importantly, themselves, that best defines these heroines. Disney's representation underestimates internal conflict. Probably because kids aren't interested in internal conflict. Miyazaki, in comparison, doesn't hinge his heroines on men and does not make romance the central, focal point of any of his narratives.
2.) Can't really say. I don't believe having a female lead compared to a male lead is necessarily "more complex". Miyazaki's decision to use females makes the male-oriented views of western civilization go in a tizzy. I have to agree that in making his secondary male characters fatally loyal to the heroines of the story, Miyazaki lifts male characters beyond gender stereotype. Ashitaka really fascinates me in that sort of way. His dependence and recognition of San as an important figure and trust in her, makes him the sort of person who is most definitely *not* an alpha male.
I think it's mostly how the filmmaker/animator treats his characters and relates it back to the current views of gender.
A Disney princess is usually in a stereotypical situation where a male would have to rescue her, or find her conflict resolved with the help of a male. There is no sense of independence, even when Disney tries to put some modern flare--i.e. Beauty and the Beast, Mulan--the heroine is never portrayed fully capable of surviving on her own means. Miyazaki, on the other hand, allows freedom for his heroines. Having a female lead is "more complex" because she can easily cross over and adopt traditionally male characteristics--such as monarchical leadership, warrior-like fighting abilities, personality, and even clothing--without any suspicion of her sexuality. A male cannot as easily cross over. A female can, and receive more positive response from the general audience.
Miyazaki’s heroines are fantastical individuals living in fantastical environments controlling their lives through fantastical abilities—fantastical vectors—yet, somewhat paradoxically, they face problems that, despite their inherent fantasy of nature, seem very real. Miyazaki’s audience has the capacity to see beyond the shroud fabricated for the purpose of alternative messages and sheer entertainment to the simple bases of the his female heroines’ central conflicts, which are more often than not much more emotional than simply physical disturbances. Perhaps this is why Miyazaki’s heroines seem more relatable than the standard Disney heroine—the mere concept that their conflicts rely heavily on requirements of physical progress as a means of emotional progression than shallow and inconsequential emotional progress leading to a more significant and overpowering physical accomplishment. I suppose the fact that Miyazaki’s anime is enjoyed—one might say—equally by all ages, whereas Disney films have a connoted juvenile audience, speaks to the difference in the depth of the conflicts faced by his heroines.
I think Miyazaki’s unanimous choice of female characters as lead heroic roles, though pointed, is in a way a forfeiting of the task of challenging gender roles. Though it may seem that Miyazaki chooses lead female characters to make meaningful remarks about the female spirit, it seems, especially through his communication in interviews and such, that he chose to do so in order to avoid the significant challenge of communicating depth to male characters who, according to a predestiny, must employ violence as a means of solution. Miyazaki is almost doing what he can to endorse long-standing gender prejudices, it seems. Rather than face a need to make meaning out of a hero firing a weapon, Miyazaki chose to fall back on predetermined gender bias by communicating depth through a switch simply of gender, ignoring the important function of modifying characterization and relying on programmed fascination with the violent female to baste significance into his character molds.
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