Maybe Studio Ghibli will finally let Star Wars characters enjoy food

Quick: What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Star Wars food?” It’s a safe bet that most people either think of blue or green milk, or the roasted Porg from The Last Jedi. That’s odd, given that the franchise has so much room for sumptuous feasts: It now amounts to nine mainline movies, two stand-alone live-action films, an animated film, four recent live-action TV series, and nearly two decades of canon animated shows. Even though Star Wars is a long series, almost no one has the time to have a good meal. But there’s always a chance that could change with Lucasfilm’s teased collaboration with Japan’s Studio Ghibli.

Star Wars has a very limited selection of delicious food for a franchise that is so large. The menu in the Star Wars area at Disney theme parks, Galaxy’s Edge, contains a lot of proper nouns and food coloring, but very little of it actually screams Star Wars, except for Blue Bantha, which again is just blue milk. The same goes for the recipe page on StarWars.com; it’s heavy on arts-and-crafts-style concoctions that look like Star Wars characters, which is a far cry from A Feast of Ice and Fire, The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook. I can tell you Sansa Stark’s favorite dessert is lemon cakes. I have no idea whether Luke Skywalker actually likes green milk — his expression when he’s drinking it in Last Jedi, and the bit he leaves dribbling from his mouth, says he probably doesn’t.

Image: Lucasfilm/Disney

Studio Ghibli could tackle Star Wars stories, making it a great opportunity for Star Wars characters. enjoy food. Ghibli movie fans are certain to recognize several food scenes from Ghibli movies: the iconic scene with the food stand. Get Spirited AwayThe extravagant breakfast Howl’s Moving CastleThe tempting Ramen In Ponyo.

A key distinction here is that food doesn’t just sit around in the background in a Studio Ghibli film. It’s a centerpiece; it’s something for companions to enjoy and revel in together. It’s a centerpiece. Howl’s Moving CastleSophie assumes her role as a cook and makes connections with her family. In PonyoWhen she experiences the first bite of its food, the fish-girl discovers something new about the world.

You can even use food as a lure, just like the in Get Spirited Away, it’s depicted with loving detail meant to ensure that the audience falls for that trap too. Characters want to enjoy food in Studio Ghibli films, and watching those scenes, it’s easy to empathize. Food is part of the human experience, and by lovingly depicting the fat and oil and running juices, Studio Ghibli drags the audience into its characters’ viewpoints — and their rumbling stomachs.

Image: Studio Ghibli

Star Wars: The Original Series does feature food. There’s a plethora of fruit on display throughout the setting: Shmi’s fruit bowl in The Phantom MenaceNaboo In: Anakin, Padme and Padme are able to levitate pears. Attack of the ClonesIn the Karn household, Breakfast Andor. Darth Vader provides refreshments for Han Solo, Leia and Leia. The Empire Strikes back. But none of it is shot like it’s meant to be craveable.

The few times we do see people savor food in Star Wars, it’s often a joke at someone’s expense. Jabba The Hutt eats the grunting frog-creature. The Return of the JediGrogu, the Grogu saucing precious unfertilized eggs from frog-persons in Mandalorian. Chewbacca is seen roasting a Porg, which looks exactly like a rotisserie Cornishhen hen. After being tempted by the horror-stricken stares of other Porgs to set it down, Chewbacca becomes the star of Star Wars.

Andor, Star Wars’ latest and most grounded installment, no one enjoys eating. The Mon Mothma family’s meals are stressful affairs. Family members spend more time passive-aggressively complaining about each other than finishing the meal. Syril Karn, the wannabe fascist and absolute failson, glowers at his cereal puffs in blue milk while trying to avoid the worst of his mother’s jabs, and we see no sign of the home-cooked meals his mother supposedly prepares.

Image: Lucasfilm/Disney

Star Wars markets as seen in The Phantom Menace, MandalorianPlease see the following: Obi-Wan KenobiThey are full of street food that no one of our characters has time to enjoy. Obi-Wan in his titular show cuts little slices of alien sashimi out in the desert air day after day, but it’s depicted as an assembly line of grimly faced people slaving away for little pay. There is food everywhere. However, who is actually in this far-flung galaxy? wants it?

Yes, I want it. It is what I desire. Star Wars must be full oil-slicked and slightly charred meats. As people eat the alien fruits with passion, I would like to see their tart juice erupt. My dream is to watch hungry characters eat together a well-prepared meal. Star Wars doesn’t need ASMR food scenes, but for a franchise that’s currently so focused on dialing its traditional action down to a more human scale and more relatable stories, never showing characters indulging in one of life’s greatest joys feels like a missed opportunity. Studio Ghibli can let Star Wars characters enjoy some food, making Star Wars feel more natural and more human.