One of the most influential production companies in history, Studio Ghibli is well known for its stories about the human experience, whether in slow-paced slice-of-life films or action-packed fantasy adventures. Renowned director Hayao Miyazaki, the mastermind behind many beloved Ghibli movies, also presents several thought-provoking narratives that are sure to remain with the viewer long after watching.
As many films take place in fantasy worlds, danger is often prevalent, depending on the themes the story has to offer. Princess Mononoke and Ponyo are both of the fantasy genre, but while Ponyo is a whimsical film about a goldfish who yearns to become human, Princess Mononke discusses the brutality of war and strife alongside nature. Regardless of the film’s age rating, each Ghibli world has a chance to become dangerous.
10 Shizuku’s Fantasy World Is Beautiful and Thrilling
If Not for the Baron, the Dream Might Have Been Dangerous (Whisper of The Heart)
In the slice-of-life film Whisper of the Heart, teenager Shizuku Tsukishima’s passion for creative writing takes a new turn upon meeting Seiji Amasawa and his grandfather, who owns an antique shop. Out of all the items present in the store, Shizuku is most fascinated by The Baron, a beautiful cat statue that she learns has a female partner in the set. She devotes more of her time to writing and begins a story based off of the statues, which become prevalent in a dream sequence.
The Baron comes alive in a fantasy where Shizuku, in a new dress, is led off her floating island into thin air, falling alongside her guide. Shizuku might have been in mortal danger if not in a dream, but thankfully, her dreamscape disappears as she walks downstairs to her destination.
Despite the single thrilling scene in Shizuku’s fantasy, her world is like any other, without magical elements. Regardless, her imagination knows no bounds, especially as she works hard to pursue her passions while finding her place in the world. Alongside her family, friends, and new peers, Shizuku’s story is one that remains timeless.
9 Kiki’s Journey Is Heartwarming Though Her Arrival Is Bumpy
The City Proves To Be More Perilous Than Planned (Kiki’s Delivery Service)
Much like Whisper of the Heart, Kiki’s world is calm and sweet, with a touch of real magic. Upon turning thirteen, Kiki sets out from her small village to find a town to become their resident witch for a year before returning home. With the snarky but kind black cat Jiji as her companion, the young witch is excited yet nervous about beginning her new life.
Jiji and Kiki decide to hide in a train during a thunderstorm, which brings them near a seaside town that Kiki decides is perfect for the pair. Everything seems peaceful up above the town, but the landing proves quite a problem. As traffic is not common in Kiki’s small town, she is caught off guard by a car while flying and spins out of control. Thankfully, no one was harmed.
While Kiki’s adventure is thoughtful, slow-paced and warm, the brief brushes with danger Kiki occasionally still exists to remind the audience that while Kiki rarely deals with the task of saving lives (save for the end of the film), accidents can still occur even in peaceful towns.
8 The Kingdom of Cats May Be Frightening to Newcomers
Haru Must Escape the Cat King’s Clutches (The Cat Returns)
Based off of The Baron’s story in Whisper of the Heart, Haru is an introverted teenager who possesses the unusual ability to speak to cats. After saving a cat from being hit by a truck, the cat reveals himself to be Lune, the only Prince of the Cat Kingdom. Haru is whisked away to the kingdom after a miscommunication, and must figure out how to get back to her own world.
The surprised teenager meets an assortment of colorful characters, including Lune’s lover Yuki, and The Baron himself. Shizuku’s ties to The Baron are unknown at this point, especially as he is now a living being. Many longtime fans were ecstatic to see his return, while newcomers to the franchise became fans of the iconic character as well.
Though the film is cheery, dangers still lurk in the adorable world of the Cat Kingdom. Haru is slowly turning into a cat during her stay, and the Cat King is set on having her marry Lune, who wishes to be with Yuki. Thanks to the team’s efforts, Haru and her new friends prevail, though not without the peaceful kingdom going through a rather tumultuous event.
7 Arrietty’s Size Makes Everyday Life Risky
The World Is Even More Dangerous for Borrowers (Arrietty)
Based off of Mary Norton’s novel The Borrowers, Studio Ghibli’s Arrrietty (also known as The Secret World of Arietty) focuses on the headstrong daughter of Pod and Homily Clock. Arrietty Clock yearns to learn more about the humans that they live alongside (though unnoticed), much to her family’s dismay.
By chance, Arrietty is noticed by Shō, a boy who is staying with his great-aunt Sadako before he undergoes a heart operation. Instead of capturing her, Shō wishes to befriend the borrower and the two become unlikely friends. Despite their joy, dangerous forces surround Arrietty, such as Sadako’s cat Niya and the overly curious maid Haru (also known as Hara in the English dub).
While Haru’s greed remains the main antagonistic force in the film, other instances remind Arrietty of her whimsical yet perilous existance, such as when her father is injured after a borrowing mission. For a borrower, everyday human life is a risk, which is why the family is planning to move during the course of the film.
6 Ponyo’s Ocean World Is Fantastical Yet Uncertain
Like the Real World, the Sea Can Be Deadly (Ponyo)
Loosely based off of the classic fairytale The Little Mermaid, Ponyo tells the story of a goldfish girl who comes across humans for the first time. Brunhilde (as Ponyo was once called by her father) is the child of the wizard Fujimoto and the Goddess of Mercy, known as Gran Mamare. Though her smaller goldfish sisters seem content with life under the ocean’s waves, Brunhilde grows curious about the outside world after meeting Sōsuke, a curious five-year-old.
Against her father’s wishes, Brunhilde wants to live with Sōsuke as a human, as Ponyo. Because the boy cut his hand while freeing her from a glass jar (and thus got a cut), Ponyo, in her fish form, had licked the wound to heal it. Due to licking the blood, her powers allow her to transform into a human alongside Fujimoto’s magic. The misuse of magic creates a terrible tsunami, something that does not seem to matter to ocean-dwelling Ponyo.
Ponyo is a sweet and whimsical adventure for all ages, yet it does not shy away from the very real threat of the ocean and its unpredictability. Other than the floods and storms, a more down-to-earth narrative lies with Sōsuke’s father, who is away at sea. Lisa, Sōsuke’s mother, worries tremendously about her husband and his well-being. Thanks to Gran Mamare and her kindness, humans are safe from harm throughout the film.
5 Laputa Is Peaceful Until Muska Arrives
One Man’s Pride Turns Paradise Into a Weapon (Castle in the Sky)
Two orphans, Sheeta and Pazu, are suddenly thrown into an adventure beyond their wildest dreams when the secret of Sheeta’s crystal necklace is revealed. As the long-lost heir of Laputa, the floating kingdom, Sheeta and Pazu decide to travel to the near-forgotten land, though dark forces are in pursuit. The air pirate Dola seeks Sheeta’s crystal necklace for herself, while government agent Muska originally kidnapped Sheeta before her escape at the beginning of the film.
Castle in the Sky is a thrilling adventure with an unforgettable cast and a mystery tale with continuous twists and turns. The film also has a nod to the previous Studio Ghibli film Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, as the fox squirrel creatures present there populate the ecosystem in Laputa. Alongside these small creatures, a gentle robot, the last of its kind, befriends Sheeta and Pazu during their journey.
Laputa might have been destined to be a paradise safe from wickedness if not for Muska’s influence. Upon betraying the army, Muska plans to use Laputa as a weapon to destroy the world, believing that he and Sheeta are the superior humans (being Laptuan descendants). Though the agent is stopped from further disaster, his actions cost everyone else from exploring the kingdom ever again.
4 Sophie Is Thrown Into a World-Hopping Adventure
Howl Pendragon Practices His Magic Everywhere, Even at the Cost of Himself (Howl’s Moving Castle)
Partially based on Diana Wynne Jones’ novel of the same name, Howl’s Moving Castle follows Sophie, a young woman who views herself as rather plain compared to others. After being cursed to look like an old woman by a jealous witch, Sophie crosses paths once again with Howl Jenkins Pendragon, a handsome wizard who (quite literally) swept her off her feet earlier in the film. She then decides to work as Howl’s housekeeper, since Howl and his companions neglect to do so.
While the beginning of the film appears to take place in a mainly magic-focused world, the reality of Hayao Miyazaki’s adaptation focuses greatly on war and the consequences of such violence. Howl himself has been interfering on both sides of the war, transforming into an incredible bird-like being. However, with each transformation, the great wizard increasingly struggles to return to his original human form.
Though the film ends with peace for everyone, including Howl and Sophie, the events leading up to such calmness are near-devastating. Howl’s abilities allow him to teleport from locations of peace to locations of battle, a dizzying change for both Sophie and the audience. In a world where both magic (used for good and evil) and 20th century weaponry, danger exists in great proportions for anyone.
3 The World of Yōkai Changes Chihiro’s Life Forever
Chihiro Seeks Out Her Family’s Freedom Amidst Fantastical Forces (Spirited Away)
Spirited Away, one of Studio Ghibli’s most famous films, follows Chihiro, a nervous girl who relucantly follows her parents to an inn on their journey to their new house. Chihiro refuses to eat the delicious food at an abandoned restaurant; her worry proves justified when she finds that her parents have turned into pigs. Horrified, Chihiro is instructed to take a job at the bathhouse by Haku, one of the residents in the land of yōkai.
Chihiro befriends several other yōkai in the spirit world, yet faces a foe in Yubaba, a witch who steals the second kanji of her name, renaming the girl Sen. If Chihiro fails to retrieve her real name, she will forget it completely and be trapped in the spirit realm forever. She is guided by Haku (and his dragon form) during her journey, who Chihiro learns is also searching for his original name.
While the film ends with a sweet note, the journey is a rather bumpy one for young Chihiro, who is understandably frightened of being lost in a spirit world without her parents. Over the course of the film, Chihiro gains a new sense of bravery, especially when she aids a polluted river spirit and assists her co-workers after they are swallowed by No-Face (a fan favorite character). For Chihiro and even her new allies, the spirit world is not a realm to be underestimated.
2 The Sea of Corruption Is Lively Yet Toxic
Nausicaa Seeks To Save Her Dying World (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind)
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Studio Ghibli’s debut film, is also based off Hayao Miyazaki’s manga of the same title. One thousand years after a terrible apocalypse and ecocide, a Toxic Jungle has risen. In the ashes of civilizations, a few kingdoms are still able to thrive, though they too are struggling with the influence of the atmosphere’s increasing toxicity. In the small kingdom of the Valley of the Wind, the resident princess Nausicaä yearns to learn more about the Toxic Jungle and its flora and fauna.
Nausicaä faces a foe in the Tolmekian princess Kushana, who invades the Valley with her troops, resulting in the death of the king. Kushana plans to use the recently discovered Giant Warrior’s embryo to burn the Toxic Jungle. However, such an action will only result in more Ohm rampaging and destroying more human civilizations.
Alongside the prince of Pejite, Asbel, Nausicaä navigates both war-torn kingdoms and the Toxic Jungle. Unknown to most, the Toxic Jungle is the key to saving humanity, yet Nausicaä must fight to convince humanity that the Ohm are not their enemies. As Nausicaä has studied, the Ohm are only violent when their home and fellow Ohm are in danger.
1 War and Curses Rampage Sen and Ashitaka’s Land
A Battle Between Humanity and Nature Rises (Princess Mononoke)
Princess Mononoke is a gorgeous fantasy adventure that is not afraid to present the gruesome realities of conflict and pollution, much like its predecessor Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. After Emishi prince Ashitaka is cursed by a dying demon, he is forced to travel to the creature’s homeland in hopes of finding a cure. There, he learns that the Great Forest Spirit may be of help; unknownst to the prince, the creature is in grave danger.
A great war between humanity and nature, including the gods and spirits of the ecosystem, comes to Ashitaka’s attention. Lady Eboshi and her troops of Iron Town are at war with the wolf goddess Moro and her pack; amongst them is San, otherwise known as Princess Mononoke. Abandoned by humans and raised by the wolves, she despises other people and vows to fight for her pack.
With gorgeous animation and characters that remain iconic today, Princess Mononoke hosts a world where its inhabitants fight to survive. Even peaceful beings, such as the Forest Spirit, whose murder unleashes a heartless wrath of revenge amongst humankind. Great tragedy is commonplace for the land, yet the film remains hopeful at the end for a world where humanity may one day respect nature.