The Best of Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli, a Japanese film-making group, specializes in hand-animated movies that convey strong emotional themes. Founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki with the aim of building relatable fantasy worlds, Ghibli has recently reemerged as an icon of animation with the release of their final film, The Boy and the Heron (2023). With this revival, some of their classics have caught my attention.

Princess Mononoke (1997) is arguably the greatest movie of all time, blending themes of nature, war, and love, with an undercurrent of optimism. The story follows young warrior Ashitaka, one of the few in this world of forest spirits and wolf gods who detests violence. As the story progresses and he sees both sides of a conflict between order and nature, Ashitaka develops a strategy to avoid war. Without spoiling too much, I can say that the characters are deeply realistic in how they respond to unique situations. As the movie progresses, everything ends up resolving itself. This seems far-fetched when translated to our reality, but the satisfaction at the end is cut through with the trauma that is built up throughout the movie, adding a realistic tinge. Overall, the movie has everything a movie should have: well-written dialogue, well-written conflict, beautiful animation and environments, and topics that force me to shift my perspective.

Similarly, Grave of the Fireflies (1988) forced me to change my view on World War II and led to a better understanding of the Japanese side. To spoil the first five minutes, everyone dies. The saddest movie I have ever seen, Grave, is from the perspective of the spirits of older brother Seita and little sister Setsuko, travelling back to recount the story of how their family was torn apart by the war. On the surface, the movie seems to blame America for the struggles of the Japanese, but a deeper look reveals an entirely different meaning. Remembering that Japan started the conflict with America and noticing that the Japanese economic system is deeply flawed, I found that the movie continues the anti-war themes of most Ghibli movies while blaming both countries for their choice of violence. This movie checks all of the same boxes as Princess Mononoke, and the realism serves only to elevate the sympathy.

Finally, Studio Ghibli claims the most awards for an all-time great: Spirited Away (2001). With an Oscar, an Academy Award, and 56 other awards, Spirited Away is one of the most heavily-awarded animated films, all of which are well deserved. The movie explores childhood, greed, and taking responsibility for one's actions. When Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl, is lost in a strange world filled with references to Ancient Japanese culture, she is captured by and must escape from an evil sorceress who wants to keep her from the human world. Separated from her parents, Chihiro must navigate this strange new world on her own, experiencing the harsh realities of adulthood and witnessing the true impact of power on people. The viewer learns about the setting with Chihiro, a form of soft world-building that immerses the viewer. The main aspect of the film that makes it so enjoyable is how it deeply inspires anyone watching to embrace growth instead of staying in a comfortable place.

Vastly differing in tone but very similar in their messages, these Studio Ghibli movies all inspire and entertain. While no classic Ghibli movie is rated below a 75 on Rotten Tomatoes, these three highlight the beauty of their animation. With an hour of free time, anyone can dive into one of the Ghibli worlds and fall in love with the fantasy.