10 Best Studio Ghibli Movies, According To Ranker

The Studio Ghibli movies are well-loved around the world for their dedication to great storytelling, beautiful animation style, and memorable characters, with works often directed by the studio’s co-founder Hayao Miyazaki.

Out of the 20+ feature-length films released by Studio Ghibli, it can be hard to determine which are the best, but the community of voters at Ranker have collectively come to the following consensus. From flagship works of the studio to more recent releases, these 10 movies cover a range of genres that encapsulate the characteristic magic of Ghibli.

10 The Wind Rises (2013)

Released in 2013, The Wind Rises tells the fictionalized story of Jiro Horikoshi in the early 20th century and throughout World War II, an airplane designer with a passion for aviation whose career was changed by the input of the military.

Thought to be Hayao Miyazaki’s final film before he later came out of retirement in order to direct the upcoming How Do You Live?, The Wind Rises captures Miyazaki’s own fascination with aircraft and shows the devastation of war, but is a departure from his more famous, fantastical-led works.

9 Ponyo (2008)

Ponyo, Miyazaki’s adaptation of the fairytale The Little Mermaid, follows the titular character, a goldfish who wants to be a human girl, and Sōsuke, the five-year-old boy who finds her.

The pair’s subsequent adventures together are charming, but Ponyo’s magical abilities have an effect on the balance of nature, causing worrying environmental shifts, and the film follows efforts to restore this balance whilst Ponyo pursues her dream. A simple yet poetic story, Ponyo’s young protagonists are delightful to watch no matter the viewer’s age.

8 Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)

One of the most emotional endings in Studio Ghibli movies comes from Grave of the Fireflies, a devastating story centered around siblings Seita and Setsuko after their home is destroyed in firebombings towards the end of World War II.

The film follows their fight to survive in unbelievable conditions and has been acclaimed by critics for its brutal yet important depiction of life for Japanese civilians at that time. Though its message and representation of young people in isolation made the film successful, its relatively low rank on this list is likely due to the emotional toll it has on an audience.

7 Whisper Of The Heart (1995)

Featuring the origins of one of Studio Ghibli’s best non-human characters, the Baron, Whisper of the Heart sees young teenager and book lover Shizuku discovering her love for writing and developing her creative skills, as she meets fellow student and aspiring violin maker Seiji.

The coming-of-age story takes both characters’ passions seriously and shows the sometimes difficult road they will have to take in order to pursue such goals, whilst also developing the relationship they have with one another, in a quiet yet effective way.

6 Castle In The Sky (1986)

Castle in the Sky follows Sheeta and Pazu, a young girl and boy in possession of a crystal they need to keep out of the wrong hands, as they go on a journey to find a castle in the lost floating city of Laputa.

Featuring airships, robots, and sky pirates, Castle in the Sky has been credited with popularizing the steampunk genre, with much of the movie focusing on the lost technology of Laputa, and how there are organizations that wish to weaponize it. The film’s strong storyline and characters have led to its sizeable impact on popular culture, particularly in Japan.

5 Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

A Bechdel Test pass for Studio Ghibli, Kiki’s Delivery Service sees young witch Kiki – accompanied by her cat Jiji – leave home for a new town in order to complete her training as a witch.

As she finds her way in a new location, Kiki sets up a delivery service, utilizing her skills of flight in order to attract customers to her business. Her struggles and triumphs are treated with equal importance and watching Kiki gain confidence in her abilities makes for a satisfying narrative that keeps the movie a beloved classic of the studio.

4 My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

The character of Totoro has become synonymous with Studio Ghibli, and in My Neighbor Totoro the forest spirit assists young sisters Mei and Satsuki after they move into a new house in the countryside with their father in order to be closer to their mother, who is recovering in hospital.

The movie follows Mei and Satsuki adjusting to their new life, and meeting Totoro helps them to do so, as he assists them time and again to engage with their local environment, and traverse it in the Catbus. Its focus on rural Japan and the harmony between humans and all other living things give Totoro a timeless feel.

3 Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

Howl’s Moving Castle is about Sophie Hatter, a young woman who turns elderly after being cursed by the Witch of the Waste, and the subsequent journey that leads her to the wizard Howl and his magic castle.

One of several Studio Ghibli movies based on a book, Howl’s Moving Castle is full of distinctive characters whose stories intersect in interesting ways. The movie has been noted for its varied and complex depictions of elderly women, from Sophie to the Witch of the Waste and the wizard Suliman, highlighting a group that is rarely at the center of such magical stories.

2 Spirited Away (2001)

The success of Spirited Away was huge, and to this day it remains one of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time. It follows Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl who is traveling with her family to their new home when they stumble into the spirit world, and Chihiro’s subsequent journey to free them.

Spirited Away has Chihiro come up against both friends and enemies in the spirit world, yet she has the ability to draw on something within herself in order to navigate every situation she finds herself in. This is not to say that her journey is without its struggles, but Chihiro’s strength as one of the best Studio Ghibli female protagonists contributes massively to the film’s message and popularity.

1 Princess Mononoke (1997)

With one of the best female characters from Studio Ghibli at its core, it is perhaps unsurprising that Princess Mononoke is the most beloved Ghibli film among Ranker users. It follows the prince Ashitaka as he navigates conflict between humans and the gods and spirits who dwell in the nearby forest that humans clear for their own use.

Among the forest dwellers is San, a woman raised by wolves. As is common in Studio Ghibli movies, the story focuses on themes of environmentalism, examining the interplay between humans and all other living things. Its strength of characters, lush world, and thematically-driven plot make Princess Mononoke an outstanding and memorable story.

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