The 10 most wonderful films by Studio Ghibli

Since its conception almost 30 years ago, Studio Ghibli has taken on iconic status across the globe both for its profound anime masterpieces and the legends surrounding its visionary director Hayo Miyazaki. But with Miyazaki's retirement and the studio's recent announcement of a temporary halt in production, there's not been much for Ghibli fans to smile about since the release of The Wind Rises back in May. Bearing that in mind, here's my take on the 10 most wonderful films by Studio Ghibli. 

                                                      10. Porco Rosso (1992)
Telling the story of a famed fighter pilot turned bounty hunter, Porco Rosso certainly doesn't sound like traditional Ghibli fodder. Then comes Miyazaki's twist: a curse has transformed Porco into an anthropomorphic pig. Making intelligent use of the culture and politics of its interwar setting, the film is a brilliantly entertaining yarn, but also uses its bizarre premise to make genuine, touching observations on the human condition.

9. Whisper of the Heart (1995)

Ghibli's most perfect love story, Whisper of the Heart is a charming account of growing up told through the eyes of a 14-year old. Rather than overplaying the usual fantasy and mysticism, the film revels in its own (comparative) normality; Shizuku Tsukishima is an ordinary girl with a love of reading, a disapproving family and a crush on a boy who's moving away. It's perhaps the studio's most relatable movie, and a heartfelt plea to pursue your dreams rather than settle for the ordinary. 

8. The Wind Rises (2013)
For the emotional farewell to studio founder Hayo Miyazaki, the biopic of the inventor of the Mitsubishi "Zero Fighter" initially seemed a strange choice of subject matter. However, Jiro Horikoshi's increasing despair as the planes inspired by his love of exploration become tools for slaughter is a perfect canvas for Miyazaki. Returning once again to themes of nature versus industry, scenes of the blissful Japanese countryside are wickedly contrasted with the war's destruction to make the conflict all the more moving. 

7. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
When the young Sophie is aged seventy years by an evil witch, she finds the legendary walking castle owned by Howl, the only wizard capable of returning her to youth. Making use of improved animation technology without abandoning Ghibli's hand-drawn roots, the film features some of the studio's most jaw-dropping art-particularly impressive is the moving castle itself; a colossal hulk of wheezing iron and escaping steam. Drawing inspiration from The Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz, Howl is a rambling, expansive exploration in high fantasy. 


6. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Produced before Ghibli was even founded (but included in this list because the team behind it went on to found the studio), Nausicaä is remarkable in that it shares all of the morality, artistic vision and sheer beauty of the films Ghibli would go on to produce. Its story weaves the peaceful folk of The Valley of the Wind and their princess Nausicaä with an industrialized kingdom attempting to destroy a jungle of mutant insects; a thematically complex affair reflecting Miyazaki's already passionate environmental beliefs. As always with Ghibli films it's full of fantastic characters, but it's the sympathetic portrayal of the victimized insect Ohmu that stays longest in the mind. A startling intelligent anime, Nausicaä remains a gloriously thrilling picture while preaching its far-reaching messages. 

5. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
The most wonderfully innocent of all Ghibli films (and perhaps films full stop), My Neighbor Totoro follows two young girls whose mother is recovering from a long-term illness. Lonely and confused, the pair's outdoor exploration leads them to discover the magical creatures living in the forest near their house led by Totoro, the spirit of the forest who appears in the form of an enormous rabbit-like animal. Fear turns quickly to joy as Totoro helps the girls overcome their sadness (the film is at times startlingly reflective and poignant) and rekindle their scattered relationships with their parents, all told through strangely comforting art and music. A film of indescribable beauty and perfection, Totoro launched Ghibli's name and has served as the studio's logo and mascot ever since. 


4. Castle in the Sky (1986)
Borrowing heavily from Gulliver's Travels, Castle in the Sky is a hugely funny and tremendously entertaining movie. Bringing together a girl, a boy, a magical amulet, a floating city, a sinister government and a host of undeniably likable and hilarious characters, the film has all the elements of the perfect fantasy blockbuster, and uses them to the full. Filled with spine tingling set pieces and explosive action sequences, you'd be forgiven for assuming that Ghibli's traditional beliefs were left at the roadside on this one, but that's not the case at all. In fact, Castle in the Sky is arguably superior to most Ghibli films in its presentation of the struggle between man and the environment in that it portrays technology and nature working in cohesion, nature stimulating invention while machines help to sustain the natural environment. And, for my money, its music (particularly its theme) is the best in any Ghibli film. 

3. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
And now for something completely different. Grave of the Fireflies is a shockingly intense, utterly horrifying war film and is about as far from the usual Ghibli movie (and the usual war film) as it's possible to be. Rather than following the heroics of soldiers on the front line, the film presents a startling account of the lives of two Japanese children forced to cope with the loss of their parents, the threat of bombing raids and a constant battle with starvation during the final years of the Second World War. The usual Ghibli charm is totally absent here, it's a dark, brutally realistic portrait of the horrors of human conflict, but the studio's usual quality of animation, writing and direction makes it all the more powerful and frightening. For all Ghibli's belief in environmental sustainability this is by far their most meaningful film, the passion and faith of its anti-war message reflected in the terrifying changes hardship evokes in its characters. Moving to the point of tear-jerking, Grave of the Fireflies was a game-changing movie not just for Ghibli but for anime as a whole, giving animators the permission to explore topics far beyond their usual realms of gods, monsters and dystopian futures. Harrowing. 

2. Spirited Away (2001) 

Much like Lewis Carroll's novel, Hayo Miyazaki's take on Alice in Wonderland is a bizarre, spiritual and utterly gorgeous work of genius. When her parents are transformed into pigs in an apparently uninhabited theme park, ten-year old Chihiro delves into a ludicrous, regularly disturbing spirit world as she attempts to win them back. Miyazaki's phenomenal creativity is at its very best in the creation of a beautifully varied cast of characters, and artistically Spirited Away feels like a culmination of all Ghibli's work; each frame an explosion of colour and a masterclass in artistic craftsmanship. The art isn't just for aesthetic value either; the simplicity of the appearance of the spirit No Face makes him all the more scary by comparison to more detailed, elaborate creatures. It's a truly frightening film at times too, although the fearful tone is carefully lifted as the movie goes on as Chihiro becomes more and more at home in her new world. It's not as pushy in its messages as some, but this only furthers the fairytale atmosphere of the piece; this is art for art, not for politics. Deserved winner of the Oscar for best animated feature, Spirited Away is an exquisite film that truly justifies Miyazaki's status as a visionary. 

1. Princess Mononoke (1997)
For me, Princess Mononoke encapsulates everything Studio Ghibli films are about. There's an epic, hugely ambitious storyline of demons, gods and warriors. There's magnificent, perfectly drawn and painted artwork.. And there's a frank message on the harsh realities of environmental destruction. The film studies religion, the ruination of ancient culture and humanity's relationship with the animal kingdom (the titular princess was, rather wonderfully, raised by wolves) , but its moral values are only part of the picture. Princess Mononoke is a deliciously enjoyable tale of epic fantasy full of intense violence juxtaposed with natural imagery, and it's also technologically inventive and at times exceptionally witty. Described as "The Star Wars of anime", the film takes existing archetypes and themes and employs them to create the perfect hero tale without every seeming cliched. Intelligent, fast paced and thrilling, Princess Monokoke tells us almost as much about the futility of war as Grave of the Fireflies does, but remains a fiercely entertaining film. Like so many on this list, Princess Mononoke is a true masterpiece.  Not content to be one of the best anime movies around, it's up there among the greatest films ever made.