Hayao Miyazaki, the never-ending man himself, is perhaps the biggest name in Japanese animation. For decades he has been delivering top-tier animation, even through his empty threats of retirement. And all animation, not just anime, is all the better for it. Indeed, many of Miyazaki's films rank among the best anime films of all time.
With his new film How Do You Live? currently in development, hopes and expectations are running high amongst fans, critics, and those in the animation industry. However, given Miyazaki's body of work, and how highly they’re rated across IMDb, it’s safe to say that such high expectations are not at all misplaced.
Ponyo (2008)- 7.6
Miyazaki’s eighth film Ponyo follows a young boy who crosses paths with a runaway magical fish girl who slowly morphs into a human. However, the magic she needed to escape her underwater home creates a massive imbalance in nature, and now it’s up to the two children to set things right.
In many respects, Ponyo is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, but also heavily relies on Miyazaki’s environmental leanings in his storytelling. Indeed, it may be the most childish of his filmography, leading to its lower score, but it still contains a hefty helping of that Ghibli charm.
Porco Rosso (1992)- 7.7
Taking place in 1930s Italy, Porco Rosso follows a top-tier pilot who was turned into a pig. Somehow. He now lives his post-war life driving off sky pirates until they hire another top-tier pilot to contend with the pig-man.
Despite its wild premise, Porco Rosso is actually one of Miyazaki's more relaxing films. Much of the film is just Porco lounging around enjoying life and no one seems to be all too concerned about the pig thing. In short, this is a good summer Sunday afternoon movie for the most calming of vibes.
The Wind Rises (2013)- 7.7
The last feature film from Miyazaki, The Wind Rises is a fictionalized biopic of Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi. The film follows Horikoshi through his engineering career and his personal life, closely detailing his ion for creation against rising armed tensions in Japan from 1918-1945.
Being the last film before Miyazaki’s second premature retirement, the way it looks back on the life of this creator can be seen almost as Miyazaki looking back on his own career, and his own disappointment regarding the contrast between his own creations and the industry they take space in, similar to Horikoshi’s dilemma.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)- 7.8
Based on the children’s novel by Eiko Kadono, Kiki’s Delivery Service follows a young witch named Kiki and her cat Jiji as Kiki strikes out on her own for a year, as per her village’s tradition. Relocating to a seaside town, she utilizes her flying broom to build a courier business.
For many western anime fans, particularly those who grew up in the 90s, Kiki’s was their gateway into the world of anime. In a time when animation was dominated by Disney and Disney clones, Kiki’s… well, delivered something different, and gave many children a first taste into a different culture’s fantastic take on animation.
Castle In The Sky (1986)- 8.0
After the airship she’s been taken on is attacked by sky pirates, the young orphan girl Sheeta is found by another orphan named Pazu. The two realize Sheeta has a magical stone in her possession that leads to the floating city of Laputa, and they find themselves on the road from many forces trying to exploit Laputa for its magic and treasures.
In many ways Castle in the Sky is one of the more straight-ahead Ghibli plots, even featuring an actual villain. However, its take on the fantasy genre, along with its gorgeous aesthetics, makes it an absolute must-watch, especially for those looking to dive in the early influences of the Final Fantasy franchise.
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind (1984)- 8.0
Miyazaki’s first original film, Nausicaä is set in a post-apocalyptic future where the world has been reclaimed by nature as humanity now runs few and far between. As the conflict between giant insects and humans rages on, a young girl named Nausicaä discovers she can communicate with the insects and tries to broker peace.
As a very early work of Miyazaki, Nausicaä features many elements that would become Ghibli hallmarks later on, be it Miyazaki's feminism, his love of flying machines, and his focus on environmentalism. While it may not be the film that utilizes those themes the best, it’s still a fascinating watch given what was to come later.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)- 8.1
The first appearance of the Ghibli mascot, My Neighbor Totoro takes place in rural Japan, following two sisters who recently relocated to the area with their father as their mother recovers from a disease. Soon, they discover some wonderfully weird creatures, including, of course, the large and fluffy Totoro.
On the surface, My Neighbor Totoro appears to be a magical children’s film. While it is still that, the tone and pacing resemble a more mature and adult take on childhood, almost like someone looking back on their younger years. While it may not be flashy and exciting, it’s still among Ghibli’s best.
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)- 8.2
Based on the fantasy novel by Dianne Wynne Jones (though adapted heavily because of some scenes in the novel being impossible to adapt), Howl’s Moving Castle follows a young woman named Sophie as she becomes entangled in the struggle between an old witch and a local wizard named Howl. As the witch places a curse on Sophie, turning her old, Sophie searches for Howl so he can restore her to her proper age.
Following Ghibli’s juggernaut of a hit Spirited Away was never going to be an easy task, but Howl’s still manages to hold its own, providing a heartfelt love story amidst a beautiful fantasy world caught up in the tangle of war.
Princess Mononoke (1997)- 8.4
The last pencil-animated film from Miyazaki, and the last before his first retirement, Princess Mononoke follows a young warrior from a small village in his exile after being cursed by a demon boar. Eventually in his travels, he becomes wrapped up in the battle between an industrious queen and a magical forest defended by a young woman adopted by wolves.
Drawing from Japanese mythology, Princess Mononoke is the most adult and violent of Miyazaki’s films. It’s also, perhaps, the most complex. Acting through protagonist Ashitaka’s POV, the film never takes sides between humanity’s industrious enterprises and the natural world. Each side has their pros and cons, and ultimately the film champions coexistence between the two sides, a lesson humanity would do well to heed.
Spirited Away (2001)- 8.6
The first fully digitally animated film from Miyazaki follows a young girl and her family in the middle of a move. They fall victim to the ultimate tourist trap as the parents become pigs, leaving the girl to search through an onsen rife with magical spirits for a way to turn her parents back into humans.
Spirited Away takes a lot of its cues from Alice In Wonderland, featuring a lot of random creatures and characters, many of which seem to be the Ghibli staff flexing, as they’ve reached their peak. This film turned Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli into household names in the west, and between that and the quality of its animation, it’s little wonder why this is the highest-rated Miyazaki film on IMDb.
