Studio Ghibli: It's good for your health, a new study shows

"A study published by JMIR Serious Games, a peer reviewed journal focused on how gaming is connected to education, health, and social change, looked into how the brain responds to both watching films produced by the Japanese animation studio and playing the open-world game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The researchers gathered 518 postgraduate students and divided them into four groups."

"Those who played Breath of the Wild reported higher levels of life happiness than those who didn't. Peacefully roaming the world of Hyrule, perhaps stopping by a pond or cooking a meal under the stars, creates "a relaxing form of escapism" for players away from life's daily stresses, permitting a chance to "recharge mentally." For an added boost of happiness, however, the researchers found both playing the game and watching the Studio Ghibli films produced the best results."

""Films such as My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service often focus on the small, everyday wonders of life, such as playing in the countryside or sharing mealtime with family," the research noted. "By shining a spotlight on ordinary moments and turning them into something magical, Miyazaki's works tap into a universal longing for the innocence and wonder of childhood. This kind of warmth can evoke nostalgia for times when people felt safe"

518 postgraduate students were divided into four groups: some played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, some watched Studio Ghibli films such as My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service, some did both, and a control group did neither. Feelings of exploration, calm, skill mastery, purpose, and life happiness were measured via a brief questionnaire. Playing Breath of the Wild produced higher self-reported life happiness, described as a relaxing form of escapism that permits mental recharging. Combining gameplay with Studio Ghibli film viewing produced the largest boost in happiness. Studio Ghibli films induce nostalgia by spotlighting ordinary moments and childhood wonder.

Read at Fast Company