Like a Religious Experience: How This Studio Ghibli Masterpiece Inspired the Co-Creator of 'Avatar'

It is no secret that Avatar: The Last Airbender is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated series ever created. But the groundbreaking Western masterpiece might never have existed if its co-creator hadn't walked into a movie theater and experienced a profound creative awakening.

Series co-creator Bryan Konietzko recently shared how legendary director Hayao Miyazaki’s 1997 epic Princess Mononoke fundamentally altered his career path, steering him permanently toward the world of professional animation. Describing the moment he first watched the Studio Ghibli masterpiece, Konietzko recalled it as a deeply personal and spiritual turning point.

"[Watching] it was like a religious experience for me," Konietzko revealed. "I came out and I said, 'That's what I wanna do with the rest of my life.'"

Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke set a new standard for maturity and spiritual depth in animation.

Tracing the Studio Ghibli DNA in the World of Avatar

Konietzko’s visceral reaction underscores the powerful, lasting ripple effect that classic Japanese anime has had on modern Western storytelling. Before Princess Mononoke hit global screens, mainstream Western animation was largely confined to lighthearted, family-friendly musical formats. Miyazaki proved that an animated story could carry massive environmental spirituality, dark wartime ethics, deep moral gray areas, and crushing emotional weight—all without sacrificing its core sense of magical wonder.

That exact creative philosophy is deeply woven into the fabric of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The most striking parallel lies in how both universes treat nature and the supernatural. In both stories, spiritual forces are not just abstract magical concepts; they are living, breathing entities tied directly to the health of the earth.

Avatar's ancient forest guardian, Hei Bai, directly echoes Miyazaki's environmental themes.

When industrial expansion, human greed, and aggressive warfare disrupt the natural order, the spirits react. Avatar's ancient, territorial forest spirits—like the multi-faced Koh or the corrupted guardian Hei Bai—powerfully echo the ancient, vengeful boar and wolf gods fighting back against human loggers in the deep forests of Princess Mononoke.

Moving Past Simple "Good vs. Evil" Villains

Beyond the environmental themes, Miyazaki's influence heavily shaped the psychological maturity of Avatar. The series famously rejects lazy "good-versus-evil" tropes. Just like Lady Eboshi in Princess Mononoke—who destroys the forest but does so to feed and shelter outcasts—villains and conflicted characters in the Fire Nation act out of survival, deeply ingrained duty, nationalistic pride, and trauma.

The tribute to Ghibli doesn't stop there. The fierce, uncompromising energy of heroines like Katara and Toph mirrors the fearless independence of Mononoke's San. Meanwhile, beloved fantasy creatures like Team Avatar's six-legged flying bison, Appa, serve as a beautiful, direct nod to Miyazaki's iconic, giant animal companions.

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Over to You!

Can you see the Studio Ghibli influence when you rewatch the original Avatar series? Which spiritual arc in the show is your absolute favorite? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!