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.
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.
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. Does anyone know if it is playable on US Blu-ray players or is it region-locked to the UK?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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).
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.
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.