Studio Ghibli Desserts: Japanese Sweets Inspired by Iconic Anime Films

Written by Jheelum Basu | September 13, 2024

You can whip up some delish dessert recipes after this article ends, for we're going down the fanciful daydreaming route and imagining what Hayao Miyazaki’s films would be as desserts. The art is painstakingly handcrafted, which already looks good enough to eat, but imagine if we caught that vibe in the form of desserts? Here's what we think some of the most famed Studio Ghibli films would be if they were desserts, since these are anime, we are going for Asian desserts, Japanese sweets to be particular.

8 Anime-Themed Desserts Inspired by Studio Ghibli Movies

Dango: My Neighbour Totoro

Dangos usually come in a trio, made from different kinds of rice flour turned into little balls and skewered with a bamboo stick. Let's pretend the siblings and Totoro are the three rice balls, from a Hanami dango, made during spring, during the Cherry Blossom Festival, that come in pink, white and green (in that order) colours. The forest God Totoro is the green one, the youngest sibling Mei, the pink one and her sister Satsuki, the white one. The colours suit each of them for what they stand for and their general qualities. Watching this film gives one a serotonin boost, which is similar to enjoying Hanami dango and watching the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Castella Cake: When Marnie Was There

Castella cakes are a delight to watch and eat, and they are way airier and super bouncy, which fits the overall feel-good nature of the film. Sometimes haunting does feel bittersweet, and we sure are glad Marnie was there for Anna.

This film should be talked about more; it isn’t talked about as much, and the ending will definitely reduce one to tears. For the uninitiated and even the watchers, the lead Anna and the blondilocks Marnie come across as a queer pairing, until you finish the film.

Raindrop Cake: The Boy and the Heron

Made with mineral water and agar, the Raindrop Cake is nothing but a wobbly Japanese dessert that looks like a large glistening drop of water. As the film progresses and closes on a grand crescendo with the world falling apart, there's an ethereal feeling as the lines between two worlds blur, which makes us feel that the clear raindrop cake is perfect for the film. It also symbolizes the clear determination and pure heart of “the boy” called Mahito, who journeys into the other world to bring back his aunt. Despite being offered the literal world and other distractions along the way (the garnishes of the cake, soybean flour and brown sugar syrup), he chooses his regular life and rescues his family, to return to his everyday life.

Namagashi: Howl's Moving Castle

Namagashi are traditional Japanese sweets that are nothing short of edible works of art. They are handcrafted to resemble the elements of the changing seasons. Much like Howl’s changing hair colour and also his mood swings that are shown throughout the film. Since he was a kid, he waited for Sophie, who went through time to find a way to redeem him and save him from his own plight. The colourful themes and changing settings, especially the moving house, of the film, are perfectly encapsulated by the sweet Namagashis.

Mochi: Whisper of the Heart

In the Japanese dessert platter, Mochi is known as a popular, chewy rice cake made from steamed, short-grain glutinous rice. This movie, where both protagonists find their place in the world, gives the feel of the chewy mochi with a sweet filling, make that frozen, and you have an even sweeter variety of ice cream mochi. It’s a bookworm’s dream come true, where a romance starts to blossom when Shizuku finds Seiji Amasawa’s name in every book she reads in the library. Little adventures happen throughout the book, and Shizuku, inspired by Seiji's ambitions, doesn’t want to be left behind and catches up to him in the end.

Matcha Swiss Roll: Kiki’s Delivery Service

Adulting can be hard, and we get to see that through the young teenage witch Kiki, who sets off from the comfort of her home to live in a faraway land by the sea. Tears, misadventures, and sickness lead to unexpected friendships and joy, which feels like a taste of a Matcha Swiss roll. Matcha has a subtle bitterness that is a hallmark of green tea; it's also grassy, and Kiki learns valuable lessons that shape her as a witch, through what life throws at her.

Taiyaki: Ponyo

A fish-shaped treat for our favourite fish in all of Ghibli films, to capture the food and the dreamy animation of a little fish’s journey who follows the footsteps of the Little Mermaid. It’s a kid’s film, though, explored through Sosuke, a taste of whose blood gives the little goldfish the ability to turn into a human. Well, of course, throw in her controlling, human-hating sorcerer father and her dreamy Sea Goddess mother. They take a gamble on Ponyo after seeing their daughter’s dedication to Sosuke and test his resolve, balance of nature and all that. It’s a sweet story much like the fish-shaped sweet snack, Taiyaki.

Anmitsu: Spirited Away

With a lot of fun jellies, fresh fruits available in spring and summer and the beloved red bean (azuki) paste, it perfectly suits the theme of Spirited Away. Find this refreshing Japanese dessert under fruit dessert recipes for summer in the Asian desserts section. Chihiro navigates the spirit world in the adventure of a lifetime, going through 5 stages of grief to rescue her parents, who turned into pigs. It comes full circle when she learns about Haku’s true identity and repays her debt to him in the end. Along the way, numerous colourful characters with their own gripes pop up, making the film worthy of being watched over and over again.