From Shallow to Deep Ecology in Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

Abstract

The issue of the environment is still an existing topic until now. People from all around the world are still voicing their concern about conservation efforts to fight against pollution and resource depletion. These efforts are also often raised in literary works. One of the literary works considered to focus on the environment and the theme of ecology is the anime Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Thus, this study focuses on the representation of changes in environmental virtue ethics applied in mentioned anime. This study applies the theory of deep ecology and shallow ecology proposed by Arne Naess and uses qualitative analysis methods and literary studies. According to the analysis, human indifference to nature manifests in the form of marine environment pollution in the form of garbage and household waste dumped into the ocean, which is the value of shallow ecology ethics. In addition, there are also forms of human concern for coexistence with nature and the emphasis on the rights of other creatures to live, which are the values of deep ecology ethics. Thus, we can see that the environmental virtue ethics have shifted from shallow ecology to deep ecology.