The Films of Hayao Miyazaki, Ranked from Worst to Best

Spirited Away

Although he might have starred in an excellent meme of himself declaring that , ‘ Anime was a misunderstanding , ’ Hayao Miyazaki is the best at what he does . For thirty years he has write , produced , and direct hit after bump off in the worldly concern of invigoration . His moving picture are enjoyed by child and adults alike from every country on Earth . His princess are stronger that Disney ’s , his themes often instigate by Nipponese Shintoism , and his understanding of the human heart and mind is unequalled .

PREVIOUSLY:13 Studio Ghibli Fan Theories That Will Blow Your Mind

All that being said , it should be somewhat plain that we do n’t trust Miyazaki has ever point a bad film . They can emphatically still be ranked and equate , though , and while your list is going to look different to ours , just think of that that ’s okay .

PORCO ROSSO

This motion-picture show is an odd one . Thematically , Miyazaki ’s films fall into two cantonment : delicious children ’s movies ( sometimes accommodate from novel or pansy tarradiddle ) with lush color and textures , and exciting mystical adventure ; or hard - strike stories of environmentalism , the fighting against patriarchate / capitalist economy , and personal growing or uncovering . Porco Rossodoesn’t really primed into their bivouac .

It ’s still a tremendously fun military action film with a gorgeous soundtrack , a colorful cast of character , and some really engaging and inebriate action scene , but it does fall into a foreign valley in the roster of Miyazaki films . It ’s certainly not bad – as we ’ve said , none of his film are – but it just does n’t have that grand vision and design that his other piece of work have .

PONYO

I ’ll admit that I did n’t really ‘ get’Ponyoat first . I ’m also cognisant that , when I first find out it at the age of twenty , I was n’t its stand for audience . That being said , Miyazaki is unequalled in his ability to accommodate old fairy story . Disney hail at the version from a safe and romantic slant , while Miyazaki often aim towards the weird and the fantastical , rain themes down on us like : transmitted honey , friendship , environmentalism , and personal maturation .

Ponyodoes this spectacularly well , and as such is a go - to film for parents of very unseasoned children . Its message of reinforce the grandness of benignity towards one another , disregarding of circumstance , is universal and a good one to teach as early as possible .

KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE

This movie is all sort of magic – an original take on the eccentric of ‘ the enchantress ’ which has been such an unbelievable influence on the domain of gum anime since its loss ( just look atLittle Witch Academiafor proof of that ) . It ’s also flummox a pal theatrical role who puts all of the Disney sidekicks to disgrace .

In fact , comparing this cinema in particular to the Disney roll is a great direction to show just how superscript Ghibli really is , with a smart young girl , eyes full of wonder , easily brush away any of the 90s male protagonist that Disney was churn out in that earned run average . Kikiis a delicious history that should be enjoyed by young girls and boy the public over .

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO

It should be evident by now that most of the Miyazaki movies with a very young demographic in mind have appeared in the bottom half of this list , and that ’s simply to do with taste . Just as this writer tilt his literary perceptiveness towards more challenging schoolbook and away from children ’s books , so too do Miyazaki ’s more adult - orientate films with big themes and dreadful struggle have a greater impact . That ’s not to say I do n’t appreciate whatMy Neighbor Totorodid for the world of animation .

Its gorgeous character figure , especially of Totoro himself , and its playful soundtrack have danced mirthfully in my mind for years now , and I ’m happy to have them there . That ’s also not to say that Totoro does n’t deal with some giving themes . Miyazaki never support his consultation , and often offers his younger viewing audience firmly musical theme because he knows they can understand them . He ’s a good mortal that direction .

NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND

candidly , these next three films are fairly interchangeable , each holding an every bit - sized blank in my warmness and each exist in a jaw - droppingly beautiful world fulfil with adventure , mystery , wizard science , and intrigue . Nausicaa stands alone in its tone , being a small gritty . Its color palate is different from much of Miyazaki ’s other work , with an accent on pastel flavour and natural textures .

Even the characters ’ homes and garb accentuate a kind of one - ness with nature . This Shinto - inspired theme will return and be done with a far greater impact inPrincess Mononokebut that does not mean , by any stretch , thatNausicaadoes not stand by itself as an fantabulous work of art .

HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE

This movie is an absolute pleasure from outset to conclusion . Its humour , tonus , and style is on par with Miyazaki ’s best oeuvre ( and the Welsh novel of the same name which inspired the film is also a wondrous lot of fun to read ) . The English voice cast , which include Christian Bale and Billy Crystal , is also one of the effective on Miyazaki ’s roster . It ’s also perhaps the one Ghibli film that appeal the most to the unspecific hearing : woman and men from five to ninety - five can get an equal amount of joyfulness and entertainment out of this ragtag hurl of characters and their ridiculous escapade .

The Earth design , specially of the titular moving castle , and of Howl himself , is perfectly staggering , learn a veridical lesson in how to unify CGI with hand - drawn anime design . This moving picture wins on so many fronts .

LAPUTA: CASTLE IN THE SKY

This lavishly design and repair film was Miyazaki ’s first with Studio Ghibli . It ’s a powerful and moving adventure story of discovery and big ‘ wow ’ moments . A tale with a little minute of political discord , and a lot of little masses doing big things , this is arguably one of Miyazaki ’s most beautiful works .

Studio Ghibli as a whole has done fantastically well at consistently maintain their classifiable style of animation over the decades , but nothing can really , in this modern humans of digital anime , recapture the magic of 80s animation . Laputawas the pinnacle of that animation style , an infrangible spectacle from start to coating .

THE WIND RISES

To date Miyazaki ’s latest film , and a bit of a sleeper striking when it came out . Though this scar the umptieth sentence Miyazaki has rend himself out of retirement to manoeuver ‘ one more movie ’ , it did n’t savor the critical success of his earlier works . It did , however , exit a recondite impact in the essence of this writer . Miyazaki ’s pick to veer away from the fantastical and tell a story steep in the dark moments of Japanese history was a bold option , and it bear off .

Our agonist is a fundamentally captivating young military personnel , with an infectious love for his work . The setting , with its costume , old locomotive , and wartime backcloth , perfectly transport me , and the films sombre tone lock so beautifully with its mostly brilliant blue color palate . I , for one , adore this plastic film .

SPIRITED AWAY

Ah , the Oscar winner . Claimed by many anime fans to be , if not their favorite animated movie , then at least their favorite Studio Ghibli picture show . This is with good reason , too . Spirited Awaystands headspring and shoulder joint above every other Studio Ghibli motion picture in terms of its design , aeasthetics , and aliveness . Every cellphone is gorgeously imbibe ; every character meticulously designed . The incredible imagination behind some of the grotesque animal we run into through the course of action of this film is dizzying in its ambition . TheAlice ’s risky venture in Wonderland - inspire account is perfectly paced and hit home for every parent and child watching it in their living room . This film is unflawed – better , I ’d wager , than any animated film Disney has ever put out . It has n’t aged a day since its release , and for many it is the pinnacle of what Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli can do .

P.S. If ever you have the chance to visit Jiufen in northern Taiwan , do so . The tearoom there was the blueprint inspiration for the bathhouse inSpirited Awayand it is a marvel to behold .

PRINCESS MONONOKE

Another popular favorite , Princess Mononoke was Miyazaki ’s first attack at a more visceral , grownup - focussed invigoration . Its themes of valet de chambre vs nature have been ensure in picture palace a thousand clip over , but have never been execute as well as they were here by Miyazaki . The nonrational combat and ghastly creature intention make this plastic film an vivid viewing experience , even on your 10th time around . Its content warning us of the dangers of industrialisation , capitalism , contamination , and spherical warming are clear and told with such aggressive fervor that it ’s hard to ignore them ( as we should n’t ) .

Princess Mononoke , in its scope and its grandness as a piece of art , has no equal in the world of brio . It is a vitally authoritative piece of celluloid , and will go down in story as Miyazaki ’s majuscule achievement .