Retriel
Here are the best Ghibli movies recommendation you can watch at netflix. But before that, Let’s read about Ghibli first.
Studio Ghibli films are no strangers to Japanese anime lovers. Studio Ghibli is a Japanese film studio that has produced lots of high-quality animated films. Ghibli is also the only one that can offset Walt Disney Studios dominance in animation matters.
The hallmark of Ghibli-produced films is their touching stories, full of human values without forgetting the imagination that is suitable for both children and adults.
The founders of Studio Ghibli are legendary writers and directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and Japanese animation film producer Toshio Suzuki.
Many films produced by Studio Ghibli have won awards at various prestigious events. In addition, Studio Ghibli films often enter the box office due to their success in the market.
So, here are recommendations for the 10 best Studio Ghibli films you can watch via Netflix.
1. Spirited Away (2001)
The first best Ghibli movies recommendation is of course Spirited Away.
This is a special fantasy film. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away won the 75th Oscar for best animated film.
Spirited Away is about a 10-year-old girl named Chihiro Ogino who moves to a new neighborhood.
On the way, Chihiro accidentally enters the world of Kami spirits (known as gods in the Japanese belief system).
In the spirit world, the evil sorcerer Yubaba turns Chihiro’s parents into pigs and forces Chihiro to work in her bathhouse. Chihiro tries to find a way to free herself and her parents and return to the real world.
Uniquely, Chihiro’s character was inspired by the daughter of Miyazaki’s best friend, who often went to his house on summer vacation.
2. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
One of the best Studio Ghibli films that both children and adults will love is My Neighbor Totoro. Totoro is also an official icon for Studio Ghibli, much like Mickey Mouse was for Walt Disney.
The story begins when a professor moves to a house in the countryside with his two children so he can visit his wife, who is being treated in the hospital.
When the professor’s children started playing and exploring the house and forest around them, they encountered magical creatures.
Totoro himself described as a friendly, cute, and helpful forest spirit.
Uniquely, this Totoro character also often appears as a cameo in several other Ghibli films. Totoro’s character is so popular that it is included in the list of world pop culture icons.
Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed this animation to show how children can fill their loneliness and face their worries with imagination and high spirits.
3. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
The sweetest and cutest witch in the world of cinema has been stealing the hearts of audiences since this film was released in 1989. This film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
The story of this film adapted by Miyazaki from a book by Eiko Kadono, which published in 1985.
Kiki, the main character in this film, is a new witch in a seaside town. She used her magic powers to open a courier service.
Kiki moved out and lived alone as part of her training as a witch. One of the skills she had to master was controlling her broom.
Even though her courier business is successful, Kiki still has some doubts about her abilities. This instead makes her magic ability unstable. Kiki needs a lot of self-confidence in order to become a full-fledged witch.
4. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
The Fourth best Ghibli movies recommendation is Grave of the Fireflies.
A semi-autobiographical war film by Akiyuki Nosaka released in 1967. This film tells about the tragedy of war that occurred at the outbreak of World War II.
The film Grave of the Fireflies is written and directed by Isao Takahata. Set in the city of Kobe, the film’s story revolves around a pair of siblings, Seita and Setsuko, who were orphans.
Together, they must struggle to find shelter in addition to fighting hunger and disease. This sad story successfully displays the horrors caused by war.
5. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Hayao Miyazaki was one of the figures who strongly opposed the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003. He wanted to express this rejection in his work.
Although Howl’s Moving Castle adapted from the book by British author Diana Wynne Jones in 1986, Miyazaki made the story different for the film.
If the message in his book is about status and gender differences, the film Howl’s Moving Castle focuses more on love, loyalty, and the destruction caused by war.
The setting of the story is an imaginary kingdom where magic and advanced technology come together. The kingdom is at war with other kingdoms.
The story itself is about a girl named Sophie who is bewitched to become an old woman due to a witch’s curse. Old Sophie meets a wizard named Howl who is in rebellion against the king.
6. Ponyo (2008)
Another of the best Studio Ghibli films is Ponyo. This film is a loose adaptation of the classic fairy tale The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen.
The Ponyo film also written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Ponyo is a water creature who escaped from her father’s kingdom to adventure on land.
She was found and brought home by a boy named Sosuke.
Ponyo forms a friendship with Sosuke. The stronger the friendship, the greater Ponyo’s desire to become human.
7. Princess Mononoke (1997)
The seventh best Ghibli movies recommendation is Princess Mononoke.
Princess Mononoke is an adaptation of the manga comic of the same name by Hotaru Okamoto and Yuko Tone. The film rewritten for the Ghibli adaptation and directed by Isao Takahata.
The story in this film revolves around Mononoke, a woman who raised by wolves. Mononoke has an enemy named Lady Eboshi who is trying to take over the forest where Mononoke lives.
On her way, Mononoke meets Ashitaka who is looking for a cure after contracting a mysterious infectious disease. The conflict between Lady Eboshi and Mononoke turns Ashitaka on an adventure he will never forget.
We can learn a lesson about how to stop over-exploitation of forests by humans through this movie.
8. Only Yesterday (1991)
What is unique about Only Yesterday is its exploration of unusual ideas for animation. Only Yesterday tells the story of a woman who is traveling and searching for her identity.
Its realistic story is suitable for adult audiences, making Studio Ghibli also have a market besides children. Only Yesterday is a romantic drama in the form of animation.
Set in 1982, this is one of the best Studio Ghibli films and tells the story of Taeko Okajima, a 27-year-old single girl who lives and works in Tokyo. He then visited his brother-in-law’s house in the countryside to help with the saffron harvest as well as take a vacation.
Taeko then faced with various challenges as she makes life decisions. Many aspects discussed in this film, such as identity, romance, and career.
9. My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999)
Ghibli also has a comedy-genre masterpiece. My Neighbors the Yamadas is very unique because the animation presented with typical comic images.
This movie stands out due to the inventive manner it uses various sequences to tell its story.
Written and directed by Isao Takahata, the animation is based on Hisaichi Ishii’s Nono-chan manga comic. The story in this film focuses on the daily life of the Yamada family.
The role of fathers, husband-and-wife relationships, challenges as parents, first love, competition between siblings, and others. Since all families go through it, enjoying it is easy.
10. When Marnie Was There (2014)
The last in the best ghibli movies recommendation is When Marnie Was There.
This drama film is also similar to Only Yesterday in terms of theme. The story is more suitable for mature audiences because it is a psychological drama.
When Marnie Was There written and directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi. The story itself adapted from a novel by Joan G. Robinson in 1967.
It opens with the introduction of the character Anna Sasaki, who is staying at a relative’s house in the Kushiro area of Hokkaido. One day, Anna passed a large abandoned house.
There, she meets a mysterious girl named Marnie. Marnie asks Anna to keep her presence there a secret.
Her relationship with Marnie makes Anna know more about who she is and who her family is. It turns out that there are lots of secrets and facts that Anna just found out.
A deeply moving story about family relationships, loss, depression, and the search for identity. At the 88th Academy Awards, When Marnie Was There received a nomination for best animated feature.
The presence of Studio Ghibli in the film industry often seen as a counterbalance to the dominance of the Walt Disney Studios. However, the presence of these two studios is the biggest contributor to the best animated works in the world.
Studio Ghibli has its own features and characteristics that other animations don’t have. The messages and noble values conveyed by Ghibli films add wisdom and insight to the audience, both children and adults.
