For me it would be Princess Mononoke, which is also one of my favorite films, period. I really appreciate the maturity and nuance it brings to it’s environmental themes, which have been done in many other films, but not as well.
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Laputa: Castle in the Sky for me. The scale of the story is so grandiose, much more than later Ghibli films. It breaks some of the character structures that become very common. The soundtrack is just incredible, as it shifts away from the more 80’s synth heavy Nausicaa score. Also, it’s the first film under the studio! The first Studio Ghibli film.
not exactly ghibli but i love nausicaä of the valley of the wind. one of my favorite movies in general. it has my favorite take on the environmentalist thread that so many miyazaki movies have, and the world building is a favorite of mine in anime, with so much more to offer in the manga. not to mention out of all the miyazaki flying contraptions, nausicaä’s glider is definitely the coolest.
For me it is Spirited Away, followed closely by Princess Mononoke. I watched the latter first and absolutely loved it, but Spirited Away has a little bit more of surreal feeling that made me absolutely love it even more.
Both of them are incredible.
For me it’s mononoke followed closely by nausicaa. Both have similar themes and are really philosophically important.
Not my favorite, but no one mentioned howls moving castle.
Howls moving castle 🏰 Was the first Ghibli movie I watched, and love every bit about it. Just recently found out that it’s based on a trilogy of books. So just reading the first book now. Really curious to how much further the books went compared to the movie.
I come in here planning to upvote every Nausicaa post and then just end upvoting everything because I keep going “damn that one is so good too!”
Princess Mononoke for me as well, but Nausicäa has also a special place in my heart.
The reason for that is that in my childhood, there was a mystical animated movie in the video store next to my home that I didn’t quite understand but which captivated me like no other, which is why I rented it over and over again. But one day, the store had gotten rid of it, which made me quite sad. Over time, I could only recall some of the images and the name, which was “Star-Warriors” (although the story wasn’t set in space). This was all pre-internet.
Fast forward years later, I’m an adult and I have already watched Princess Mononoke and Chihiro.
When I came upon an older movie by Studio Ghibli called Nausicäa, of course I watched it immediately. There was also something about the cover image which was vaguely familiar. Imagine my surprise when that movie turned out to be the magical movie from my childhood, but longer and better.
As it turned out, the reason I didn’t understand it wasn’t that the movie was to complicated for my age, but because I watched a Western version that had been butchered by cutting out over twenty minutes of the story, which was most of the scenes dealing with concepts such as pacifism and the conservation of nature, also changing the names of the characters, so Nausicäa was now “princess Sandra” and the Ohmus were called “Gorgon monsters”.
My Neighbor Totoro is the first I saw as a child and the sense of wonder was something else
My favorite is the Castle in the Sky, great themes, great visuals and designs, great characters (s/o to grandma pirate and her boys)
YES!!! finally some love for Castle in the Sky!
Princess Mononoke is my favorite for sure. I love the character design, the setting, the environmental storytelling. And wulfy
Besides that though…I really really liked Spirited Away. So rich and nuanced. I liked the twists and turns the film took
I absolutely love Mononoke. I just rewatched it a few days ago and it really impressed me again. It’s one of the most soft-spoken movies I’ve ever seen, and the story is top-tier. Unlike some of Ghibli’s other movies, it’s a movie that’s actually about humans – not fantastical human-shaped characters, but the real nature of human beings and their place in a dangerous primordial world full of other thinking beasts and gods.
Very hard to pick one but The Wind Rises has a special place in my heart (tbf most Ghibli movies do). First of all, I watched it when I was very young and forgot about it so it was like rediscovering something I’ve almost forgotten. Second, I’m in and engineering program and know a bit about planes and such so I could relate to the MC. Third, I love the more adult feel of it and the Shakespearian romance. Lastly, it does all the usual Ghibli stuff great like animation, ost and wholesomeness.
Porco every time for me, feels like a mini holiday every time I watch it, but Totoro would be a close second.
Princess Mononoke.
It’s meaningful interesting character design and cool world environment sucks me into the story and immerses me in a way that most movies can’t
the cell shading also helps keep the art+animations look great even after decades have passed!
Princess Mononoke is a beautiful film. It’s one of the Ghibli films that’s transcended being dismissed by friends and family that don’t like animated media, let alone anime. Good choice!
Mine is Porco Rosso. The setting and characters (like all Ghibli movies lol) make me feel so comfortable. It’s fun and exciting, with a lot of small, genuine moments. Plus, the airplanes and idea of sky pirates is rad.
There’s a game being worked on called The Brew Barons that’s pretty much “Porco Rosso: The Game”, and I’m friggin stoked for it.
My Neighbour Totoro. It’s so serene and peaceful. I used to watch it all the time here since we had it in VHS, it’s beyond nostalgic for me. Also that soundtrack is gorgeous, I doubt I’ll ever be able to forget it.
Kiki’s delivery service because I like the atmosphere and natural aesthetic.
