Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

18-year-old Sophie befriends blue-haired wizard Howl (almost every Ghibli fan had a crush on this charming character at one point!). Just when they’re getting to know each other, a witch who takes issue with their budding relationship curses Sophie into an old woman’s body. Through Sophie’s curse, Miyazaki showed how growing old is something that should be positive. It successfully turned Sophie into one of the strongest female characters in Ghibli — she started speaking her mind clearly and even saved two attractive young men who both fell in love with her. Aside from romance and the beauty of old age, Miyazaki also focused on anti-war themes when Howl refused to fight for the King who waged a war on the neighboring kingdom in search of the lost prince.

Watch it on Netflix.

Whisper of the Heart (1995)

If you’re looking for a Ghibli film that addresses the existential crisis we feel as youths, you can’t be wrong with Whisper of the Heart. Shizuku Tsukishima notices that all the books she borrows from the library have been previously checked out by a boy — Seiji Amasawa. Soon enough, their paths cross and she learns his dream is to be a violin maker. Shizuku, inspired by Seiji’s passion, plans to pursue her dreams of being a writer. However, not everything is smooth sailing and she has to learn that while her friends have solid plans for their lives and she’s in a crisis, it does not mean she’s left behind.

Watch it on Netflix.

Spirited Away (2001)

Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is a part of everyone’s childhood. You’ve had to at least have watched it once as a kid. And now it’s time to watch it as an adult. It tells the story of 10-year-old Chihiro who stumbled on an abandoned amusement park with her parents. But suddenly, her parents get turned into pigs, she sees creepy supernatural spirits not to mention she turns transparent, and a boy named Haku tells her she has to work to set her family free. Spirited Away is such a masterpiece, it’s the first foreign-language film to win the Oscar’s Best Animated Feature in 2002.

Watch it on Netflix.

From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)

Craving for some good ol’ slice of life film? Ghibli films aren’t all about fantasies. From Up on Poppy Hill is set in 1963 Japan where the characters are still recovering from the Second World War. Umi lives in a boarding house and raises signal flags every day with the message “I pray for save voyages.” She does this in honor of her father who passed away, and her mother who is currently working in America. At school, she meets Shun, a boy who wrote a poem on the paper about the signal flags he sees every day. They team up to save their old high school clubhouse, the Latin Quarter, from being demolished. In the process of working together, they fall in love with each other. But things aren’t as easy as it seems, especially when they find out their lives are connected at some point.

Watch it on Netflix.

Princess Mononoke (1997)

Although made in the 90s and an animated film at that, Princess Mononoke‘s message of preserving the environment remains relevant. This is one of the Hayao Miyazaki Ghibli films that’s going to remain relevant in the centuries to come. The story starts with young Emishi prince Ashitaka cursed by the boar god Nago who turned into a demon from rage. In an attempt to save himself from the curse that will eventually kill him, Ashitaka journeys to Nago’s land. There he encounters wolf goddess Moro and her human companion, Princess Mononoke in a forest full of animal gods. Ashitaka then attempts to make peace between the nearby Irontown and its greedy humans ravaging the forest for resources.

Watch it on Netflix.

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

It has been more than three decades since My Neighbor Totoro first graced our screens and we got plunged into its fantasy world. Two sisters settle into an old country house with their father as they wait for their mother to recover from her illness at the hospital. The house, which the neighborhood believes to be “haunted,” is actually full of friendly forest spirits and creatures including the cuddly huge Totoro.

Watch it on Netflix.

Ponyo (2008)

Five-year-old Sosuke finds a goldfish trapped in a jar on the shore. He breaks the glass — injuring his finger — and sets the goldfish free after naming it Ponyo. As thanks, it licks his wound, instantly healing it. They strike a friendship and Ponyo slowly changes from fish to human using her magic, something her father down the sea isn’t thrilled about. All is well and great until Ponyo’s transformation causes an ecological imbalance and causes a tsunami to flood Sosuke’s town. Unless Ponyo goes back to her true form, she risks everyone’s life in town, including Sosuke’s.

Watch it on Netflix.

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Kiki is a 13-year-old witch-in-training who uses her broomstick and flying powers to set up a flying courier service in her new town. Not everything goes as smoothly as she hopes (which is typical of life, right?) and she ends up being insecure and losing all her verve. Miyazaki’s film reminds everyone that failure is a part of life’s cycle and it’s only temporary. Kiki needed to trust herself again to get back on her feet and regain her magic abilities.

Watch it on Netflix.

Which Hayao Miyazaki Studio Ghibli films are your favorite? Share it with us in the comments!

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