STUDIO GHIBLI FILMS YOU MUST WATCH (THAT ARE NOT SPIRITED AWAY OR THE ERRANT CASTLE OF HOWL)

Although I think Spirited Away and The Errant Castle of Howl are two masterpieces of Hayao Miyazaki, I strongly believe that lots of other films of Studio Ghibli should be popular as well. 

Here are five Studio Ghibli movies I loved and I highly recommend to those who loved Spirited Away and The Errant Castle of Howl.

1. WHISPER OF THE HEART

(Yoshifumi Kondō, 1995)

Whisper of the heart is one of those films that drag you into the story and the atmosphere so well, that when it finishes, the reality won't feel real anymore. It is a film for those with a strong passion for writing, reading, or playing an instrument. A film for those with a hurricane of emotions that explodes in their chest every day. It's about dedicating all your energy to your dream, till the rest of the world shrinks, and still fearing to fail. It's a beautiful love letter to teenage friendships, love and life in general. 

Summary: During the summer break a young girl, Shizuku, finds out that all the library books she reads have been already checked out by the same boy 'Seiji Amasawa'. She starts to wonder who this person  is. Her questions will be answered when she meets an irritating boy at school.

                                                                               

2. WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE

(Hiromasa Yonebayashi, 1995)

The beginning of this film is heartbreaking, and the end struck me even more. If you have ever felt abandoned by your family, misunderstood, or just different from everyone else, you will relate to every minute of this film. If you have lost an important family member recently, I'm sure that with this film you will cry. However, the story is not only about loss but also about friendships, moving to a new home, and looking back at a past you have too soon forgotten. 

Summary: Anna Sasaki moves to her aunt's house in a small village in Hokkaido. In a villa everyone believes is abandoned she meets Marnie. As summer progresses, between the two girls a strong friendship grows, till Anna discovers the truth about her story and her family.

3. GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES

(Isao Takahata, 1988)

This film will tore your heart apart. I have seen this movie only one time, and I will never watch it again. The story shows us that life can be extremely cruel and unfair for innocents sometimes. The tragicity of the plot makes it unforgettable, and although it is beautifully made, in my opinion, unwatchable again. This film about the Second World War narrates the fate of those children who lost their houses, their family, and their childhood.

Summary: The film is set in Japan, in 1945, when the Second World War was about to end. The movie tells the story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, and their despairing need to survive.

4. PRINCESS MONONOKE

(Hayao Miyazaki, 1977)

PRINCESS MONONOKE is a film I recommend to those with a strong passion for Japanese culture and history. A young but resolute hero and a proud princess who lives with the animals of the forest are the protagonists of this enchanted story. If you liked Pocahontas I feel like you will love this film. In my head, their vibes match for some reason, even though the two plots are quite different. Maybe it's because both films deal with themes like colonialism and the exploitation of nature's resources and of native inhabitants of a forest by those humans who consider themselves more "civilized".

Summary: The movie is about the prince Ashitaka and his fight between the gods (Kami) of the forest and the humans who exploit its resources. The movie touches upon significant themes of Shinto and environmentalism. "The term mononoke (物の怪, or もののけ) is not a name, but a Japanese word for supernatural, shape-shifting beings that possess people and cause suffering, disease, or death." (from Wikipedia, Princess Mononoke)

5. FROM UP THE POPPY HILL

(Gorō Miyazaki, 2011)

This is a sweet and relaxing story about the determination of young students who stand up for what they believe is right. We have again a love story between a girl and a boy, both with a mysterious past and turbulent emotions for each other.

Summary: The movie is set in Yokohama (Japan), 1963. Umi Matsuzaki (Nagasawa), a high school girl lives in a boarding house. She and Shun Kazama (Okada), also a student in the school's newspaper club, decide to clean up the clubhouse named "Latin Quarter". However, they soon find out that Shir Mizunuma (Kazama), the head of the local high school, wants to demolish the structure, and they try to convince him to change his mind. (from Wikipedia, From up the poppy hill)

Thank you so much for reading this article! 💚