Note: In all fairness, there are a few films from Studio Ghibli that I haven't seen; so any of those movies could not qualify for this list.
It's very rare to see a war movie told from the perspective of the victims; not the losers, but the citizens. Most war movies (especially older ones) show war as this glorious, honorable, and brave act meant to make the world a better place. It's only fairly recently (the past few decades) that movies show war how it really is, hell. "Grave of the Fireflies" shows that war is worse than hell, because many of those affected are innocent. The movie tells the story of a teen boy and his young sister living in Japan during World War 2. After their mother is killed in an air raid, they are left orphaned and have to survive in a country that's being torn apart. "Grave of the Fireflies" is a brutal, and heart wrenching film; and may be Studio Ghibli's most emotional and impactful. Often considered one of the studio's best, when you walk away from this movie there will probably be tears in your eyes.
I've
seen just about every film from Studio Ghibli, but this was the only one that
I've actually seen in the theater; on top of that, I drove like 40 something
miles to see it. I'm always interested in a Ghibli movie, but this one was
particularly interesting to me. The story is based off of one of Japan's oldest
stories, "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter." One day when a bamboo
cutter is exploring a forest, he finds a miniature girl inside a bamboo stock. Believing
her to be divine, he and his wife decide to raise her and call her Princess. In
an attempt to give her a life of nobility, the bamboo cutter moves the Princess
to the capital and engulfs her in "civilized" society. Eventually she
is accepted and becomes known for her beauty, but all the money in the world
can't bring her the happiness she desires. "The Tale of the Princess
Kaguya" has all the traditional qualities of a great Studio Ghibli film:
writing, directing, voice acting, etc.; but what really sets this movie apart
is its animation. Drawn in traditional water painting, this is the most
beautiful hand drawn movie I've ever seen. The visual design is stunning, and
works great with the animation style. While "The Tale of the Princess
Kaguya" might lack any true central conflict that makes it somewhat less
compelling than other Studio Ghibli films, "The Tale of the Princess
Kaguya" shows that thirty years after the founding of the studio, Ghibli's
still got it.
Alright,
so technically this one isn't actually a Studio Ghibli film. "Nausicaä of
the Valley of the Wind" was released in 1984, shortly before the creation
of the studio, but its success lead to the launch of Ghibli. And like most of
the studio's movies, Hayao Miyazaki directed this one as well. So while
not actually produced by Studio Ghibli, many include it in their filmography.
The story takes place in a world ravaged by a war from a thousand years ago
that destroyed all of civilization, and created a toxic jungle (filled with
poison and giant insects) that has taken over most of what's left of the world.
Nausicaä is a princess from a small village, who explores the forests and
attempts to learn more about the giant insects. One day a cargo ship crashes
near her village, containing one of the bio-weapons used in the ancient war.
Determined to not let the world be destroyed again, she sets out to stop those
who plan on using it. "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" is one of
Miyazaki's darker films, and isn't very suitable for kids. With stunning
animation, interesting lore, and an exceptional lead character, "Nausicaä
of the Valley of the Wind" started Studio Ghibli and stands as one of
their best works.
The
thing about "Castle in the Sky" is that it has to be Studio Ghibli's
most underrated film. Of every movie the studio has put out, I feel that this
is one that rarely gets mentioned among the Studio's best. One of Ghibli's
earlier films, "Castle in the Sky" has to be one of their most
magical. Sheeta is a young woman who has been abducted by the government and is
being transported by airship; but after being attacked by pirates she falls
from the ship but manages to survive due to a magical amulet she carries. She's
rescued by a young man living in a town below. The two are then continued to be
hunted by the government and the pirates, so the two set out to discover the
origins of the amulet and escape those pursuing them. "Castle in the
Sky" is a truly wonderful and fascinating film. With lovable characters,
an exciting story, and beautiful visual design, this isn't just Studio Ghibli's
most underrated; it's one of their best.
Of
all of Studio Ghibli's movies, this has to be their most violent and
disturbing. The story revolves around Ashitaka, a young princess from a
remote village. One day Ashitaka's village is attacked by a demon; he fights
and kills the demon but is injured in the process and becomes cursed. He sets
out to discover what brought the demon to his village, which was once a boar
God who turned corrupt. Along the way he comes upon an industrial village that
is at war with a wolf pack and a young woman who fights alongside them; but
when Ashitaka discovers the village's true intentions, what he must do
becomes clear. "Princess Mononoke" is dark, violent, haunting, and
absolutely beautiful. This is very arguably Studio Ghibli's best movie, and
it's certainly a fan favorite among many. With a compelling story, great
characters, and awe-inspiring visual design, "Princess Mononoke"
ranks among the best animated films of all time.
Shocker,
huh? I think most wouldn't find it very surprising that "Spirited
Away" tops this list, considering it is widely regarded as one of the, if
not the, best animated films of all time. Studio Ghibli has created many
astonishing movies over the years, but "Spirited Away" just has
something special about it. The story follows a young girl named Chihiro,
as she is in the process of moving. While traveling with her parents, her dad
decides to make a detour, and stops off at what appear to be a festival of some
sorts. While her parents gorge themselves on a feast, Chihiro realizes
something is wrong; her, and her family, have crossed into the world of
spirits. Her parents have eaten themselves into debt, and Chihiro must
work at a bathhouse for spirits to pay off her debt. What makes "Spirited
Away" so special is that it is much more than meets the eye. What comes
off as a kid's movie at first is actually an allegory for child slavery. Filled
with unique characters, interesting plot lines, and some of the most
astonishing hand drawn animation you'll ever see in a movie, "Spirited
Away" ranks among the greats. Studio Ghibli has created many great films
among the years, but in my opinion, "Spirited Away" is their best.
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