# What are your favorite Studio Ghibli movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219 "2012-01-30T18:58:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wellanuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/21 "2012-01-31T01:35:02Z")
I just wanted to give a little love to “My Neighbors the Yamadas.” It is a quirky one, with minimalist watercolor-like animation and a very episodic structure. (Think of it as a series of four-panel daily comic strips with a few longer “Sunday strips” thrown in. It actually is based on a Japanese four-panel strip.) If you enjoy Japanese humor and suburban life in Japan, this film is a pleasant diversion. If your tastes run towards more typical Japanese anime, you may very well find this one boring. I haven’t seen all of the other films on the list, and this one isn’t my absolute favorite, but it is up there. On more than one occasion, I have popped this in the DVD player when I have been feeling ill or depressed, and it refreshes me. The artwork is relaxing. And hey, its got “Que Sera Sera” in Japanese. What more could you ask for in a movie? For me, the best “film” on the list (of the ones I have seen) is “Grave,” but frankly it is so depressing that it is hard to watch more than once. My favorites, though, are “Tonari no Totoro” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service.” I first became aware of Miyazaki when my children were young, and these are such nice movies to share with young kids. Now I have another little one, and it is good to share them with her, too. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/22 "2012-01-31T01:41:37Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > The version of Arriety that I have is the UK dub. Apparently, they did a UK dub and an American dub. Is that common? > > The UK dub is great, by the way. I’m not too sure. I’d have to check with my brother. He gave me a copy of Laputa with the original dub I saw it in. It’s clunky but it’s a nostalgia trip for me. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/23 "2012-01-31T02:16:58Z")
I love Ghibli/Miyazaki movies so much that it is easier for me to list my least favorites; **Pom Poko, Tales of Earthsea and My Neighbors the Yamadas**. All the others I adore with **Spirited Away** at the top. There are (or will be) two English language dubs of **Arrietty** because someone other than Disney is distributing the film in the UK and they produced their own English language dub with Saoirse Ronan in the role of Arrietty. I’ve seen it and the original Japanese version (with subtitles) and both are great. The Disney version will be in theaters on February 17th, so the jury is still out on that one. I’m a little worried by the Disney trailer which contains music not in the original version. Since Cécile Corbel’s wonderful score seems so perfect for the film, it will be a major negative if Disney has replaced it. Of course, trailers have been known to include music not in the films they are advertising, so, who knows. I’ve been thinking about ordering the **Arrietty** Blu-ray from [Amazon.UK](http://Amazon.UK). Does anyone know if it is playable on US Blu-ray players or is it region-locked to the UK? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/24 "2012-01-31T19:00:22Z")
**Nausicaa** is one of my favorite movies of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/25 "2012-01-31T21:57:57Z")
My daughter, age 3, is watching Totoro right now. Totally absorbed into it and I don’t see her watch TV very often. It seems like Totoro is for little kids, while Spirited Away is for when they get older. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/26 "2012-01-31T22:13:43Z")
Nausicaa is the best, amazing for its time. I also quite liked Howl’s Moving Castle. I have seen most of the rest and they are pretty good. Only Yesterday is unreleased in the US and very different (not Miyazaki, not fantasy) but a touching pastoral drama in the same vein as _La Gloire de Mon Pere_. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/27 "2012-01-31T22:24:05Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > My daughter, age 3, is watching Totoro right now. Totally absorbed into it and I don’t see her watch TV very often. > > It seems like Totoro is for little kids, while Spirited Away is for when they get older. OOOH, get her **Ponyo** next. She’ll _love_ that! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/28 "2012-02-01T03:44:27Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > OOOH, get her **Ponyo** next. She’ll _love_ that! I’m sure we’ll watch it eventually. She’s not a very sophisticated TV/Movie watcher and she needs stories like Totoro, which are easy to follow. She got frustrated when Mei, the little girl, was not on screen. In fact, when Mei runs away(so to speak), she got a little upset. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/29 "2012-02-09T19:10:16Z")
:Slight bump: I saw a commercial for **Secret World of Arriety** yesterday, so it is coming out in the United States. I really recommend taking your little ones to see it if you get a chance. It was quite good. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/30 "2012-02-15T16:46:18Z")
Apparently Disney has replaced at least one of Cecile Corbel’s songs in their version of “Arrietty”. According to this review: [http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2012/02/13/review\_borrowers\_tale\_arrietty\_has\_warm\_charm/?rss\_id=Boston.com+--+Movie+news](http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2012/02/13/review_borrowers_tale_arrietty_has_warm_charm/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Movie+news) Quote: “The movie also overdoses on sweetener with its saccharine theme songs – one co-written and performed by Cecile Corbel, one written and performed by Mendler.” Bridgit Mendler is a Disney channel star who voices the role of Arrietty in the dub. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/31 "2012-02-15T16:58:50Z")
I voted for “Whispers of the Heart” – it’s charm is subtle, but strong. Also voted for Totoro and Spirited Away. All of the Ghibli movies that I’ve seen, which is most of them, are better than most any other animated films, including Disney. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/32 "2012-02-15T17:16:12Z")
Oh, I didn’t realize it was multiple choice; otherwise I would have voted for more. My vote went to Princess Mononoke which IMO is a towering masterpiece and one of the half dozen best films of any kind I have ever seen. Spirited Away is a great film too and probably the best known of the lot. While he tends to be overshadowed by Miyazaki, Isao Takahata is a great director too and each of his four Ghibli films are remarkably different from each other. Grave of Fireflies is quite well known and routinely figures in threads about the saddest film ever. However his Only Yesterday also deserves to be better known and it hasn’t received any votes. It’s a lovely little film about a young woman who goes on a vacation and reminisces about her childhood. It’s one of the the least stereotypically animated film ever made. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/33 "2012-02-15T17:36:33Z")
I second the praise for “Only Yesterday”. A beautiful film. I’ve often said that “Cinema Paradiso” makes me nostalgic for a time and place I never personally experienced. I would say the same about “Only Yesterday”. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/34 "2012-02-15T18:14:12Z")
My little girl has watched Totoro a few times now(in like, 20 minute segments) and she is still enthralled by it. I’m so proud this is the first movie she has ever liked(or even seen all the way through). ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/35 "2012-02-15T20:46:39Z")
_Grave Of The Fireflies_ is one of my top 5 films of all time, so that’s the first choice. A devastating, heartbreaking, beautiful film, and impressively even more powerful on rewatching, due to the amount of foreshadowing in the ostensibly happy sequences. It’s so beautifully animated and scripted that the harrowing story is (just) bearable. Second is _Whisper Of The Heart_, as for me it sums up the simple charm of many Ghibli films the best. Again, an extremely beautiful film, and due to the brilliant scripting and animation a story that could have been slight or even boring is made compelling. I also voted for _Howl’s Moving Castle_, one of the very few animes where I prefer the dubbed version, _Spirited Away_, and _Princess Mononoke_, although of the 12 Ghibli films I’ve seen the only one that I didn’t love was _Tales From Earthsea_. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/36 "2012-02-15T21:06:24Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > Ponyo and My Neighbor Totoro +1 Kiki’s flying scenes ARE incredible; it’d be 3rd. Ponyo was the first I saw in theaters. Unlike most others, I was just “okay” with Spirited Away. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/37 "2012-02-15T23:14:16Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Why is Kiki’s Delivery Service rated so low? ARE YOU PEOPLE ALL _MAD_?! 😉 😃 > > Seriously, there’s a lot of great ones, but the flying scenes in Kiki’s are, with the _possible_ exception of the Fleisher Superman and Disney’s Peter Pan, the best ever animated anywhere! Agreed with you in that Kiki’s is my favorite, but Porco Rosso takes the edge for flying lust. That whole film is a love affair to life in the sky. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/38 "2012-02-15T23:47:46Z")
another vore for Kiki. it has the least “special effects”, but it is the most magical. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/39 "2012-02-16T02:36:42Z")
I’ve genuinely enjoyed all the Studio Ghibli movies I’ve seen, but _Spirited Away_ has a soft spot for me, as it’s the default “I’m not feeling well and need something soothing” movie. This all started when I got my wisdom teeth out; I am really susceptible to strong painkillers, so I ended up watching the first 30 minutes of this movie about 15 or 20 times over the course of a week or so. My first Studio Ghibli movie was _My Neighbor Totoro_, which is also one of my favorites. It takes me back to a specific time and place that was special to me, and I find Totoro to be adorable. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219/40 "2012-02-16T11:46:30Z")
I am a flying boat fan, so had to vote for Porco Rosso Brian [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-studio-ghibli-movies/611219.md?page=3)