How anime has led the way in the battle against climate change

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I’ve noticed that stories often show the world around them – the culture, the environment – but it’s surprising how rarely movies and TV shows actually address climate change, which is a huge threat to everything. It feels like a major topic that’s often overlooked.

Climate.gov reports that 2024 was by far the hottest year ever recorded, dating back to 1850. In fact, the ten warmest years have all happened in the last ten years. As the climate crisis worsens and events like floods and heatwaves become more frequent, there’s a lack of discussion about it, particularly in media aimed at children, where it could be most beneficial.

The animated movie Ferngully deeply resonated with people who grew up in the early 1990s, but few animated films have since focused on similar environmental themes. The Lorax and Pixar’s Wall-E are two of the most prominent examples. Japan, though, has a different track record when it comes to environmental storytelling in animation.

Anime often explores themes of nature and balance, drawing from ancient Taoist and Shinto beliefs that emphasize living in harmony with the environment. This tradition started early on – Osamu Tezuka, a pioneer of anime, featured these ideas in shows like ‘Kimba the White Lion’ as early as the 1960s. Later, more mature anime like ‘Black Jack’ continued this trend, with characters using their resources to support environmental causes.

However, Studio Ghibli is often the first animation studio people think of. Even before it was officially named, co-founder Hayao Miyazaki created Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind – a story set after a global disaster. The film showed that understanding and respecting nature, and recognizing how everything is connected, was essential for survival in a damaged world.

Many of Hayao Miyazaki’s films continued to explore these themes. For example, Spirited Away features a key moment where a polluted river spirit is restored to health, and My Neighbor Totoro beautifully depicts the joys of country living and the importance of protecting nature. While Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is also relevant, Princess Mononoke is often the focus of discussions about environmentalism in his work, due to its central conflict between the spirits of the forest and the destructive impact of human industry.

What’s remarkable about Miyazaki’s approach is that he didn’t take an easy, simplistic stance. Instead, he offered a nuanced look at all sides of the conflict, without clearly labeling anyone as purely good or evil. The film shows humanity’s capacity for violence, but it also portrays characters like Lady Eboshi, who, despite leading a potentially aggressive force, genuinely cares for the vulnerable and builds a haven for those society rejects.

You know, it’s not like I think humans are completely blameless in everything. I’ve realized that I absolutely have to explore how we fit – or don’t fit – into the natural world in my films. I actually said this way back in 1997, around the time Princess Mononoke came out – it’s just something I feel strongly about.

Isao Takahata, a co-founder of Studio Ghibli, approached similar themes in his film Pom Poko. Instead of wolves, he featured shape-shifting raccoon-dogs – known as Tanuki in Japan – and their fierce, unconventional resistance, which echoes the tactics of environmental activist groups like Earth First! and the Earth Liberation Front.

Studio Ghibli isn’t alone in addressing environmental themes. Many anime series and films, ranging from shows for kids like Doraemon and Dr. Stone to more complex stories such as Parasyte: The Maxim and Weathering With You, also explore these important issues.

Pokémon has stood the test of time, and since the 1990s, it’s quietly promoted environmental awareness. The series celebrates the variety of life and encourages people to care for all creatures. Many Pokémon are based on real plants and animals, and even one Pokémon’s evolution is directly linked to the effects of climate change.

I’m absolutely fascinated by Corsola, this coral Pokémon! It’s so cool how its health is directly tied to the water it lives in – polluted water actually damages the beautiful coral on its back. But it gets really impactful in the Sword and Shield games. They introduced a new form of Corsola called Cursola, and it’s heartbreaking! It’s essentially a ghost-type Pokémon, representing coral bleaching caused by things like ocean acidification and global warming. It’s a really powerful way the games show the effects of environmental issues, and it makes me care about protecting real coral reefs even more!

It’s a good thing the Pokémon franchise is using its influence positively, considering just how popular and widespread its impact has become worldwide.

This week, demonstrators at the UN climate conference dressed as Pikachu to protest funding for coal and natural gas projects in Southeast Asia. This highlights how anime often focuses on the influence of large organizations, stressing the importance of changing systems rather than just individual habits – a contrast to how similar issues are often approached in Western media.

Even with the serious climate change challenges Japan is facing – like heavier rainfall and more intense heatwaves – climate education isn’t as robust as you might expect, and public concern about these issues seems to be decreasing.

A recent 2023 survey by Japan’s Cabinet Office found that interest in climate change is relatively low among younger adults. Polling over 3,000 people, the survey revealed that only 31% of those aged 18-29 and just over 30% of people in their 30s expressed interest in the issue, according to The Japan Times.

Interestingly, over 70s showed the highest level of interest at 60.4%. However, it would be better if younger people were more engaged, considering they will be most affected by the future of the planet.

That’s not to say anime can’t inspire real change where the climate crisis is concerned.

A 2019 study by researchers at the University of Tokyo showed that featuring animals in animated shows can boost public interest in the real creatures. Professor Fukano Yūya and his team discovered that after animals appeared in the popular anime Kemono Friends, Google searches about those animals increased by 4.66 million, and their Wikipedia pages were viewed 1 million more times compared to the 18 months before the show aired.

Importantly, the increased public interest translated into real conservation efforts, with the featured species receiving more donations at zoos throughout Tokyo.

Kelvin Tang, a researcher at the University of Tokyo, explored how children understand climate change in a 2023 workshop, as reported by The Japan Times. He showed ten young children cartoons and videos about the issue, then asked them to draw what they thought Japan’s climate would be like in 50 years. Some children depicted alarming scenes like burning forests or a scorched Earth, while others drew hopeful images of flowers and fields.

Tang believes this is encouraging, noting that even after learning about the serious issue of climate change, many students still maintain a hopeful outlook. This led to discussions about practical steps they could take, such as conserving energy and eating less meat. Tang emphasizes the importance of nurturing this hope so students can become proactive agents of change and turn their concerns into positive action.

I recently read about a fascinating new anime short series called Future Kid Takara. It follows a young boy and a scientist as they travel back in time, trying to escape environmental catastrophes. Their journey is a search for what Earth once was – a beautiful world that’s been lost to them in their future. It’s a bit unsettling because the early warning signs of climate change we’re seeing today seem to foreshadow the very disaster-filled future they’re running from.

I recently watched this 11-part animated series, and it’s really designed to give elementary school kids a sense of hope and the idea that they can make a difference. It’s meant to be used in classrooms, but the way the story of Future Kid Takara unfolds feels natural and engaging. It doesn’t just teach lessons, it encourages young viewers to believe they can shape the future, and that things aren’t hopeless. It’s all about empowering them to work together and make positive changes.

Anime has a long tradition of exploring important themes, and it’s uniquely positioned to bring these ideas to a wider audience and encourage progress. This kind of storytelling is central to what makes anime special. However, impactful stories aren’t limited to Japanese animation. We need compelling narratives from all over the world to motivate change, especially now as our dependence on fossil fuels – and global temperatures – continue to rise rapidly.

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2025-11-18 15:37