Studio Ghibli Movies, what are you favorites?

[ollie99 she/her]

I have watched a few Studio Ghibli movies: My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and The Secret World of Arrietty. I had watched them when I was younger, and some of them again when I was in college. I just watched Howl's Moving Castle the other day for the first time, and I thought it was a wonderful story and my new absolute favorite. I plan on watching Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (directed by Hayao Miyazaki) and I also heard that Studio Ghibli produced a Tales of the Earthsea movie too (based on Ursula Le Guin's novels).

 

I really loved the characters in Howl's Moving Castle (I watched the dubbed version). They made me laugh and smile constantly throughout. I also thought the animation was beautiful and so detailed. The plot was great and the ending even better. It didn't occur to me until I watched Howl's Moving Castle but Studio Ghibli movies always seems to have strong female main characters, which is difficult to do right a lot of the time. Studio Ghibli managed to do it well time and time again. 

 

Anyone else love Studio Ghibli Movies? Anyone else love Howl's Moving Castle? What are some of your favorites?

[A Joe in the Bush]

I'm a big fan of Miyazaki. I watched all of his movies as Dubs, my Favorite is Monoke.

[Terisen he/him]

Definitely loved Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away.  Though Spirited Away was a tad strange at times to my western sensibilities! 

[Kurkistan he/him]

I've seen most of the Miyazaki movies--and perhaps it's just because it was the first I saw--but Princess Mononoke has always been my favorite.

[Left he/him]

I've seen Castle in the Sky, Spirited away, and Howl's moving castle. I really need to watch Princess Mononoke.

[shortycake she/her]

I grew up on Kiki's Delivery Service (on VHS!). That one will always be a special little sparkle in my heart. As a grown up, though, I think my favorite is tied between Castle In the Sky and the most recent film, The Wind Rises. The kid in me is geeking out over the sky pirates and adventure and pretty colors of CItS, but the nearly post-grad history major in me loves TWR for the deeper themes and historical setting. 

 

But I think all Miyazaki movies are flawless.

 

Except Ponyo. Nobody liked Ponyo. 

[traceria she/her]

Ponyo was so...weird.  I think you had to be really young to enjoy that, like, young enough you haven't started school.  The strange thing is that Totoro is for the same age audience, yet watching it as an adult is really quite enjoyable!  Go figure!

 

I think the only Miyazaki films I haven't seen are the from his early years (like Lupin) or ones where he was only the producer.  The first film I ever saw was Spirited Away, and I was hooked.  My husband doesn't dislike that one, but it's definitely too weird for him on most days.  For me, I love it.  But my all time favorite is Castle in the Sky!

 

That being said, when Howl's Moving Castle came out, I went with friends to see it a couple times while it was in the theaters.  The first viewing, though, after the credits started to roll, I asked, "Can they start it over the beginning?"  I so badly wanted to watch it again right then and there!  I have that film to thank for my Diana Wynne Jones fanaticism, too.  If it weren't for HMC, I would never have read anything by her, and now I'll devour anything I can get my hands on. 

[EHyde she/her]

There are a few I haven't seen yet, but my favorite is Laputa: Castle in the Sky. I love the Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind manga, but I think it lost too much in the translation to a movie. 

 

I was super disappointed in Howl's Moving Castle when it first came out, because it was so different from the book--I started watching Miyazaki in the first place because "someone's making a movie of a DWJ book? let's see what else he's done!" Watching it again later and deliberately seeing it as its own thing rather than as an adaptation, I liked it a lot better.

[traceria she/her]

There are a few I haven't seen yet, but my favorite is Laputa: Castle in the Sky. I love the Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind manga, but I think it lost too much in the translation to a movie. 

 

I was super disappointed in Howl's Moving Castle when it first came out, because it was so different from the book--I started watching Miyazaki in the first place because "someone's making a movie of a DWJ book? let's see what else he's done!" Watching it again later and deliberately seeing it as its own thing rather than as an adaptation, I liked it a lot better.

I had kind of the opposite reaction due to seeing/reading in reverse order from you.  Funny how important your first experience is!  I think what sealed DWJ as one of my favorite authors was reading the sequel to Howl's Moving Castle and finding I really loved that, too.  So then I wanted to read more from her.  Later I came to terms with the differences between the movie and the book, same as you.  I should read the book again now that a few years have passed.  I did like how much more Letty featured in the book, for one thing.  Definitely adding that to my vacation reading list (vacation scheduled for September).