From 1985 to today, Studio Ghibli has made some of the best animated films in history. Essential tapes for any fan of good cinema and some of them that you have already seen. Since the arrival of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, the studio of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata has given us hours of animation for all audiences, to enjoy as adults . But, which are the most applauded by critics? What are the best Studio Ghibli movies according to critics or according to the different IMDb rankings?
It was only a few days ago that Princess Mononoke returned to theaters, 25 years later. But at home you can also watch all the Studio Ghibli movies through Netflix. You can do it in chronological order or see the most successful first to enjoy some of the best films in history if you are still one of those who believes that cartoons are just for children and they are not for you.
Spirited Away
Spirited Away was, for almost twenty years, the highest grossing film in the history of Japanese cinema. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released in 2001, one of the most applauded by the animation studio and available on Netflix if we want to see what, for many, is the best of this director. Chihiro is a ten-year-old girl on her way to her new home with her parents when she discovers an amusement park. As night falls, her parents have been turned into pigs and everything has become different, unreal, full of fantastic creatures and gods in a disturbing scenario that Chihiro does not understand. But he will have to get used to it, work, make himself understood, slip between them. And there he will meet Haku and Yubaba in a magical, exciting and sentimental film that is not only applauded by Studio Ghibli fans but also won the Oscar for best animated film in 2002.
Platform: Netflix
Year : 2001
Duration : Two hours and five minutes
Theme : Adventure / Drama
Watch Spirited Away on Netflix
The fireflies’s grave
One of the highest rated Studio Ghibli movies on IMDb is Grave of the Fireflies. A tearful and emotional film that we can see on Netflix and that premiered in 1988, directed by Isao Takahata. Noas takes us to World War II to follow the story of two orphaned boys, two boys trying to escape the war, to survive, not to starve. The war seen from a child’s point of view, from the innocent eyes of a teenager and his little sister. The consequences of war and its harshness, but also the loneliness of those who escape from it in an hour and a half of one of the best animated films in history , which you can watch on Netflix.
Platform: Netflix
Year : 1988
Duration : One hour and 28 minutes
Theme : History / Emotional
Age : For over 13 years
Watch Grave of the Fireflies on Netflix
princess mononoke
Long before Disney bet on princesses who save themselves or go in search of adventures, such as Vaiana or Frozen, Hayao Miyazaki created San. San, the princess of the wolves, Princess Mononoke. One of the great classics of Studio Ghibli that in 2022 has returned to theaters but we can also see it on Netflix to discover the fight to conserve nature and stop the action of men. Everything will start when the young Ashitaka is attacked by a beast , a demon that will advance through his body until he is lifeless. There is no cure except what the Spirit of the Forest can give him, so Ashitaka will go in search of it, finding there a war between nature and humans, between the forest and those who want to destroy it to get weapons. And, in the middle of the battle, Princess Mononoke. A film that reflects many of Miyazaki’s usual elements in his films: the defense of nature, the power of female characters, fantasy.
Platform: Netflix
Year : 1997
Duration : Two hours and 14 minutes
Theme : Adventure, action, fantasy
Watch Princess Mononoke on Netflix
Howl’s Moving Castle
Hayao Miyazaki released the movie “Howl’s Moving Castle” in 2004. One of the most recent on this list and in the study. Sophie is the protagonist. Sophie Hatter is the daughter of a hatter who works in the family workshop until her life changes when a witch casts a spell on her, turning her into an old woman. To try to break the curse and return to normal, Sophie will accompany the wizard Howl in the howl’s castle together with the lovable and funny Calcifer and the young Markl. An absolutely essential fantasy, love and friendship film if you are looking for a magical two-hour journey through all the gates and realities of this castle.
Platform: Netflix
Year : 2004
Duration : One hour and 59 minutes
Theme : Drama / Romance
Watch Howl’s Moving Castle on Netflix
My Neighbor Totoro
It is one of the great classics and brings to life the character that we will see in the logo of the Japanese animation studio. Since its release in 1988, My Neighbor Totoro has become an icon of animation of all time and a film that does not go out of style… It follows the story of two girls who will move to the country with their father while their mother recovering from an illness at a nearby hospital. Satsuki and Mei are used to magical stories and fantasies told by their father in fairy tales. And they will live in their new house in the middle of nature until they discover Totoro, the guardian of the forest,
Platform: Netflix
Year : 1988
Duration : One hour and 26 minutes
Theme : Adventure / Comedy / Children
Watch My Neighbor Totoro on Netflix
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
The Nausicaa movie was born before the very foundation of Studio Ghibli and it was its creation that motivated the creation of the animation studio on a global level and launch all the movies we know today. A box office success that led to many more since 1984 in which Miyazaki presented the princess of the Valley of the Wind. Pilot, warrior and defender of peace and nature. This is Nauscaa of the Valley of the Wind. A film that tells us how the planet recovers after an apocalyptic nuclear war in a world contaminated by gases, giant insects and a time when humans are dangerous enemies. But a prophecy says that the savior will come “dressed in blue who will walk on a field to unite the bonds with the Earth and guide the people to purified lands”. She, Nausicaa, will be in charge of helping peace and normality return.
Platform: Netflix
Year : 1984
Duration : One hour and 54 minutes
Theme : Adventure / Fantasy
Watch Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind on Netflix
