Studio Ghibli: Ranked

Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation film studio founded in 1985 by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki, is simply one of the best movie studios in the world.

Since its foundation, it released movies within a span of fewer than two years, until a big hiatus after Miyazaki retired in 2014.

They later returned and released a god-awful film in 2020. Soon after Miyazaki announced he would return for one last project titled “How do you live” which is set to be released in 2023, but still little is known about this upcoming release.

Growing up in the western culture, I did not watch most of these films until recently. It is common to hear that most kids (myself included) grew up watching nearly every Disney movie and many from other big studios.

While there are certainly many great films by these studios, they also had some huge flops. Studio Ghibli on the other hand has demonstrated that they can consistently release great works of art with mind-blowing animation.

Although we haven’t had a good movie by this studio since 2014, they have a huge catalog that is worth revisiting. Of course not every single one of these films is a banger, however, with very few exceptions, most of these are at the very least both entertaining and compelling.

So, without further ado, let’s get into Studio Ghibli’s ranking.

23. Earwig And The Witch (2020)

This should come as no surprise to most, if not all of you.

This movie was directed by Gorō Miyazaki. Yes, the son of legendary Hayao Miyazaki. It was the first and only movie to be 3D CG animated and it looks just terrible. The first toy story film looks more polished than this and it was released IN 1995. 25 full years before.

It just looks so bland, like it was a test release way before it was finished. The films by studio ghibli have always been characterized by having beautiful and jaw-dropping handmade animation, full of vibrant landscapes, expressive characters, and overall full of life. This has absolutely none of that.

Going now to the story, it is perhaps even worse. The main character is a boring and spoiled brat who manipulates people into getting her way and ends the story in the exact same way. Nobody learns anything, there is no lesson learned. And this wouldn’t matter that much, not every protagonist needs to have an arc just like Paddington for example. But at least the journey should be entertaining and satisfying. Someone should change or learn or achieve something. The only thing that happens is that out of nowhere she is treated better by the awful witch that adopted her just because she made another underdeveloped character angry.

And the worst thing is that the movie implies some sort of depth and more backstory to them, and just when something mildly interesting happens, IT ENDS. It just cuts to credits, nada, adios.

This was just painfully infuriating to watch and it should just be scrapped from Ghibli’s catalog altogether.

22. Ocean Waves (1993)

This is what I think is the second bad film in Ghibli’s catalog. The separation between the bottom two of this list with the rest of them is just abysmal, and even this is much better than the last one.

That being said, this is still a very bad movie. It was done by the younger team of the studio, consisting of animators in their 20s and early 30s, with the idea of making a simple, cheap and endearing movie.

However, this film went over budget and over schedule, and the end product doesn’t look like it was worth the trade-off. The main reason for this is that the love interest is just so annoying.

It follows a love triangle between two best friends and the new girl who arrives from Tokyo. However, the girl is even more annoying and spoiled than Earwig. She is always complaining about the stupidest things and throws the stupidest tantrums over nothing.

Meanwhile, the two boys are just blank canvases with no distinctive personalities.

It is almost funny how near the end, the protagonist starts remembering all the moments he had with the girl in what is supposed to be a cute “aha” moment in which he realizes he was in love with her all this time. But all those moments are just voiceovers of the girl nagging, complaining, and insulting him, it almost feels like a parody.

The animation isn’t anything to be crazy about either, so there is barely anything to save in that department. The music score is pretty forgettable so yeah, there is nothing in this movie worth hanging to.

21. Pom Poko (1994)

You might have looked at this picture and thought “wait a minute…are those actually tiny raccoon balls?”

Yes, they are.

This is a weird movie in which shape-shifting raccoons can inflate their ballsacks and use them to fight humans destroying their forest.

Taking that aside, it is actually a funny and entertaining film, although it’s little more than that.

The characters are interesting but there are far too many and there is very little development to attach to one of them, aside from the fact that most are very easily confused by their similar designs.

There is a very cool-looking sequence in which the raccoons try to terrorize the city by transforming into all sorts of monsters, and the voice casting is pretty good, especially considering you’ve got Mr. Krabs shouting for revolution and war.

Other than that, the movie falls incredibly short in execution and feels overtly long in runtime. There are some ideas implied, like the fact that some raccoons decide to shift and live as humans, while the ones who couldn’t, would be left for dead which is very complex and interesting, however, nothing is done with those ideas.

As I said, the only bad films by the studio are the first two of this list, however, this is not one worth revisiting even if it was mildly entertaining at the time.

20. The Cat Returns (2002)

This is yet another film with a very quirky and whacky premise (which is by no means a bad thing necessarily).

A girl saves a cat from being run over by the traffic and suddenly a secret cat kingdom abducts her in order to have her marry the prince (which was the cat she saved) as gratitude. In the process, she starts turning into a cat, but thanks to Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, she is saved and managed to get back home safely.

Like the previous film on this list, it is just a simple, fun adventure story, with lots and lots of cats. It has quite some funny jokes and gags throughout, and the trouble our protagonist gets into is consistently funny due to its ridiculous nature.

Other than that there is not much in this movie to hang on to, just a simple, short, fun adventure that is actually a spinoff from a character that appears in a much better movie.

19. My Neighbors The Yamadas (1999)

My Neighbors The Yamadas is one of the few movies that deviate from the usual Ghibli animation style.

It is composed of a series of fun, quick and simple vignettes about a normal family and its different dynamics such as shopping, cooking, dating, etc.

Similar to the previous film on the list, it is just a cute, fun film with not that much heart to hang on to. One to watch whenever you just want something to make you chuckle and smile a bit. There is barely anything to say about it.

18. Only Yesterday (1991)

So the first two were terrible movies, the next three were just average. We are starting now with the good movies. Not great just yet, but good enough.

Only Yesterday follows Taeko a 27-year-old woman, as she goes to the country for summer to enjoy working in the fields as her vacation. Throughout the journey and her days spent there, she reminiscences about her childhood years, her friendships, values, family, etc.

This is actually a very mature film in the sense that it tackles subjects that are not that aimed at kids. Not that kids cannot watch it, but the themes will resonate more with young adults.

As Taeko remembers her childhood, she sees how she had her life all planned up. She wanted to be an actress, marry young, and enjoy the glamorous city life. Throughout the years, decisions and circumstances get us to places perhaps we did not expect to be, but that is by no means a reason to be dissatisfied with life.

The filmmakers used distinct animation styles for her adult and childhood years, being fuzzier in her childhood to reflect how sometimes we sugarcoat and don’t remember that well those years of our past.

There are a couple of catchy tunes that fit nicely with the film, and it is one of those films that we should get more often. It was entertaining enough, however, the lack of a conventional plot or character arc (except for her wanting to marry suddenly at the end of the film) makes it a little less engaging than it could’ve been.

17. When Marnie Was There (2014)

This was the last film to be released by the studio before its big hiatus, after which we received the worst movie from the studio.

It follows Anna, as she leaves the city to live with some relatives for the summer to deal with her Asthma, and also some personal self-esteem issues.

There she finds an abandoned mansion, which “comes to life” at night, finding itself full of people. Marnie, the daughter of the owners, also appears at night and befriends Anna.

Throughout the summer their friendship develops, and Anna later uncovers the truth about Marnie and the house.

The animation and the soundtrack are incredible, and the story is heartwarming as well. It tries to shed some light on the struggles of feeling alone and unworthy, that until you can find a friend that truly connects with you. However, the execution makes it look more like a romantic film, that by the end (SPOILER) turns out Marnie was Anna’s grandmother-child-ghost.

16. Tales From Earthsea (2006)

Tales From Earthsea is a movie that promises a lot, but doesn’t quite deliver. It is still an enjoyable flick though. It is based on a popular book series, although the original author had this to say about the end result: “It is not my book. It is your movie. It is a good movie”, although she later expressed disappointment with the film. And Miyazaki, the father of the director (yes, the one who made Earwig) said:  “I was looking at my kid. He’s not an adult yet. That is all.”

The thing with this movie is that it gives the sense that it will be an epic fantasy adventure film with some mystery, and while the locations and worldbuilding point out to a great deal of history and lore, it barely scratches the surface. It leaves you wanting more of the world and a better resolution for the mystery and power of the dragons. Nonetheless, it’s fine, just kinda forgettable.

15. The Tale Of Princess Kaguya (2013)

Maybe it is sacrilege to put this film so far from the top spots because it is indeed a great film, there is so much to say about it. However for some reason it just did not resonate with me, and the animation style was a little offputting.

However, it is still a nice story about a girl who just wants to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, while the weight of societal’s expectations and his own father won’t let her be free. It is an endearing story with a bittersweet ending that showcases how our protagonist slowly loses herself because of her father’s greed, all told and shown in a way that evokes Japanese folklore in a beautiful way.

14. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

This is yet another Ghibli film in which, being westerners, we might not understand why is there a giant-magic bear/koala in the middle of the story just because. Once again, it is a spirit of Japanese folklore, and once again, thanks to the charisma and charm of the films, we don’t need explaining.

It is the endearing story of a professor living with his two daughters while his wife is at the hospital, and while he is working, the girls encounter this magical creature who helps them cope with the situation they are in.

That being said, the movie is kinda slow at times, and Totoro isn’t that much in the film. While it is entertaining, it doesn’t follow a plot perse. It is just a chill, slice-of-life film with some fun interactions and cute characters.

Fun fact: you can actually see a Totoro toy in ‘Toy Story 3’. One of the many homages Pixar has paid Ghibli over the years.

13. Ponyo (2008)

Much like the previous entry on the list, this is a cute and charming film that integrates magic into the real world.

A mermaid wants to become a girl against his father’s wishes. In doing so, she unleashed tidal waves all over the city which create floods that cover a lot of ground.

There isn’t much to say other than this is a fish-out-of-the-water story in one of the most literal senses (which is always nice to see). The characters are fun, the music is great, the underwater scenes look amazing, and the end will leave a smile on your face. Not much depth or plot other than that, which in itself is not a bad thing, it’s just not that rewatchable.

12. Castle In The Sky (1986)

Castle In The Sky is a film about two kids running from pirates, the army, and a secret organization, all while trying to find a legendary flying castle.

This is quite a fun adventure film that later became the inspiration for many other amazing films such as Atlantis or WALL-E, and that without mentioning so many other videogames.

The characters are fun, especially the pirates, and the chase sequences are also great. The mystery surrounding the floating sky could’ve been explored in a little more depth, as well as some of the intentions of the antagonists, especially the main villain.

Also, the technologies and flying machines have this amazing futuristic steampunk vibe that is just so enjoyable to watch.

Amazing designs and locations, and being a native Spanish speaker I always found it funny whenever the characters pronounced the flying castle’s name, being that “Laputa” sounds like the whore in Spanish.

11. Porco Rosso (1992)

Watching this film made me want to book a flight to Italy at that very moment.

The colors just pop out of the screen. The story is yet again, a simple one and even a little ridiculous. A pilot is turned into a pig. Lots of questions, no answers on that regard. Funny how the more interesting female characters fall in love with him, but you can understand why. He is a man who remembers his glory days while still giving his all. The planes and cities look gorgeous (this film was a heavy inspiration for the aesthetic in Disney’s ‘Luca’).

Our protagonist now spends his days living as a freelance bounty hunter. Those Han Solo reluctant heroes who do good but at first convince themselves they only do so because of their selfish purposes.

But steadily he begins to warm up to the rest of the cast who is endearing and entertaining.

This movie was basically going to be a short in-flight film for Japan Airlines, but it quickly became a full feature film. Another interesting fact is that it was going to be set in Croatia, but during that time the Yugoslavia war broke down so they changed the setting.

Oh and cherry on top, Hisaishi is the composer of the score for this one as well, so you know you will definitely enjoy the music.

10. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Kiki’s delivery service is just one of those feel-good movies. It tells the story of a young witch who moves into a big port city as part of her training. In exchange for accommodation, she installs her own delivery service at a local bakery.

Throughout the story, we see Kiki slowly lose confidence and become overwhelmed with city life. She also starts losing her ability to fly and to talk to her cat. This is of course a coming-of-age story, in which a young girl must grow and become her own person, without losing herself in the process.

Another endearing story to add to the catalog of Studio Ghibli about a strong girl who faces hardships, struggles, doesn’t deus-ex-machina her way out of problems like more modern strong female characters, which makes us empathize and care more about her journey.

9. Arrietty (2010)

Another one with a strong, charming female lead. Also based on a novel. It follows a family of tiny people living within the walls and cracks of a typical household, borrowing and taking from humans to survive, mostly stuff that is already lost.

Quick fun fact, this was Tom Holland’s cinematic debut for the British dub of the film.

As expected, the music and the animation of this film are flawless. It garnered worldwide acclaim and was a success at the box office.

There isn’t a lot to say about the film, since it keeps the story simple and concise, which is by no means a bad thing as we’ve seen in some other Ghibli films. The tiny family has to stay hidden from humans, but when the maid working in the house discovers them, chaos ensues. It is up to the young son in the house to protect them and keep their existence hidden.

For a charming experience, be sure to watch it.

8. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

What can I say about this film? For some reason, I wanted to rank it higher, mostly because of Hisaishi’s magical score. This might be his magnum opus in terms of music.

Yes, the story can be a little non-sensical, and the relationship between the two leads is somewhat confusing. Maybe that’s the reason it is not higher up on the list. But the landscapes are just amazing, and the world-building is something that makes this movie feel like a period piece from a magical world.

The “moving castle” has so many rooms, furniture, and elements to it it is always amazing to watch our characters explore it, you just want to know more about the story of the castle and its secrets. In the background of the story of our bewitched protagonist, there is a war and some wizards and witches plotting against each other and that is something that was definitely undercooked in the script. However, the wonders of the castle, the animation, and the incredible score make this movie definitely worth watching.

7. Whisper Of The Heart (1995)

Another simple and endearing story about a young girl trying to find her place in the world.

This is the movie that presents us with ‘The Baron’ the character that has his own sort of spin off movie “The Cat Returns”, which in itself makes the movies from Studio Ghibli feel somewhat connected.

It’s weird yet effective when the movie starts to the music of ‘Country Roads’. Yes that decades old american film about the countryside that everyone loves and sings whenever there is a campfire. Our protagonist is re-writing the lyrics to the song for her graduation ceremony.

She is an aspiring writer who feels she doesn’t have enough artistic prowess and should just focus on school.

There are a lot of great moments throughout the film, and the relationship between the two leads is engaging and charming.

The future holds a lot of possibilities, some are scary and we might think they are not worth pursuing, and that is what is at the core of this film and its message.

6. From Up On Poppy Hill (2011)

Yes, the director of this film was the same that directed the hideous ‘Earwig And The Witch’. At least he has this good film to demonstrate he actually has some directing prowess. Was this just lightning in a bottle? Who knows, but credit where credit is due, this movie is a huge step up from his other works.

As you’ve probably realized, there are quite some films of young kids at school with a struggle or goal and a romance by the side, so plot-wise, they are quite similar.

However, they all distinguish themselves mainly in the main characters, and these have something different to bring to the table.

Both our characters are passionate young students, one wants to keep the old school clubhouse from being demolished, and right off the bat, you sympathize with his cause. This is a student who knows the importance of moving forward and looking for progress, but also values and understands the need for the upcoming generations to learn about history, poetry and philosophy. The scenes in which this is debated among students are just so intriguing.

Umi of course admires his passion and starts developing feelings for him. Won’t talk more about the plot not to spoil it but needless to say, this movie is fun and engagins through and through.

5. Grave Of Fireflies (1988)

One of the saddest stories put into animation.

This is probably one of the best examples on why animation isn’t ‘just for kids’. It doesn’t need to be scary, gory, nor explicit. It just tells a devastating yet powerful story with themes not intended for younger audiences. This movie received critical acclaim and has been ranked as one of the greatest war films of all time.

This anti-war tragedy film follows two siblings struggling to survive in the last months of WWII. We see no war scenes in here, as the battles were not held in the towns, but if you know your history, you know how armies demoralized their enemies: by bombing their vulnerable cities.

How can a movie about war show no scenes displaying it? because unlike in most films, war isn’t heroic nor dramatic. You have your glimpses of heroism from some remarkable people who decide to do what is right, but war in itself only brings tragedy, often to the weakest and unprotected.

And this is what this film portrays, two young kids who have to steal food to urvive, who loose their family, who are marginalized from society and that only have each other.

One of the best films of the studio, but probably one that you’ll watch the least times because it’s greatness comes from a place of sadness and sorrow, and truly shows the horrors of war.

4. Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind (1984)

What do you get when you combine Dune and Lord Of The Rings?

That’s right, Nausicaa. The only bad thing I can think to say about this film is that it was not made into a trilogy or at least a two-part series.

The curious thing is that the studio didn’t officially exist yet, so strictly speaking this isn’t a Studio Ghibli film. However they re-released from the studio, the director was the genious Miyazaki and the music was also done by Hisaishi in their first collaboration together. This was firstly released as a heavily edited version for western audiences, but after seeing that the message and the themes of the film were toned down and the movie changed significantly, he later adopter a “no-edits” policy (thank god).

It follows a princess in a post-apocalyptic world where a war destroyed civilization and created a vast toxic jungle with huge monsters that pose a threat to humankind and everyone who goes near.

The main themes explored in the film are war, fear, greed, environmentalism, and so on. The world is vast, and the different tribes waging war and the perspectives on how to deal with the toxic jungle make this a film a mix of brilliant ideas but in an impressive story.

You can definitely feel this as a Ghibli film, but what differenciates it the most from the rest, is the huge scope. There are grand battles and stakes for our protagonist, and death is not something that is off the table. This story is grand and epic in all the right ways.

3. Princess Mononoke (1997)

If you ever played ‘Breath Of The Wild’, one of Nintendo’s most successful games from the Zelda franchise, then you probably know the look and feel of this film.

Princess Mononoke was released in 1997, it helped increase Ghibli’s popularity outside of Japan, and it was the most successful Japanese film in history until the studio broke its own record only 4 years later.

The movie follows Ashitaka, as he finds himself in the struggle between the gods of a forest and the humans who consume its resources.

Ghibli’s films usually have some elements of environmentalism to them, but this film has it at its core. For most of human history, nature was a source of dread and danger. A person found himself alone in nature just a couple of hundred years ago and he was done for. It was not until the late XXIII century that we started dominating nature and exploiting it to the fullest. Now nature is the source of tranquility.

But this film shows how nature responds when pushed too far. In real life, we encounter droughts, fires, flooding, earthquakes, and all sorts of catastrophes. The movie finds inspiration in Japanese folklore nature spirits to show what can happen when greed surpasses the love and respect for nature.

The characters are also amazing, maybe, especially the antagonist, the power-hungry mogul who wants to defeat the spirits and dominate the forest to ensure the prosperity of her people.

Amazing story and incredible designs, you surely do not want to miss this one.

2. Spirited Away

If you know Studio Ghibli, then you know ‘Spirited Away’. It was maybe that one film that scared you as a kid and you didn’t quite understand. For some of us, it was something unlike we had ever seen. Maybe the first time we experienced something, not like Disney or the usual western animated films.

This movie received worldwide acclaim. Regarded as one of the best films of the 21st century and one of the best-animated films of all time. It became the highest-grossing Japanese film in history and held the record all the way until 2020, when it was surpassed by the Demon Slayer film. The amount of awards won by this film is staggering, so if you don’t know about this film you’ve probably been living in a cave for the last twenty years.

The movie tells the story of Chihiro Ogino, a ten-year-old girl who, while moving to a new neighborhood, enters the world of Kami (spirits of Japanese Shinto folklore). After her parents are turned into pigs by the witch Yubaba, Chihiro takes a job working in Yubaba’s bathhouse to find a way to free herself and her parents and return to the human world.

This is the film in a nutshell. Of course, it falls terribly short of what this film is actually about. Upon first viewing, it leaves you in wonder but also probably scratching your head. The music and production design is flawless as always. The movie carries a lot of symbolism in nearly every frame. There is history, folklore, and thematic depth that can only be fully grasped upon further analysis.

There is supernaturalism, spirits, Japanese folklore, environmentalism, and if you know your world history, a heavy criticism of the loss of traditional values in exchange for mass consumerism followed by the Japanese economic boom following the second world war.

Even if you don’t fully understand the movie, it is just one of those experiences you can’t miss.

1. The Wind Rises (2013)

The first film directed by Hayao Miyazaki since Ponyo in 2008, and it is the last film he has directed since.

The wind rises is a fictionalized telling of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of the Mitsubishi A5M fighter plane, used by Japan during WWII. Let me start by saying that this film should have absolutely crushed Frozen at the Academy Awards on 2013, just more evidence that the Oscars are rigged.

Miyazaki was inspired to make the film after reading a quote from Horikoshi: “All I wanted to do was to make something beautiful”

And something beautiful it was. Let me start first with the technical aspects.

The animation is gorgeous as always. Being a Ghibli film this comes as no surprise, however, this might be their Magnum Opus, their Piece De Resistance, La Crème de la Crème. The landscapes feel like you are watching some of the most beautiful paintings you’ve seen. The vibrant colors come out of the screen and grab you in such a way, it makes you realize that animation as a medium is something that can take something so mundane and make it beautiful.

The music, written again by the master Joe Hisaishi, makes every scene all the more chilling. When it’s inspiring you to feel the inspiration throughout the music. When it’s tragedy well, you feel the pain our protagonist feels.

Overall, it is already a technically impressive film. This feat alone makes it a worthy watch, but we are yet to talk about the story (spoilers ahead).

We’ve seen several stories about the tormented artist. Movies like ‘Tick, Tick…BOOM’, ‘The Black Swan’, and basically Damien Chazelle’s filmography (‘La La Land’, ‘Whiplash’, and ‘The First Man’). These movies show how one following his passions can lead to great success, but also to tragedy and downfall. These types of films are an exploration of how we pursue our dreams, and the things we leave behind in order to achieve them.

‘The Wind Rises’ also falls into this category somewhat. It follows Jiro since his childhood years when he dreamt of being a pilot soaring the skies. However, due to poor eyesight, he can never achieve this dream. This is where the film deviates from what we are used to. While a lesser writer would have him challenge his shortcomings despite everything and end the film with him being a successful pilot, Miyazaki takes another route and has Jiro realize in a dream that what he really wants to do is to become an aircraft engineer.

Not only that, but the film takes the story to another level by adding the moral dilemma: ‘Should Jiro keep designing the best aircraft, even if they are going to be used in the upcoming WWII?’

Jiro dreams of making his planes faster, bigger, and more resistant. He is the best at this, but doing so would implicate him in creating a deadly weapon.

This dichotomy is at the core of the film, but the cherry on top is his relationship with Nahoko. Despite his love for aircraft, he finds that there is one person with whom it is worth sharing it all. It is a relationship built slowly, which (MAJOR SPOILER) ends in tragedy. Jiro knows Nahoko has uncurable tuberculosis and her days are numbered. Nonetheless, he decides to spend every breathing second he has with her by his side.

This is not a conventional three-act structured film. But every minute of the film had me completely engaged. The perfect combination of animation, music, and story made me wish this movie lasted so much more, but the runtime was just perfect. It never feels slow-paced, even if it takes its time building relationships of plot threads.

This for me, has got to be the best movie of the studio so far and one of the best-animated films of all time.