Margaret Cartee

In honor of Miyazaki’s final film, “The Boy and the Heron,” which released Friday, here’s a list of my favorite Ghibli films to introduce viewers to the magical adventures that await in the Ghibli world.

I never enjoyed animated movies. The shallow dialogue, cliché themes and predictable storylines offered little substance to fulfill my imaginative mind. 

My interest in animation only began when I learned Studio Ghibli films had left my friends on the verge of tears. After seeing Studio Ghibli art all over my Pinterest feed, I decided to give animated films one more chance by watching “Howl’s Moving Castle.” Filled with stunning visuals, comforting characters and masterful soundtracks, the film left me with a new appreciation for animation. As I continued watching Studio Ghibli films, I found myself resonating with the movies on an emotional level. 

Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki produced 14 Studio Ghibli films throughout his career. New Studio Ghibli fans may wonder, “Which one is best?” In honor of Miyazaki’s final film, “The Boy and the Heron,” which released Friday, here’s a list of my favorite Ghibli films to introduce viewers to the magical adventures that await in the Ghibli world. 

5. “Kiki’s Delivery Service”

As the title suggests, “Kiki’s Delivery Service” follows a young witch named Kiki as she travels to a new town, stumbles upon a cozy bakery and finds a job delivering baked goods to customers. However, Kiki is not just your typical delivery girl. She flies around town on her broomstick — a special perk that comes with being a young witch — and easily makes friends with her bubbly personality.

In my eyes, Kiki’s innocent and quirky personality makes her so lovable and cute. Watching her adventures as a delivery girl, I felt like a child again, carefree and full of life. Kiki also owns an adorable black cat named Jiji. I mean, even his name is cute. Jiji adds comedic relief to the film as he always manages to get himself into sticky situations. Jiji’s funny character, combined with the movie’s dynamic plot and picturesque visuals, make it an enjoyable watch. Although the movie excels visually and comedically, some viewers may find the more basic nature of the plot boring as Kiki faces no major conflicts.

4. “My Neighbor Totoro”

When many people think of Studio Ghibli, they think of “My Neighbor Totoro”. And if they don’t know the name Totoro, they will most likely recognize the chubby, gray creature that has become the face of Ghibli. In the movie, two young sisters move to a new home in the Japanese countryside, where they meet Totoro. The sisters soon form a close bond with the creature and routinely visit him in his forest. I especially enjoyed watching how Totoro brings a new level of excitement into the girls’ lives. Since he possesses the ability to fly, he often pilots them across the forest, bringing them to new heights and allowing them to truly see the world’s beauty.

Watching the two siblings argue also reminded me of my interactions with my younger sister, allowing me to further immerse myself in the movie. However, the childish elements of the film, such as the immature behavior of the young sisters and the whimsical creatures, may not appeal to more mature audiences. Nonetheless, Miyazaki’s stunning animations combined with his lovable characters make Totoro a comforting and nostalgic movie to watch.

3. “Ponyo”

“Ponyo” takes an interesting approach to portraying friendship. I deeply admire how the two main characters never fear showing their true selves around one another. The movie centers around Ponyo, a small red goldfish who later transforms into a young, red-headed girl. She befriends a young boy, and together, the two form a deep friendship despite their different origins. Watching their friendship reminded me of my childhood, prompting me to reminisce about my adventures with my elementary school friends.

Combined with the dynamic storyline, the relationship between the two children creates an incredibly engaging movie. Ponyo and the boy embody free-spirited youthfulness and always let their curiosity steer their decision making. Through watching their interactions, I felt as if I was vicariously experiencing the freedom I craved as a child. “Ponyo” also contains beautiful scenes of the Japanese sea-scape and Ponyo’s underwater home. Because the plot of the movie is quite fast paced, it is definitely one of the most interesting Studio Ghibli movies I have watched.

2. “Howl’s Moving Castle”

“Howl’s Moving Castle” will forever hold a special place in my heart: it was the first Studio Ghibli movie I watched and is also a prime example of Miyazaki’s genius. As the name indicates, Howl is the owner of a moving “castle.” In reality, the castle is a messy wooden and metal structure that travels on mechanical legs. The movie includes several unusual elements, such as a talking fire demon and a flying dog. Miyazaki’s creativity in crafting such unique characters truly amazed me.

My favorite aspect of this movie has to be the love that grows between Howl and Sophie, the female protagonist. At some points, I found myself giggling and kicking my feet watching their interactions and at others, tearing up because of how beautiful their bond was. The two would quite literally die for one another, and both risk their lives just to ensure the other’s safety. “Howl’s Moving Castle” truly differed from any other animated movie I experienced. It was impactful, unpredictable and incredibly unique. The soundtrack for this movie, a perfect mix of poignant and exciting melodies, blew me away as well. 

1. “Spirited Away”

Words are not enough to describe how perfect “Spirited Away” is. It is jaw dropping, showstopping, amazing, spectacular, best movie ever made — I could go on forever. The story takes you on an emotional rollercoaster as the 10-year-old protagonist, Sen, accidentally finds herself trapped in a spirit world and befriends a 12-year-old boy named Haku, who puts his own life on the line to guide Sen through this unfamiliar world.

Miyazaki’s masterful portrayal of the bond between the two allowed their care for one another to evidently show through the screen, making their dynamic my favorite across not only all Ghibli films but also across all animated films. Before watching this movie, I never imagined I could grow so emotionally attached to a friendship.

“Spirited Away” is also such a unique movie due to the plethora of eclectic creatures, such as human-sized frogs and the infamous “no-face” mask creature, that inhabit the spirit world. Miyazaki’s creativity in designing such unique characters makes the movie an unforgettable experience that leaves you questioning what you just witnessed — in the best way possible. Such bizarre events just worked to immerse me more in the storyline, so much so that I felt like I was right alongside Sen, experiencing her chaotic adventures even as the credits rolled. I yearned to revisit the spirit world again and recapture the thrill that captivated me through the screen.

“Spirited Away” also boasts one of the greatest soundtracks of all time. Joe Hisaishi seamlessly weaves the music in “Spirited Away” into the unfolding scenes and perfectly captures the sentiments that define the movie: nostalgia, suspense and wonder. There is never a dull moment in this movie, and despite rewatching the movie over five times, I am still unable to fully comprehend the magic that it holds.