Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Technically released before Studio Ghibli was established, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a post-apocalyptic science fiction adventure. It follows princess and skilled fighter Nausicaä as she makes her way through life 1000 years after the conflict that wiped out civilization. Her endeavours to protect her town from an ecological catastrophe are the focus of Hayao Miyazaki’s story, which he also wrote and directed. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is one of the best science fiction films ever made and a classic example of Miyazaki’s superb word-building.
My Neighbour Totoro
The wonderful story of a family who goes to the country and learns that the area is populated by mystical spirits from the forest is told in the animated film My Neighbour Totoro. With some of Ghibli’s best landscapes, art direction, and character designs, this movie is a true visual and acoustic feast.
Other than Spirited Away, Totoro is without a doubt one of the most recognisable Ghibli flicks. It’s a movie that exhibits many of Ghibli’s best traits, being a wonderfully sweet and artistically attractive adventure that both children and adults can enjoy and relate to. Many of the characters are distinctive and unforgettable.
Princess Mononoke
One of Studio Ghibli’s most significant worldwide successes is Princess Mononoke. It has the feel of a fantasy-adventure movie, at first, but it is actually a story about how man interacts with nature, bringing to mind topics that Studio Ghibli has frequently explored throughout its history. The natural order of things has been upset by human creation. Mononoke, possibly Ghibli’s most narratively complex work, contains a depth of storytelling and visual magnificence that this merely scratches the surface of. It is Miyazaki in a profoundly philosophical mood, addressing questions about agency, human nature, and moral complexity rather than producing a movie with a educational message about protecting the environment.
Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle, which tells the tale of a young woman who is cursed with the look and traits of an old bitter witch, is arguably the most surreal Ghibli film. In order to remove the spell, she must meet a timid young wizard. However, their bond quickly deepens and becomes more intertwined.
Regarding scale and setting, this movie has the sense of one of Ghibli’s biggest works. It features some incredibly colourful and appealing settings, such as lovely countryside and landscapes, quaint tiny towns, and, of course, the infamous moving castle. Because of the increased complexity in its whimsical presentation, this movie has the impression that every part was created in its own magical world.
Spirited Away
It should come as no surprise that Spirited Away, one of the most acclaimed and beloved animated films of all time, is the highest-rated studio Ghibli production. The stunning animation, imaginative and vast worldbuilding, and masterfully handled narrative about a young girl who is inexplicably transported to an enchanted world full of wondrous spirits and animals all contribute to this movie’s well-deserved popularity.
Even though Spirited Away takes place in a mythical setting with fictitious people, it portrays one of the most profoundly human stories. The movie offers an equally charming and eerie portrayal of the significance of one’s self and is quite mature and real with the issues it chooses to explore.
