What's your favorite Ghibli film?

Totoro

Princess Mononoke

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.

Howls moving castle

For me it's a tie between Mononoke and Spirited Away.

- Mononoke's complicated layers of several themes. There's the humans vs. environment, humans fighting each other over resources, Ashitaka and San both battling their inner struggles (Ashitaka and his demon; San's decision to stay with the wolves or return to humans etc.), the clash between the modernization vs the old ways and so on. All of these themes are still important and even more relevant today too. Watching this in theatre back when it was released was epic - OST is still one of the best too.

- Spirited Away - this one is a social commentary specifically for Japan (capitalism mindset, disregard for Shintoism, and again environment) but also told through a young girl's journey of overcoming fear, anxiety, and struggles. More simple than Mononoke but the plot is quite unique and incorporates so many Japanese folklore. I think so many people that are not familiar with the Japanese folklore may not be aware and think it's just strange lol. I actually saw this one when I was living in Japan so it was memorable to hear my Japanese friend's perspective and they explained a lot to me etc. OST is also incredible.

Honorable mentions: My Neighbor the Yamadas and Kaguya-Hime.

Laputa - Castle in the Sky since it's one of the only memories I have from before I came to Australia

and my son's is Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind - he's watched it like a millions times!!!

Quote from hitomoshi

Howls moving castle

for me its that and Laputa Castle in the sky.

I get really hyped every time I see it because its just the best.

Princess Mononoke

Kiki's Delivery Service & Ponyo

Mononoke at the first and then spirited away and Totoro. Tough to choose between spirited and mononoke but I did...

Howl's Moving Castle will always be my fave I watch it every year

I've always loved discussing this topic, as there is no right or wrong answer, and I find the connections people make between themselves and Miyazaki's work very interesting.

As a child, my answer would be Spirited Away 100%. The absolute awe and wonder you're thrust into is truly magical and as a kid it was a world that I never wanted to stop looking into.

Now as an adult however, I consider Ghibli's masterpiece to be Princess Mononoke. The first time I watched it, I was blown away with the intricacies of the world and characters within and their relation to the gods, and nature vs industrialization. I could gush about the film forever, but I want to hear your thoughts and stories!

Quote from selfmate

Laputa - Castle in the Sky since it's one of the only memories I have from before I came to Australia

and my son's is Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind - he's watched it like a millions times!!!

YOU HAVE A SON??????

Quote from Catgirl

YOU HAVE A SON??????

two actually lol

I'm a boomer (in spirit if not age)

I recently went to a cool Studio Ghibli exhibition and it was so lovely. So creative in how they arranged the art for many of their films.

Uniqlo here also recently released more collabs and I ended up buying a Kiki t-shirt, Mononoke sweatshirt, and some cute Totoro soot socks.

I think the new film is set for release later this year too. Will be my next theatre visit - I don’t go often these days to the cinema because it’s insane how people have forgotten public etiquette.

its a tie between howl's moving castle and totoro

Castle in the sky and Spirited Away