Why did Studio Ghibli allow their characters to be featured on Zippo cases?
How Are You?
A massive cold wave has hit Japan, and it’s freezing cold here!
How’s the weather in your country?
Today, I want to talk about Zippo lighters featuring Ghibli anime characters.
Ghibli anime is beloved worldwide, isn’t it? But when you think about it, there are so many other globally popular anime. In Japan, titles like One Piece, Slam Dunk, and Attack on Titan are household names. For internationally popular animation, Disney comes to mind (though I admit I don’t know much about others—apologies for that).
Wouldn’t it be great if Zippo cases were designed with characters from all these popular anime? Even as a non-smoker, I’d be tempted to get one if it featured my favorite anime character! (Yes, the person writing this doesn’t smoke at all.)
However, it seems that none of these characters make it onto Zippo designs—except for Ghibli characters. Why is that?
I have a theory: Don’t Ghibli characters often smoke in their films? For instance:
- In My Neighbor Totoro, the protagonists are Totoro and the kids, but their father is a heavy smoker.
- In Porco Rosso, the main character is often puffing on cigarettes.
- Even Lady Eboshi in Princess Mononoke is depicted as a pipe smoker.
Given these portrayals, it’s possible that Studio Ghibli allowed the use of their characters for Zippo designs after a rigorous review process. I find it impressive, considering Ghibli is known to be as strict with intellectual property as Disney.
What anime characters would you like to see on a Zippo case?
It would be amazing if this could become a reality, though it seems unlikely.
Japanese anime continues to thrive, and there are many exciting new titles.
Recent Recommendations:
-
Dandadan
This anime features high school students battling ghosts, yokai, and aliens while also portraying their pure and heartwarming romance. It’s sure to make your heart flutter.
Official Dandadan Website -
Chi: Chikyuu no Undou ni Tsuite
This story follows the researchers who challenged the geocentric model and introduced the heliocentric theory. Interestingly, the protagonist dies partway through the story, but history marches on, with the spotlight shifting to the next protagonist.
Official Chi Website
Which anime Zippo case would you like to own? Let me know your thoughts!
