Making a list of the best Studio Ghibli films is never an easy task, as every film is good on its own. Some have better characters, while others have a great storyline.
No one can ignore the impact of this production studio on anime and making it a worldwide phenomenon; Studio Ghibli is undoubtedly Japan’s pride. Therefore, today we will be listing the best movies ever produced by Ghibli Studios that you cannot afford to miss out!
Best Studio Ghibli films that a newbie should watch are listed ahead!
1. Grave of Fireflies
It is hand down the best work from Isao Takahata, who also serves as the co-founder of the studio. The film tells the story of two young siblings who are orphaned during the spoils of World War 2.
They struggle to live a normal life and childish innocence even as all hope dies around them. It is the Studio’s most disturbing film. It is the film that will make you emotional, and one or two tears will definitely shed from your eyes.
2. Princess Mononoke
It is regarded as one of the best anime films of all time, it has a huge impact on anime culture, and many references are drawn to other anime properties.
It features an incredible story, characters, creatures, a stirring romance, beautiful scenery, epic war sequences, and beautiful animation. This fantasy film is set in Japan and tells the story of a young prince Ashitaka who finds himself stricken by a curse that will eventually kill him, and now he must find a cure.
3. Spirited Away
It is one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time and ranks second in the list. It is the most popular anime film around the world and has also won an Academy Award in the Best Animated Feature Film Category.
It is a beautifully animated film that tells the story of a young girl named Chihiro Ogino, whose parents, while going to their new home, take a wrong turn and find themselves transformed into pigs. Now she must work and ultimately go on a well-realized coming-of-age adventure in order to get her parents back.
4. My Neighbor Totoro
Well, words will be less to describe this; it is an emotion that this film will keep people across ages stuck to their sofa and shed a tear. This film is directed by the great Hayo Miyazaki san, which touches that every viewer can feel. It is one of the early works of him.
It is the magical world of Miyazaki that we all loved this film and can relate to our younger days. The film tells the story of Satsuki and Mei, who are two young daughters of a professor, who recently moved to their new house which is near to the hospital where their mother is admitted.
They befriend a forest spirit and name him Totoro, with whom they go on adventures around the forest.
5. Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle is a gripping tale of love and a magical journey, all stacked up into a beautiful anime film. It has various impacts on pop culture. The story centers around a young girl named Sophie, who works in a hat shop.
She is suddenly changed into an old woman, and now she has to find the mysterious wizard Howl, whose moving castle and magical powers are well-known in the town rumor.
Howl’s friends include a fire demon named Calcifer, a scarecrow. As the powers of Howl’s wizardry are revealed, and his relationship with Sophie deepens, our heroine finds herself fighting to protect them both from a dangerous war of sorcery that threatens their world.
6. Porco Rosso
Porco Rosso is a more adult-themed film from the House that tackles the life of a World War 1 veteran who becomes a bounty hunter and searches for air pirates.
The one thing that makes Porco Rosso a little more on the animated side is the protagonist is an anthropomorphic pig. It is based on Hikōtei Jidai, a three-part 1989 watercolor manga by Miyazaki. The action/adventure comedy has several elements of other classic films like Raiders of the Lost Ark.
7. Ponyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bskgNOXbdiE
Ponyo is the fourth-highest-grossing anime film of all time. It is a film that features uplifting themes, visual design, and an incredible story that appeals to young children and all audiences.
It tells the story of a goldfish named Ponyo, who escapes from the ocean and is rescued by a five-year-old human boy, Sōsuke, after she is washed ashore while trapped in a glass jar. The film deals with a theme that features an aromatic tale between these two, and Ponyo desires to become a human girl in order to be with Sōsuke.
8. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
It was made before the inception of Studio Ghibli but this anime film is often categorized into the Studio Ghibli canon. It is based on the manga of the same name by Miyazaki, it is set in a post-apocalyptic era, featuring a world overrun by insects and fungus. Nausicaä and her brave friends and accomplices, together with the people of the Valley, strive to restore the bond between humanity and the earth as they must defeat the evil forces
9. Kiki’s Delivery Service
this movie is one of the finest works of Hayao Miyazaki. It follows the story of a witch named Kiki, who leaves her hometown when she turns 13 and now has to be independent as the law of witches finds herself working in a baker and later on starts her own delivery service in order to survive.
The film story is simple, but the emotional relationship between Kiki and her various customers is worth the watch. It stands as one of Miyazaki’s most simple but impactful coming-of-age stories.
10. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM6hcHp0_kU
It is the final film of Isao Takahata before he passed away in 2018. It is the retelling of the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, a 10th-century Japanese literary tale.
It was also nominated for an Academy Award and remains one of their finest works from him. The animation of the film feels unique. and cannot be replicated by anyone in the way that this film showcases.
Honorable Mention for the Adults
Hajimete no Hitozuma
Episode 1 and 2: Yoshino Kanako finds joy in her marriage with Tomoya as they anticipate starting a family. However, her happiness is challenged when she encounters her father-in-law, Makoto, with whom she shares a troubled past.
Seven years ago, Kanako engaged in a regrettable encounter with Makoto, something she never divulged to her husband. Now faced with the dilemma of secrecy, Makoto offers to keep her secret on the condition of rekindling their intimacy.
Episode 3: Kanae hopes for her son Kazu’s assistance in moving, only to discover he’s occupied with “club activities.” In a pinch, Kazu seeks aid from Koizumi, a senior colleague at a moving company. Struggling with financial constraints, they’re left with limited options to settle the bill.
Episode 4: Amidst attempting to gather her thoughts during a challenging moment, Kawai, known for her promiscuity, unexpectedly disrupts the situation, adding to the embarrassment.
