Being someone who grew up watching these movies constantly, I'd definitely say I might have a slight obsession. My merch collection has grown so much over the years and my wallet has suffered but after seeing how magical each movie is, can you blame me?
With over a dozen movies, each one being as memorable as the next, there's so much to choose from and you'll probably end up wondering which one you should start with first. While there's definitely no right way to start, these are my favorite ones to put on my laptop and watch while snuggled in my blanket with a cup of tea.
My Neighbor Totoro
This one is an absolute classic! No matter who you are, you've probably seen the Totoro character at least once in your life so far. The big, cuddly, fuzzy character has been somewhat of a mascot for the Studio Ghibli company and is one of my favorite characters!
The movie follows two young sisters who move to the countryside with their father while their mother recovers from an illness in the hospital. As they explore they find themselves encountering forest spirits, which are only seen by children, whom they befriend.
I can wholeheartedly say this has become one of my favorite movies of all time because it's so comforting and wholesome to watch. The art, just like in every single one of Hayao Miyazaki's movies, is beautiful and makes me never want to stop watching.
If you don't know which one to start with first, start with this one!
Spirited Away
Bizarre but in the best kind of way. I mean, imagine your parents turning into pigs after eating a feast, running into a bunch of supernatural beings in a spirit resort, and in turn, being forced to work there in order to turn your parents back into humans.
It's a beautifully thrilling movie and has definitely been one of the most popular among the many Studio Ghibli movies out there. There's nothing quite like this movie and I completely recommend that you watch it right now!
Howl's Moving Castle
First of all, the soundtrack in this movie is beyond beautiful, I get goosebumps every time. I've made it a goal to have Merry-Go-Round of Life played at my wedding because uh, yeah, it's just that amazing.
This movie follows the life of a young woman named Sophie who's cursed by an evil witch. She meets a wizard named Howl who lives in a flying castle and the two develop a love story throughout the movie.
I'll be completely honest here, when I first watched this movie I was a bit confused. But after watching it a couple more times and reading articles on the Internet I was able to wrap my head around it. There's a lot that happens in this movie but that's just one of the things that makes it so interesting and entertaining to watch!
I love, love, love the characters in this movie! Especially Howl. Also, since we're being honest, I will say that middle school me had a huge crush on him and current me might still have that crush, oops.
Kiki's Delivery Service
This is one of the cutest movies in the entire world. The art-work? Gorgeous. The characters? Adorable. The storyline? Perfect.
It follows Kiki, a young witch in training, who lives by herself with her talking cat and creates a flying courier service which allows for her to to bond with the community. However, she starts to doubt herself and thus needs to find confidence in her magical abilities in order to get her powers back.
This is once again, another classic, and is simply charming in every way. It's so easy to sit down and get caught up in watching this movie, whether that be with friends and family or just by yourself. It's a movie you'll certainly love.
Now that you get the gist of what these fantasy-filled movies are about, start your Studio Ghibli movie-watching binge! I promise you will love every moment.
