This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Alexandrea Ciardella. Find her on Instagram at @a6ysma1. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
From soot sprites to magical talking cats, Studio Ghibli has made some of the most beloved animated films admired around the world. Whether you enjoy the tranquility of Star Lake, or the grandness of the Bathhouse, to the wonders of the tiny world of Arrietty, every fan enjoys the ‘wonder of life’ messages that Ghibli films present. Who wouldn’t want to bring some of that magic to their party? But you may wonder, how can you throw a Studio Ghibli-themed party? What do I need to impress my guests? Fear not, because here’s a list of Studio Ghibli party ideas and how to properly execute them.
Theme
For the theme, you can choose to host a general Studio Ghibli party, great if you’re hosting a watch party, or you can choose to focus on one movie of your preference. Trying to decide on one movie or theme you enjoy will help you understand what decorations and food you’ll pick later on. For example, the decor for a Ponyo-inspired party would be different from a Kiki’s Delivery Service-inspired party.
Decor
As mentioned above, choosing a movie will help you narrow down what decor you’ll need. For films with a forest-setting like My Neighbor Totoro or Princess Mononoke, try decorating with leafy garlands and making or buying forest spirits and soot sprites to place around your party location. For other movies like Spirited Away, try placing paper lanterns or traditional bathhouse decor to make it feel as if you’ve transported to the spirit realm. Try picking an interior from the movie to replicate!
If you still want to decorate while on a budget, try purchasing some Studio Ghibli-themed tapestries or blankets to decorate your party location. Even small additions like cupcake toppers or paper lanterns decorated like characters can brighten up your party space.
Food
A good way to impress your guests is to make food seen in the movie you’ve selected. Whether it’s ramen from Ponyo, a full buffet from Spirited Away, or even Nabeyaki udon seen in Whisper of the Heart, there’s a wide selection of snacks and meals to serve to your guests. Research what food is seen in the movie, then find some of the dishes’ recipes online.
Don’t forget the drinks! Hot or cold tea is a great way to match the Ghibli vibe- add some fresh fruit like strawberry or peach to green tea to make it fancier! Ramune is a Japanese soda found at any Asian food market and comes in a variety of flavors. You can also find recipes for mixed drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike, to go along with your dishes.
If you want to have all your Studio Ghibli recipes in one place, consider checking out the Studio Ghibli Cookbook, or The Unofficial Studio Ghibli Cookbook.
Dress Code
The dress code for your guests is completely up to you. You could throw a cozy watch party vibe with pajamas and sweats. Or you can tell your guests to dress up as their favorite Ghibli character!
Gifting
If you’ve been invited to a Studio Ghibli-themed party but don’t know what to bring as a gift, check out our article on Studio Ghibli-themed gifts. Ideas like mugs, music boxes, and lamps are a great way to show that Ghibli fan in your life that you’re thinking of them.
Entertainment/Music
Playing the soundtrack to the film you’ve themed the party around can set the mood. Or create a playlist based on songs that fit the vibe of your party. Even if you don’t plan on watching the film, playing it in the background can also help get people into the Studio Ghibli spirit.
In terms of activities or games, try theming some classic party games to your favorite films. Playing Guess Who with different characters can be fun, and charades or trivia can be entertaining. The options are endless and are limited only by your imagination.
How did your Studio Ghibli party go? Let us know about your Studio Ghibli party ideas and if there’s anything we missed!
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