My Top 10 Studio Ghibli Films

Studio Ghibli is one of the legendary anime producer out there. With their mesmerizing animations usually made and looks traditionally and their magical story, you'll usually get pulled into the world of Studio Ghibli. The movies that they produced is really good that most of them are nominated for Oscars Awards. Well in record only 1 among them won the academy awards but still being nominated in that prestigious award is still a great feat.

This studio only shows that Japanese Anime can compete globally and thats how wide they can reach. And among the 23 Oscars worthy works have you ever pick which is the best? Well all of them is really good but if I have to pick 10, this will be mine.

10. Whisper of the Heart (1995)

It's not the usual fantasy like movie of Gtudio Ghibli. It is actually realistic and can really happen in real life. It is a story of a girl who love to read and write poetry. Then a certain circumstances happened as he caught his curiousity to the name of the boy in borrowers card of the books she is reading. The two of them know each other later and get to go closer as they are finding their future interest. It is a story of love even though its not fantasy, it is magical in its own way. This film is very special to me cause the cats in the story, Muta and Baron, got their own films after many years entitled as "The Cats Return".

9. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

This film by Studio Ghibli surely knows how to be unique. Its art style is very unique and feels very Japanese. Well it can't be helped since its story is based on the Japanese Folklore "The Tale of Bamboo Cutter". Princess Kaguya was found by a man cutting bamboo inside the bamboo shoot. Because he and his wife was not blessed by a child, they keep Princess Kaguya as their own. She mysteriously grow fast just like a bamboo and all she needs are provided by the gods. With all of the blessings and fortune the family received, they officially made Princess Kaguya into a real Princess worshipped by people. But people are naturally greedy that they almost forgot how to provide happiness to the Princess. What will happen to the princess? You just need to find it out yourself.

8. When Marnie Was There (2014)

For me this is the most satisfying story of Studio Ghibli especially the ending. The twist in the story was totally unexpected and I really like that. Most of Studio Ghibli ending is a cliffhanger and whats lie after that is just left into the viewer's imagination. But When Marnie Was There is different cause they give us an ending we all can accept. The story revolves around the girl who was sent into the countryside in hoping to cure her asthma. In her stay, she got curious about the mysterious old mansion called Marsh House. It is known to be abandoned but later she found out that there is a mysterious girl living there. What is their connection and what is the story behind the mansion and the girl.

7. Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008)

This is the cutest and the most wholesome Studio Ghibli movie. The animation is really clean and beautiful. The message is beautiful too cause its all about the ocean and its pollution. Well the story isn't that good, especially the ending. It didn't make any sense at all. But still wholesomeness is really great that you wouldn't mind about the ending at all. It is a story of a girl goldfish named Ponyo. She is actually human but her father made her into a fish to be able to live underwater. But because she really want to become human she escaped and later on she met a human boy named Sousuke. Will Ponyo become human once and for all? And what will happen to the bond that the two shared?

6. The Wind Rises (2013)

Another thing that I really like about Studio Ghibli is they usually depicts war. Well maybe after the rise and fall of Japan during World War II, it is natural for them to include such genre. And The Wind Rises is a great example of that. It is inspired by the story of a man behind the creation of a famous fighter jets that spread havoc during the war. He is an engineer who dreams to fly one day. But in his dream he didn't forsaw the destruction cause by his ambition. It is a bittersweet story of a man between love and passion. He may regret it in the end but for the man who accomplished his dream, he has lived his life to the fullest.

5. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

A perfect spot for a perfect movie. It is between the best and worst. And even though it is actually good, I can't bring my self to watch this movie again. Once is already enough and I won't break my heart once again. It is a story of a young orphan siblings after their parents died during war. The two of them live on their own without support from any of their relatives. How can the two survived in the world where bombs are falling from the sky like a firefly.

4. Spirited Away (2001)

And of course the only film of Studio Ghibli who won the Academy Award. It even hailed as the Top Grossing Film of Japan until recently after Kimetsu no Yaiba movie surpassed them. With its magical story and very beautiful animation it won the hearts of many. A girl and her parents once go to town where there are no people can be found. Because of her parents eating the food which isn't meant to be for humans they are turned into pigs. And later she found out that the inhabitants of that town is actually spirits. She worked there as a helper in hoping to find a ways to cure her parents and to be able to leave the town. With different unexpected circumstances how can she solve everything?

3. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

If I will choose anime that can beat Disney's classics, I would definitely choose Howl's Moving Castle. The story and breathtaking animation is on point and the castle of howl is a very beautiful concept. Its a shame that it didn't won the 2004 academy award but I still believe that this movie also deserve the award. It is a story of a girl who is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and turned her to be an old lady. In hoping to remove the curse she began looking for the mage named Howl and his Moving Castle. As the two met, how can be the curse removed and what is the true story behind howl and his mysterious castle.

2. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

IinvestAcademy Awards only started on the 2000's but if they just started earlier that year, this Top 2 will definitely win. You can't even believe that it is made during 80's because its animation is much better than most of today's anime. This anime is the starting point of Studio Ghibli success. The logo they mostly use comes from this anime. The story comes from the girl siblings moved to a small town after their mother got sick. The two was already surprised on the first day of their new house cause they started to witness supernatural events. They learn about the Dustbunnies and later on they even met the King of the forest which they named Totoro. It is a wholesome and wonderful story.

1. Princess Mononoke (1997)

This is actually the first worldwide hit of Studio Ghibli. It will even easily win the Academy Award if it is just released later on. Very beautiful story as well as very deep but meaningful message. It is about how humans and forest can live together. A boy was cursed by a boar who hold a grudge against humans. With no possible cure and death is inevitable he was sent to a journey to find the Forest Spirit and in the Iron Town. He got involved into two group; the Iron Town and The Forest. It is a battle between technology and nature just like what is really happening in the world right now. That's what males Princess Mononoke my number Studio Ghibli film.

I really miss Studio Ghibli traditional style anime. The most recent movie that they have is their first CGI movie so I'm not a fan of that. But I heard that there is a project current under production. It is the final movie of Hayao Miyazaki, one of the founder of this studio and the director of most movies. So I'm really looking forward to that.