How fleeting encounters in film mirror the real human experience of love, friendship, and growth.
In a world full of “happily ever afters,” Studio Ghibli movies like Arrietty and Spirited Away show that not all relationships are meant to last forever, but that doesn’t make them less important. Everyone who comes into our lives and leaves us does so in a way that shapes us, leaving a lasting impact that lasts long after they are gone.
For adults, the standard ending of a fairy tale doesn’t always feel real. Relationships evolve, whether they involve family, friends, or a romantic partner. But this changelessness isn’t a bad thing; it brings out the beauty of fleeting connections—those rare, deep conversations that make us better than we were before.
Even brief encounters can change a life forever.
Take the case of Arrietty. The movie is about Arrietty, a 14-year-old “borrower” who lives in human homes by stealing small items. When she meets Show, a young boy who needs major heart surgery, her life changes. Even though their paths cross for a short time, they leave each other with a lasting impact. The show teaches Arrietty how to be brave and have the will to live, and Arrietty learns about friendship and kindness from the Show.
Ghibli avoids the typical romantic finish, even though they are connected. Arrietty and Show say goodbye, knowing that they will never meet again. However, the goodbye is not sad; instead, it’s a celebration of how much they’ve meant to each other. Their experience becomes a perfect memory, a time of growth and inspiration that lasts forever, without the need for a long story.
The rose in full bloom lasts forever in memory.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 15 profoundly explores this theme. It compares life and love to the passing beauty of a rose in bloom. Everything alive has a time when it looks its most beautiful, and then time always makes it less attractive. With kids, art, and memories, we can “immortalize” these times, holding on to their beauty even as time goes on. In the same way, Ghibli movies show that memories are more important than permanence.
Show’s memory of Arrietty beautifully shows this. She is gone from his life forever, but the changes she made to his courage, confidence, and outlook will last forever. In the same way, bonds that come and go, even ones that only last a short time, can help us grow and be inspired in the long run.
Not every goodbye is a tragedy.
Spirited Away takes these thoughts even further. The main character, Chihiro, enters a ghost world to save her parents and must grow up there. During her trip, she makes deep connections with many people, but the river spirit Haku helps her the most. As the story progresses, they must be apart because Chihiro needs to grow as an individual and not depend on her friend.
A world where there is no more battle, growth, or journey is often what happy endings mean. Ghibli preserves the truth and impact of their characters‘ experiences by not imposing these opinions. Chihiro’s short time in the spirit world changes her because it is limited. Her memories of Haku give her strength without taking away her freedom.
Cherish the perfect memory, not the endless story.
Many Studio Ghibli movies are about relationships that don’t last. For example, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and others demonstrate how temporary connections can help people grow. Some movies, like Howl’s Moving Castle or Ponyo, have more typical happy endings. However, the fact that many Ghibli stories don’t have these kinds of endings highlights the beauty of brief yet meaningful interactions.
These memories are like a favorite childhood blanket or a perfect day in New York: they remain unchanged by the passage of time or adverse events. They remind us that the value of a connection is not in how long it lasts, but in how it can change, inspire, and bring us joy. The last goodbye between Arrietty and Show is the perfect example of a “perfect memory”—a timeless moment of growth caught in its purest form.
Life’s fleeting moments are what make it extraordinary.
In the end, Studio Ghibli’s movies show us that deep connections don’t have to last forever. They show that change is not a loss but a chance to enjoy how perfect each exchange is on its own. As viewers, we are told to hold on to these experiences and let them shape and inspire us, just like Arrietty and Show, Chihiro and Haku, and many others.
By accepting relationships that only last a short time, we experience life’s beauty in its purest form: brief, deep, and always inspiring. Ghibli shows us that the real magic isn’t in forever, but in the pure times that stay with us forever.
