Studio Ghibli Ranking

S-Tier

Spirited Away

Studio Ghibli's magnum opus is very deserving of the top spot. Stunning visuals, imaginative locations, complex and interesting characters, and several good messages throughout. Chihiro's journey from being lost and afraid to being brave and resilient through new experiences is portrayed so uniquely, I never tire of watching it. There are many reasons so many people have watched this over a lot of the others, and it's because almost anyone can get something out of this film. That train journey is something special. I can't say enough nice things, so just watch if you haven't!

Princess Mononoke

A personal favorite and one I've seen many times. Progress versus nature with a bit of Japanese lore to it and exceptional animation. It's a bit of a darker and more violent film in the lineup, but not overly so. The best part of this one is the vast amount of moral ambiguity. It's not so black and white, and oftentimes things fall into a gray area, as do the motivations for most of the cast. Like using natural resources to take care of vulnerable people isn't clearly good or bad, but a balance is necessary. Mentioned it before, but the animation is truly a standout; so many mind blowing scenes.

Kiki's Delivery Service

Coming-of-age at its best and maybe the coziest film in all of Ghibli's collection. The visuals aren't crazy like other films, but every location inside and outside the seaside town feels very real and lived in. The story is very relatable with aging leading to loss of whimsy and sense of purpose, but doesn't overdo the morals. The characters are all very enjoyable and the interactions all feel real. It's more complex than it lets on and it's good to put on any night for a cozy time. People fight about the dub and I say "meow" hits the message of personal growth better.

Howl's Moving Castle

I didn't realize how divisive this film is and assumed everyone praised it. Upon rewatching, I realized this is one of those films that you get, or you don't. It's certainly one big fever dream of a film, but it's much deeper if you take the time and effort to think about it. Great visuals, complex characters, and a bit of a darker edge than most of Ghibli's lineup. It's definitely worth a watch for how this tale unfolds and the underlying themes of humanity, compassion, and how things aren't always clear or easy and that personal growth isn't easy. Also, shoutout to all the Howl's girlies out there!

A-Tier

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

This may be my favorite film on the list. I love the world, I love the story, and I love the characters. It's a progress-versus-nature film where both sides have reached violent stages of retaliation. Proto-Ghibli, but a lot of the staples: aerial shots, strong heroine, man vs. nature, etc. The artwork inside the poison forests blows my mind every time I see it. There's a lot going on with the morality and ethical questioning and how certain characters and kingdoms are reacting to nature fighting back. There's a lot of complexity to the world building I wish was detailed more. Certainly worth multiple watches.

Whisper of the Heart

Why had I not heard of this one!? More people need to bring it up! Very down to earth story about coming of age and feeling out what you want to do in life and what interests you have versus what one needs to do. The main characters are lovely and, even with a bit of forced romance, feel very natural together. I definitely think it's been overshadowed by other more popular films, but it's a travesty how slept on this film is. Good time with wholesome, heartwarming moments and great morals on following your passion and focusing more on improvement than perfection. Plus it's the origin of LoFi Girl!

Castle in the Sky

Probably the one I've been meaning to watch for the longest time. There was a lot more to this film than I was expecting. An intriguing and complex tale of technological forces intertwined with nature. A band of pirates, great aerial shots, an interesting backstory, and a lovable duo of main characters. There were a couple of times I had a heartwarming feeling and a few times I was on the edge of my seat! The teamwork and interactions are nice, and the mystery behind the past and relationships with people is well done. If you're a fan of One Piece, definitely give this one a watch.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya

This is a very long but very worthwhile film. It was the last one I watched of the list, and I think that was the right move. I love the animation style, though it did take some getting used to. The story is one that already existed, but seeing it animated so beautifully really brings it up the list. A lot of moral and ethical questions and what woes fame and fortune can bring, wanting a better life for your children, and the desire to be comfortable. Worth the time to watch for sure. The ending is one of the most beautiful sequences I've ever seen, not just with Ghibli.

The Wind Rises

I was quite pleasantly surprised with this one. Knowing it was going to be Miyazaki's last film makes sense given the subject of doing what you love despite the legacy it may create through application. It's easy to identify with the main character's passion to do what he loves and his motivations being so personal. I enjoy seeing how passionately the protagonist talks about planes. Definitely a more enjoyable WWII-related film than most, but the film is a bit slower than most and more adult oriented. The visuals are amazingly done, as usual, but don't overdo it in a more grounded setting.

Porco Rosso

Certainly one of the more unusual entries on the list, but it works in its favor. Great characters, good growth moments, and overall a great story. There are a lot of good morals here, such as perspective-changing experiences and standing on morals that may lead to some fallout. Some dialogue feels a bit off when it first comes up, but it all leads up to either a deeper explanation or a change of heart. The chemistry between the protagonists is very enjoyable, and the cast is great. Just be prepared...the film doesn't really have an ending and kind of just stops abruptly with plotlines still open.

B-Tier

From Up on Poppy Hill

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and it might be my favorite setting of the films (except maybe Kiki's). Cozy little seaside town with two incredibly well written main characters with some drama about a school clubhouse and its importance to interest groups and a bit of romantic mystery added in. Everything feels natural, and the plot is pretty solid. There is a moment about halfway through that will turn people off, but stick with it because things are ultimately okay. Such a charming film that I don't think gets enough love. I've absolutely started bringing this one up when talking about Ghibli.

The Cat Returns

Somewhat a follow up to Whisper of the Heart, and it's absolutely adorable. This might be the best done of the cutesy and whimsical films in the lineup. There are quite a few flaws despite how highly I've ranked it, but they're more so world building concerns than anything. I can't express enough how cute this one is; the visuals are incredibly well done. Lots of fun characters and fun interactions; it definitely feels like a fleshed out world I'd like to know more about. Personally, I think that fact fits well knowing how this film falls into place. Throw it on and have a cozy evening watch.

The Boy and the Heron

Miyazaki's final film...despite him saying that before with another film on this list. It truly is the perfect swan song to cap off his run. It has all the aspects of Ghibli films over the years: stunning visuals, strong heroines, naval and aerial nods, post-WWII sentiments, and much more. There are also some common Ghibli bad things, like odd character motivations and confusing storylines that seemingly don't fit. But I was in awe watching certain scenes, and I think it's worth watching for sure. I think there's a part of every Ghibli film included in some way in this film, which makes the journey interesting.

Pom Poko

I really enjoy progress-versus-nature films from Ghibli, and this is one of the more realistic depictions. There are a lot of things that happen throughout this one, and it can be hard to keep track when there end up being three factions, all with vastly different tactics. Hits on how progress requires balance, and some methods may simply not work. Definitely some weird and upsetting things that happen, but the latter is par for the course when discussing these topics and the former shouldn't put you off too much. The parade scene is so incredible that I recommend watching just for that.

Ponyo

Maybe the most visually stunning in the Ghibli lineup...and that's saying something. Those ocean scenes really do set this film apart from a lot of the others. I like the idea of going your own way rather than what's expected of you, and I think it was handled decently well. I think the cutesy and whimsical moments are great, but I don't have nostalgia to boost it up the list viewing as an adult. Some of the power of love stuff is a bit odd, but it makes sense, and it's still worth a watch and can make for a cozy evening. Love the seaside setting and the magical moments from the main duo.

My Neighbor Totoro

Despite being the film starring Ghibli's mascot, I hadn't seen this one. It's a very cute and whimsical film touching on imagination and its cleansing power on the heart. The big issue for me is that it's targeted for younger audiences, which is fine, but there's not much outside the whimsy, and the adult narratives are more or less just there to move things along. I think if I had watched this while I was younger, I'd have more bias to rank it higher. Despite that, I certainly recommend watching it, but know it's more of a cutesy and whimsical take than a substantive one.

C-Tier

Only Yesterday

I was most curious about this film, given how divided people tend to be around it. People either absolutely love it or absolutely hate it, with not much in between. I believe it's likely due to how incredibly niche the target audience is. If you didn't grow up and experience things as a girl in middle class Japan (or some subset of those), the journey and self-discovery of the protagonist are not going to have as much. I did enjoy the safflower history, but it very much feels like a Hallmark film by the end. Still worth a watch, but know it's a slow and specific burn of healing an inner child.

Arrietty

Slightly hot take for this one. The attention to detail in the animation is unparalleled, and the idea is interesting even if overdone. Basically: don't be seen, be resourceful, don't overindulge, etc. The big issue I have is the characters. The main human is incredibly pushy and weird, and his story doesn't really matter all that much besides moving the plot along. The main villain is so over the top evil with a motivation that also feels pretty weird. Regardless, there are fun moments, and it's worth a watch for sure. It's basically anime The Borrowers, so if you love that, give this a watch.

The Red Turtle

This one is better than I was expecting, given how little I'd heard about it. It's a very artsy film for sure, so it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. The rotoscoping animation is pretty well done, and the environment feels very real. There were a couple of times I felt legitimate concern or sadness about what was going on and was impressed with the visual storytelling. However, I think being branded with Ghibli, despite just being collaborative, hurts it a lot here given how avant-garde it can be. There are definitely questions to be asked that the answers may be too much for some.

My Neighbors the Yamadas

Certainly an interesting entry from Ghibli, but one I got a good amount of enjoyment from and even a few hard laughs throughout. I love the art style, but I know many will not enjoy it. There's no real overarching story since it's a collection of slice-of-life moments, but you get the feel of it being a real family doing real things and the importance of familial relationships. Very relatable for someone who grew up middle class in the 90s. I think it would've fared better as a miniseries than a film, and I think it being branded Ghibli does more harm than good for expectations.

Grave of the Fireflies

Easily the hottest take on this list. An absolutely exhausting film... Not a huge fan of watching kids die for an hour and a half while all the adults around them act so bitterly. I understand the sentiment behind the film, but it's so soul crushing that by the end I couldn't even muster emotion. It is a beautifully drawn experience, and the scene with the fireflies is amazing to watch. It captures the harshness of war and the idea of finding silver linings and small moments during times of struggle very well and touches a bit on classism...but it's a tough viewing experience. War is brutal.

D-Tier

Tales from Earthsea

I'm a fan of Ursula K. Le Guin, so I went in expecting a specific type of story, set of characters, and world. Ghibli's adaptation feels disconnected and incoherent, and I suspect it's because of the limited runtime and trying to adapt multiple books into a single film. The main character is moody, which is fine, but it feels weird we end up where we do given his motivation. The visuals are really good...but a depressing farmhouse with a promise of magic without delivery is bad. There's definitely a lot to the world knowing the source's author, but the parts included don't reflect that in any way.

When Marnie Was There

The plot went an entirely different way than I was expecting...and not in a good way. The protagonist kind of sucks, which isn't necessarily bad, but her reasoning for being so is incredibly frustrating. Not only that, she refuses to do anything positive for herself. I get being an emotional and isolated teenager, but it's a little much. Granted, I haven't faced the same hardships. The introduction of Marnie and her scenes are fascinating, but nothing meaningful happens (despite seeming like it will), and the ending makes her flirting with the protagonist problematic. Also...weird random child abuse?

Ocean Waves

I'm prone to ignoring red flags...but holy moly Rikako is an entire colorguard practice... I will say that Ocean Waves captures the feelings of being an angsty teenager fairly well and how everything feels so important at that time. Despite that, not much happens and it's more of a soap opera starring hormonal teens making mountains out of molehills. I only recommend watching to experience truly toxic behaviors. The end is incredibly frustrating and goes against narrative growth. I think the growth between other characters is fine, but man...come on, Taku...

F-Tier

Earwig and the Witch

What are we doing here? That's a question I kept asking throughout my viewing. Things just happen with no real reason, the characters don't really interact much, and there is no real growth within the main cast. It's an ugly film, despite the CGI being technically pretty good; the designs are just off-putting. The whiplash of the ending with sudden changes of hearts is both poorly done, and the payoffs are completely unearned. It's a hard watch for sure, and everything just sucks. It's like...this was setting up a story for a series and...decided, nah... Hard pass...