Studio Ghibli's Top 20 Films of All Time
It's cinematic anime at it's peak! Join Ashley as we look over what we believe to be the best flicks to ever come from Studio Ghibli
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00:00 Let's roll!
00:01 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down what we believe to be the most magical
00:06 of masterpieces to come from Miyazaki and his legendary studio.
00:11 How do you know my true name?
00:13 You told me yourself.
00:15 Number 20, Pompoko.
00:17 Yes, there is a scene involving Tanuki inflating their you-know-whats in order to take down
00:23 a police squadron.
00:24 It's as weird as it is hilarious.
00:34 But the film is thankfully more than just that, focusing on a community of the shapeshifting
00:39 fluffballs as they try to adapt to the world around them, with their home constantly under
00:45 threat of urban expansion.
00:48 It's one of Ghibli's earliest environmental pieces, and while not exactly the most fluid
00:55 or dynamic of flicks, it's still a fun watch.
00:58 Especially if you're in the mood for some wickedly tripping visuals.
01:08 Number 19, Only Yesterday.
01:14 An intimate examination of how the small pleasures of childhood ultimately give way and can be
01:20 lost to the taxing responsibilities of being an adult, Only Yesterday is a smaller yet
01:26 still beautiful character exploration bursting with all that Ghibli goodness.
01:33 It's certainly heavy on the flashbacks, but thankfully, Taiko's personal journey
01:38 is compelling enough to keep our attention wrapped.
01:41 Thanks to the recent dub bringing it back into our lives, we're grateful this one
01:46 didn't get swept under the rug, given how sweet and soulful the end result was.
02:03 Number 18, From Up On Poppy Hill.
02:12 Granted it does have a somewhat problematic twist that will hit you like a haymaker, though
02:18 one that is thankfully resolved come the climax.
02:21 Which is a major relief, because this is undoubtedly Garo Miyazaki's best work to date.
02:27 It would have been a crime to spoil such a bright, hopeful and uplifting tale of young
02:32 love.
02:33 With the horrors of the Second World War fading into memory, the film follows a group of students
02:38 as they put their best efforts forward to not only try to realise their futures, but
02:43 also leave their mark via the renovation of an iconic clubhouse.
02:48 The goodwill and charm here is downright infectious.
02:56 Number 17, The Cat Returns.
02:59 Who would have guessed a one-off side character from an older Ghibli film could headline his
03:04 own production?
03:06 Good thing too, because The Cat Returns is an utterly delightful venture.
03:18 Happenstance leads to a young girl being taken to the Kingdom of Cats, and a potential marriage
03:23 to their prince.
03:25 Thankfully, the ever-gentlemanly Baron arrives on the scene to cut short the proceedings,
03:31 leading to the best kind of fluffy chaos.
03:38 The swashbuckling nature of the rescue, along with its quick-fire pace, harkens back to
03:43 the adventure flicks of old, though one saturated with Ghibli's signature fantastical edge.
03:50 Plus, it has Tim Curry as the King of Cats – can't go wrong there.
03:55 Number 16, The Boy and the Heron.
04:02 Whether it's his final film or not, Miyazaki has once again shown that he's still got
04:07 it.
04:08 At least when it comes to crafting magical worlds filled with creatures and imagery that
04:12 blends the natural with the macabre.
04:15 As a young boy tries to deal with a change of home in the aftermath of his mother's
04:20 death, the arrival of the titular heron whisks him away on a mission to rescue her.
04:27 Naturally, there's more to it than meets the eye, as for every enchanted entity encountered
04:36 along the way, Mahito must come to grips with what he can and can't change.
04:41 If this is Miyazaki's swan song, then we're thrilled he could end on such a high note.
04:51 Number 15, The Secret World of Arrietty.
05:01 Ghibli has a beautiful track record of taking Western properties – especially books – and
05:06 turning them into charming animated features.
05:10 While light on dramatic and personal stakes, Arrietty still hits its mark.
05:15 The sense of scale is staggering, as Arrietty and her thimble-sized family attempt to make
05:21 a new home for themselves amongst the confines of a lived-in house.
05:26 Their interactions with regular humans might be passé, but it's worth watching alone
05:30 for the scenes in which Arrietty goes about her daily life.
05:34 The creativity practically seeps into the scene, plus the soundtrack is low-key incredible.
05:52 Number 14, The Tale of Princess Kaguya.
05:55 When a bamboo cutter and his wife discover a tiny girl within a stalk of bamboo, their
06:01 lives – and the lives of their village – change forever.
06:05 The first thing that comes to mind with "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" is how undeniably
06:10 gorgeous the film is.
06:12 Boasting an impressive art direction by utilising the ink-washing style, it's clear that this
06:18 is some of the best animation Ghibli has put out to date, courtesy of the masterful late
06:22 director Isao Takahata.
06:34 It's no wonder this film went on to join the ranks of Studio Ghibli gems that have
06:45 been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
06:50 It is criminal that it didn't win.
07:01 Number 13, When Marnie Was There.
07:04 Another literary, western adaptation, another banger.
07:08 Another Ghibli film that will have you openly weeping.
07:15 Upon relocating into the Japanese countryside, quietly hostile Anna finds herself finding
07:20 companionship with the mysterious Marnie.
07:24 While the true nature of Marnie's identity makes for an intriguing plot thread, the true
07:29 joy and crux of the film is the relationship between these girls.
07:33 Their dynamic is the sweetest, with Marnie's curious and compelling nature slowly bringing
07:39 the depressed Anna out of her shell.
07:46 It's a film that explores the beauty and bitter facets of love and friendship, and
07:54 that bonds are something to be treasured no matter how much time passes by.
07:59 Number 12, Ponyo.
08:01 Ready to watch a young human-fish hybrid run on a giant fish-shaped tidal wave just to
08:06 find the boy she likes, as well as get herself a slice of ham?
08:16 Welcome to Ponyo, where the only thing crazier than the visuals are the mother's driving
08:21 skills.
08:22 It's a wild, magical ride, sprinkling in the necessity of protecting the ocean with
08:27 the sweet-natured tale of two kids from two different worlds making the best of their
08:32 time together.
08:33 Doesn't hurt that Ponyo might just be one of Ghibli's cutest creations.
08:41 Number 11, Whisper of the Heart.
08:44 Set in modern-day Japan, the film follows Shizuku and her blossoming romance with violin
08:50 maker Seiji.
09:01 Whisper of the Heart is a deeply personal story about creativity and the ups and downs
09:06 of teenage love, with a few dream sequences for extra fun.
09:11 This film is a notable entry, as it was one of the first Studio Ghibli films to be directed
09:16 by someone other than Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata.
09:20 It's a gorgeous film that showed the promise of director Yoshifumi Kondo, who sadly passed
09:26 away shortly after the film's completion.
09:29 It introduced us to the barren amidst its collection of now-iconic dream sequences,
09:35 and also gave us one hell of a spin on the timeless classic that is "Take Me Home,
09:40 Country Road."
09:41 Caught amidst the tail end of World War II, siblings Sator and Setako endeavour to survive
09:58 in a war-torn Japan.
10:00 Many consider this film to be one of the most heartbreaking anime of all time.
10:05 It's a harsh, realistic look at youth struggling to get by in the darkest of times.
10:14 As unrelentingly sad as it may be, the film's dedication to its tone – in animation, no
10:19 less – has earned it considerable praise.
10:22 Grave of the Fireflies displayed that Studio Ghibli could not just churn out great fantasy,
10:28 but also heart-tugging tragedy and the truth in the same breath.
10:40 What happens when you mix together dogfights, sky pirates, espionage and an anthropomorphic
10:45 pig?
10:47 One of the most bizarre yet entertaining entries in Ghibli's early catalogue.
10:59 A former flying ace turned bouncy hunter, Porco not only has to deal with a curse that
11:04 has left him in his new swine state, but also prepares to test his wings against a rival
11:10 pilot from America – all the while dealing with a spunky new sidekick.
11:14 It's as close to a spy thriller as Ghibli is ever likely to make, helmed by one of their
11:20 most underrated leads.
11:32 If you weren't aware of Miyazaki's adoration for all things aviation, you will be, after
11:37 this homage to the legacy and life of aircraft engineer, Jiro Horikoshi.
11:50 It can be argued that the film chooses to gloss over the destruction that his creations
11:54 caused over the course of World War II.
11:57 But, to be fair, its focus does remain on Jiro's enthusiasm for his craft, as well
12:02 as the tender relationship shared with his beloved wife, which is as wholesome as it
12:08 gets.
12:09 Historical significance aside, the way in which the narrative follows Jiro's career
12:13 paints the picture of a man driven by a desire to simply elevate that which he loves.
12:18 It's a respectful portrayal of a creative genius, painted by another, one that knows
12:24 how to dazzle.
12:34 This was where it all began.
12:36 The story of Pazu and Princess Sheeta's quest to find the fabled flying castle Laputa
12:41 was the first official release from Studio Ghibli.
12:45 Many of the creative team's core elements are on full display – a deeply imaginative
12:50 world, endearing main characters, and excitement and danger at every turn.
13:04 This was the film that set the course for Studio Ghibli's resume for the next 30 years,
13:09 and still holds up even against modern anime of today.
13:13 Many call this a perfect adventure film, and who are we to argue?
13:31 When Satsuki and her younger sister Mei move out to the countryside, the last thing they
13:35 expect to see is a giant, furry beast with a wide-eyed smile.
13:41 That same lovable monster, known as Totoro, has been Studio Ghibli's mascot ever since
13:46 the film debuted.
13:48 While the film doesn't have a lot of conflict, it's not really needed to make a great story.
13:57 Much of that is left to the enjoyable bond between the two sisters, and the unexpected
14:02 adventures they get into with Totoro and his companions.
14:05 It's a film for the ages, plus it has Catbus.
14:10 Everybody loves Catbus.
14:13 So, this one is a little bit of a cheat.
14:21 Nasuka was released just prior to the founding of Studio Ghibli.
14:26 It still showcases the studio's high-quality animation and dedication to fleshing out characters.
14:33 Featured themes of environmentalism and empowering young women to save the day, Nasuka has been
14:39 a title beloved by animation fans worldwide.
14:50 Despite appearing before Ghibli's inception, Nasuka is still regarded as one of their films.
14:57 As such, it has been re-released several times under the Studio Ghibli banner.
15:05 In this coming-of-age classic, young witch Kiki heads off to the big city to learn her
15:16 craft.
15:17 She ends up using her slowly developing powers to run a delivery service for the town she
15:21 resides in.
15:27 Kiki is an instantly likeable character with a drive and optimism that makes her a true
15:33 role model.
15:34 The film also boasts a great amount of humour, particularly from Kiki's adorable sidekick,
15:40 Gigi, and some heart-racing action sequences once Kiki really kicks her broom into high
15:46 gear.
15:47 Seeing Kiki overcome all challenges, personal and external, is part of what makes this comfy
15:52 little film a treat for all audiences.
16:12 Based on the beloved novel, this fantasy flick follows Sophie, an enchanting girl turned
16:17 into an old woman by a wicked witch.
16:20 Searching for a cure, Sophie comes across the wandering castle of Howl, and soon finds
16:25 herself joining a motley crew of eclectic characters.
16:29 Howl's moving castle boasts some of the best quality animation the studio has to offer.
16:34 There's still plenty of room for good story, featuring themes of building confidence and,
16:39 of course, innocent love.
16:41 Howl was so brilliant, it even netted a nomination for Best Animated Feature after its release.
16:49 Princess Mononoke
16:51 In a land where humans are in constant battle with forest spirits, wayward Prince Ashitaka
16:56 teams up with Sen, a girl raised by the wolves of the land, to bring balance and save himself
17:02 from a dreaded curse.
17:05 Majestic, powerful, exciting and gorgeous, Princess Mononoke was a true game-changer.
17:18 With stellar animation, a story of a grandiose scale and some of Ghibli's greatest characters,
17:25 it's no wonder that many consider it the peak of the medium.
17:33 The film's also noteworthy for being one of the studio's more violent films.
17:37 We're talking a hefty amount of blood here.
18:04 It just doesn't get better than this.
18:07 Following young Chihiro's journeys through a supernaturally populated bathhouse, "Spirited
18:12 Away" is a triumph of the imagination.
18:15 There are so many creatures and working parts to this world, that every single frame contains
18:20 something of beauty.
18:22 "Spirited Away's" brilliant storytelling made it an accessible film to even those unfamiliar
18:28 to the anime landscape.
18:35 Decades on, it remains a captivating, haunting and heart-warming escapade that only Ghibli
18:41 and Miyazaki could ever deliver.
18:43 It's a pinnacle film that generations will come to adore ad infinitum.
18:54 Which Ghibli film is your favourite?
18:57 Let us know in the comments below.
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