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A fateful encounter between quantum theory and Ghibli.
What a romantic resonance those words carry.
At first glance, these two elements appear entirely unrelated.
Yet both have profoundly shaped the way I think today.
My interest in quantum theory did not begin with physics, but with Studio Ghibli.
I was separated from my mother at a young age and grew up as what one might call a “Ghibli child” (perhaps now a Ghibli adult).
As any admirer of Ghibli would recognise, its works often centre on the fragility of both civilisation and humanity.
This is likely influenced by the philosophical depth of Hayao Miyazaki.
The most evident example is Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, followed by Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
Even Grave of the Fireflies and, more recently, The Boy and the Heron ultimately revolve around the dual axes of civilisation and the human condition.
(For the record, my personal favourites are Laputa, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and From Up on Poppy Hill.)
So, how are Ghibli and quantum theory connected?