Studio Ghibli films have been a staple of the anime industry for three decades of entertainment, kicking things off way back in 1984 with Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. At the time, no one had an idea of the force that Ghibli would become and the enormous story-telling potential they would tote with them into the animation medium.
Still, in the years since the first release a whopping 23 other movies have followed with subsequent launches. Boasting powerful female protagonists, memorable music, A-list voice acting casts, vibrant animation, and exquisite storytelling, it's no wonder so many of the hits are household names.
Some of the more popular titles over the years that would come to mind for even casual viewers include the likes of Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle, and, of course, My Neighbor Totoro, as who could forget the all-but-mascot of the animation juggernaut.
Films were launched every one to two years and met with overwhelmingly positive critical and commercial reception and success, causing more to follow out the floodgates. It wasn't until 2014 when the studio took a break and paused from the constant film releases. Still, a return was made in 2020, and while it may not have been the retun-to-form Miyazaki had hoped for, that certainly came in 2023 with the most recent title, The Boy and the Heron. Receiving the Academy Award for Best Animatred Film, this title once again cemented Studio Ghibli as one of the greatest animation studios of all time.
Still, it was a long road to reach The Boy and the Heron, and in this article we break down every Studio Ghibli film in order by year of release date, including imagery, trailers, and synopses for each title. Be sure to read through carefully to pick out the best ones for your movie night!
1. 1984 - Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND
From Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, written and directed by Academy Award®-winner Hayao Miyazaki, is an epic masterpiece of sweeping scope and grandeur that remains one of the most breathtaking and exhilarating animated films of all time. A thousand years after the Seven Days of Fire destroyed civilization, warring human factions survive in a world devastated by atmospheric poisons and swarming with gigantic insects. The peaceful Valley of the Wind is nestled on the edge of the Toxic Forest and led by the courageous Princess Nausicaä, whose love of all living things leads her into terrible danger, as she fights to restore balance between humans and nature.
Featuring the voices of Alison Lohman, Uma Thurman, Patrick Stewart, Edward James Olmos and Shia LaBeouf.
2. 1986 - Castle In The Sky
CASTLE IN THE SKY
From Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli
Castle in the Sky is a timeless story of courage and friendship, with stunning animation from acclaimed Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki. This high-flying adventure begins when Pazu, an engineer’s apprentice, spies a young girl, Sheeta, floating down from the sky, held aloft by a glowing pendant. Both Sheeta and Pazu are searching for the legendary floating castle, Laputa, and they vow to travel there together to unravel the mystery of the luminous crystal. But their quest won’t be easy, as soon they are being pursued by greedy air pirates, the military, and secret government agents, who all seek the power Sheeta alone can control.
The English-dubbed cast includes the vocal talents of Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill, Mandy Patinkin, and more!
3. 1988 = Grave of the Fireflies
In the aftermath of a World War II bombing, two orphaned children struggle to survive in the Japanese countryside. To Seita and his four-year-old sister, the helplessness and indifference of their countrymen is even more painful than the enemy raids. Through desperation, hunger and grief, these children's lives are as heartbreakingly fragile as their spirit and love is inspiring.
4. 1988 - My Neighbor Totoro
Two young girls, Satsuki and Mei, have moved with their father into a new home in the country, while their mother recovers from illness in a nearby hospital. To their surprise, they soon discover that they share this home with some rather unusual creatures and even stranger neighbours - forest guardians that the girls dub Totoro. When trouble occurs, their new friends will help them rediscover hope.
5. 1989 - Kiki's Delivery Service
KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE
From Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli
Celebrate this beloved coming-of-age story from the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, about a resourceful young witch who uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt. It is a tradition for all young witches to leave their families on the night of a full moon and fly off into the wide world to learn their craft. When that night comes for Kiki, she embarks on her new journey with her sarcastic black cat, Jiji, landing the next morning in a seaside village, where her unique skills make her an instant sensation. Don’t miss this delightfully imaginative and timeless story of a young girl finding her way in the world, featuring the voices of Kirsten Dunst, Janeane Garofalo, Phil Hartman, and Debbie Reynolds.
6. 1991 - Only Yesterday
GKIDS proudly presents ONLY YESTERDAY, from the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award-nominated director Isao Takahata, never before released in North America. This new English language version stars Daisy Ridley and Dev Patel.
7. 1992 - Porco Rosso
PORCO ROSSO
From Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli
From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, comes a dazzling aerial adventure set in and above the scenic port towns of the Adriatic Sea. “Porco Rosso” is a world-weary flying ace-turned-bounty-hunter, whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell. When he infuriates a band of sky pirates with his heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a hotshot American rival, to get rid of him. But with the help of the teenage girl Fio, an aspiring airplane designer, and a sultry lounge singer named Gina, Porco takes to the skies for what may be his final high-flying showdown.
8. 1993 - Ocean Waves
Kochi is your average coastal town on the sleepy, idyllic island of Shikoku and young Taku is definitely your average high school student. But soon his quiet life will be turned upside down with the arrival of Rikako: a beautiful student recently transferred from Tokyo. By the end of the term Taku will have learnt a valuable lesson in love and friendship.
9. 1994 - Pom Poko
POM POKO is a tale of the clash between modern civilization and the natural world.
The Raccoons of the Tama Hills are being forced from their homes by rapid urbanisation. As it becomes harder to find food and shelter, they decide to band together and fight back. Once they perfect the ancient art of transformation, they use their power, often in hilarious ways, to try to scare off the advancement of civilization. Will it be enough?
10, 1995 - Whisper of the Heart
Shizuku Tsukishima is a bit of a book-worm, spending her last summer vacation in junior high school reading and translating popular foreign music into Japanese. With aspirations to one day become a writer, Shizuku can't help but notice that the name Seiji Amasawa appears on every one of the books she borrows from the library. Through a series of curious and magical incidents, she comes to meet Seiji and discovers he has dreams of becoming a famous violin maker in Italy. While their life-long goals pull them in two different directions, Shizuku and Seiji are determined to remain true to their strong feelings for one another.
11, 1997 - Princess Mononoke
A beautifully realised tale of civilisation versus nature, PRINCESS MONONOKE is a true epic by Japan's master animator Hayao Miyazaki. While protecting his village from a rampaging boar-god, the young warrior Ashitaka becomes afflicted with a deadly curse. To find the cure that will save his life, he journeys deep into sacred depths of the Great Forest Spirit's realm where he meets San (Princess Mononoke), a girl raised by wolves. It's not long before Ashitaka is caught in the middle of a battle between iron-ore prospecting humans and the forest dwellers. He must summon the spirit-powers and all his courage to stop man and nature from destroying each other.
12. 1991 - My Neighbors The Yamadas
Join in the adventures of the quirky Yamada family - from the hilarious to the touching - brilliantly presented in a unique, visually striking comic strip style. Takashi Yamada and his wacky wife Matsuko, who has no talent for housework, navigate their way through the ups and downs of work, marriage, and family life with a sharp-tongued grandmother who lives with them, a teenage son who wishes he had cooler parents, and a pesty daughter whose loud voice is unusual for someone so small. Even the family dog has issues! Experience the little victories in life with MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS - featuring the voice talents of comedic stars Jim Belushi and Molly Shannon.
13. 2001 - Spirited Away
From Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli Winner of the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, Hayao Miyazaki’s wondrous fantasy adventure is a dazzling masterpiece from one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animation. Chihiro’s family is moving to a new house, but when they stop on the way to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. Put to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must use all her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents and return to the normal world. Overflowing with imaginative creatures and thrilling storytelling, Spirited Away became a worldwide smash hit, and is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of all time.
14. 2002 - The Cat Returns
Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her ordinary routine, saves the life of an unusual cat, and suddenly her world is transformed beyond anything she's ever imagined. Her good deed is rewarded with a flurry of presents, including gift-wrapped mice, and one very shocking proposal of marriage - to the Cat's King's son! Haru embarks on an unexpected journey to the Kingdom of Cats where her eyes are opened to a whole other world and her destiny is uncertain. To change her fate she'll need to learn to believe in herself, and in the process she will learn to appreciate her everyday life. THE CAT RETURNS is a magical animated adventure that will delight and inspire everyone.
15. 2004 - Howl's Moving Castle
Sophie, an average teenage girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. After this chance meeting she is turned into a 90-year old woman by the vain and conniving Witch of the Waste. Embarking on an incredible adventure to lift the curse, she finds refuge in Howl's magical moving castle where she becomes acquainted with Markl, Howl's apprentice, and a hot-headed fire demon named Calcifer. As the true power of Howl's wizardry is revealed, and his relationship with Sophie deepens, our young grey heroine finds herself fighting to protect them both from a dangerous war of sorcery that threatens their world.
16. 2006 - Tales From Earthsea
In the land of Earthsea, crops are failing and livestock dying. Two dragons appear from the storm clouds and devour each other - an omen of impending disaster. The balance of the world is in peril of tearing apart. In his search for the cause of this encroaching catastrophe, the Archmage Ged, the greatest of wizards, meets Arren, exiled Prince of Enlad, in flight from a nameless Shadow. They journey through ruined landscapes to Hort Town - a city where blank citizens deal only in fake goods, slaves are traded and addicts wander the dangerous streets - and cross paths with Therru, an orphan girl with a fire-scarred face. Ged learns that the wizard Cob, in his search for eternal life, is preparing to open the door between the realms of the living and the dead. An old and defeated adversary, Cob has sworn to take terrible revenge on Ged.
17. 2008 - Ponyo
PONYO From Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli Perfect for audiences of all ages, Ponyo centers on the friendship between five-year-old Sosuke and a magical goldfish named Ponyo, the young daughter of a sorcerer father and a sea-goddess mother. After a chance encounter, Ponyo yearns to become a human so she can be with Sosuke. As to be expected with Miyazaki, the film is awash in pure unbridled imagination and visual wonder — but it is the tender love, humor, and devotion exhibited by Ponyo and Sosuke that form the emotional heart of the film.
18. 2010 - The Secret World of Arrietty
This is a story of a family of "little" people. ARRIETTY is a visually stunning animated film created by world-renowned Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli (SPIRITED AWAY, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, PONYO) and based on the much-loved children's book The Borrowers by Mary Norton. In this whimsical adventure, tiny 14-year-old Arrietty lives under the floorboards of a sprawling mansion set in a magical, overgrown garden with her father and mother. Arrietty and her family live by borrowing. Everything they have, they borrow or make from the things they have borrowed from the old lady who lives in the mansion. Their peaceful life is dramatically changed when the ever-curious Arrietty accidentally allows herself to be seen by Sho, a lonely 12-year-old human boy. The two begin to confide in each other and, before long, a friendship begins to blossom...
19. 2011 - From Up Poppy Hill
From an original story by Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli's FROM UP ON POPPY HILL is a high school love story that takes place in 1963, the year before the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Umi is a high school girl, living with her family in the beautiful seaside town of Yokahama Bay. Each day she raises a pair of flags in anticipation of the return of her sailor father, who went missing some years previously. One day Umi meets Shun, a member of the school's literature club, and the two students decide to restore the school's rundown clubhouse to its former glory. However, a local businessman plans to demolish the clubhouse for redevelopment, so Umi and Shun band together with their schoolmates in order to stop their beloved clubhouse from destruction. In the process Uma begins to falls in love with Shun, but there's a secret she will uncover that threatens their future happiness together... Directed by Goro Miyazaki, FROM UP ON POPPY HILL will screen exclusively in its English language version, with a voice cast including Gillian Anderson, Sarah Bolger, Beau Bridges, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bruce Dern, Jeff Dunham, Isabelle Fuhrman, Christina Hendricks, Ron Howard, Chris Noth, Emily Osment, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Saxton, Alex Wolff and Anton Yelchin.
20. 2013 - The Wind Rises
Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni.
Nearsighted from a young age and thus unable to become a pilot, Jiro joins the aircraft division of a major Japanese engineering company in 1927. His genius is soon recognized, and he grows to become one of the world's most accomplished airplane designers. The Wind Rises chronicles much of his life, and depicts key historical events that affected deeply the course of Jiro's life, including The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, The Great Depression, the tuberculosis epidemic, and Japan's plunge into war. He meets and falls in love with Nahoko, grows and cherishes his friendship with his colleague Honjo, and innovates tremendously, leading the aviation world into the future.
Hayao Miyazaki brings together the engineer Jiro Horikoshi and the author Tatsuo Hori, who lived during the time of the story of The Wind Rises, to create Jiro, a fictional character at the center of an epic tale of love, perseverance, and the challenges of living and making choices in a turbulent world.
21. 2013 - The Tale of Princess Kaguya
Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo, a tiny girl grows into an exquisite young lady, raised by an old bamboo cutter and his wife.
From the countryside to the grand capital city, even unseen she enthralls all who encounter her, including five noble suitors. Ultimately she must face her fate, punishment for her crime.
Based on the classic Japanese folktale, "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter", "The Tale of The Princess Kayuga" is the strikingly beautiful culmination of decades of contemplation by director and Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata.
22. 2014 - When Marnie Was There
Twelve-year-old Anna believes she sits outside the invisible magic circle to which most people belong, and shuts herself off from everyone around her.
Concerned for her health, Anna's foster mother decides to send her to rural Hokkaido to stay in a sleepy town by the sea. As she dreams her days away amongst the marshes, Anna finds herself strangely drawn to the enigmatic house which sits upon the edge there. This is where she meets Marnie, an energetic young girl who seems to appear from nowhere. The pair quickly becomes inseparable. One evening, Marnie makes a heartfelt request of Anna: "Promise me something - that we'll remain a secret, forever." Anna begins to wonder about her newfound friend and is compelled to investigate the truth about her. As she is drawn deeper into Marnie's world, she begins to learn about family, friendship and kindness.
Based on the beloved novel by Joan G. Robinson, WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE is the latest film from Studio Ghibli, and the second feature film by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the director of ARRIETTY.
23. 2020 - Earwig and the Witch
Growing up in an orphanage, Earwig has no idea that her mother had magical powers. Her life will take a new turn when a strange family takes her in, and she is forced to live with a selfish witch.
24. 2023 - The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki's first feature film in 10 years, The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn, original story written and directed by the Academy Award®-winning director.
Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki's long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi.
The theme song for the film "Spinning Globe" was penned and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.
As this brings us to the most recent film and the spotlight of the article itself, The Boy and the Heron proved its mettle by nabbing Studio Ghibli their latest Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, returning to form after a decade of mishaps and silence.
What did you guys think of The Boy and the Heron? What about the rest of the films on the list? Do you have a favorite, and if not, which will you check out first?
Be sure to check out all 24 Studio Ghibli trailers above and share your full thoughts on this list below.
The Boy and the Heron is now available to stream on Netflix.