Studio Ghibli recommendations please

You really cant go wrong with a Studio Ghibli film. Even the less impressive ones are still pretty good.

I personally love:

Howls Moving Castle
Spirited Away
Kiki's Delivery Service
My Neighbour Totoro
Ponyo
Princess Mononoke
Porco Rosso
Castle in the Sky
Castle of Cagliostro
The Cat Returns
Whisper of the Heart
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind


Pom Poko is a bit of a weird one, but I still quite like it. Tales of Earthsea is one of my least favourites, but its not terrible or anything like that. Grave of the Fireflys I would avoid. Its so sad you'll literally want to drown yourself afterwards out of sheer depression.
 
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Woden said:
Princess Mononoke
Spirited Away
Grave of the Fireflies

Be warned, Grave of the Fireflies is probably the saddest, most depressing film every made. But it is also very moving and beautifully written.

If you haven't watched it, don't read the next bit!

Am I the only one that spent the whole movie just waiting for something, anything nice to happen?
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The bit where they go to the beach is possibly the "high spot" of the film, but also the low point in that you know exactly what has to happen

GOTF is still the only Ghibli type film where I've had the DVD for years, but only ever watched it once.
 
I've got them all plus all the UK BD re-releases so far :) Favourites include:

Ocean Waves
The Cat Returns
Whisper of the Heart
My Neighbour Totoro
Laputa Castle in the Sky

I also have the Joe Hisaishi anniversary concert of Ghibli music on Japanese BD
 
Ponyo is AMAZING on Blu-ray. It's not the best Ghibli film but (and someone might correct me here) I believe it's the first they drew with HD in mind. As such, it's beautifully detailed.

Spirited Away is probably their best to start with though.
 
As others have said, start with Sprited Away it was the most successful (won an Oscar I think?).

Then move on to Howls Moving Castle, Arrietty, Laputa etc
 
Tenku no Shirow Rapyuta, or whatever the hell they called the western release is miles ahead of the rest, aside from perhaps Tonari no Totoro.

The others are good, but many are overrated.
 
ChrisJSY said:
All of them.
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this, but totaro / porco rosso at least 2x
also my PERSONAL faves are Kiki's delivery service and Laputa: Castle in the Sky

I could watch any of them at any time and be happy!

just not grave of the fireflies. that made me very sad and I don't watch it anymore.
 
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In no specific order:

Grave of the Fireflies
Howls Moving Castle
Spirited Away
Kiki's Delivery Service
My Neighbour Totoro
Ponyo
Princess Mononoke
Porco Rosso
Laputa Castle in the Sky
Castle of Cagliostro
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Tales From Earthsea

I really need to upgrade these to blu-ray! Still haven't seen Arrietty.

I think overall my favourite is Nausica Of The Valley Of The Wind. :D
 
memyselfandi said:
I would suggest in your case avoiding the following; they are still good films in most cases but they have points against them unless you are already a Ghibli fan ...
...Grave of the Fireflies...
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Surprised you'd say that. I loved this and it's even more exceptional as an animation given it was done in 1988!

Spirited Away must be the best known, I'd have thought. That's great.
 
A.N.Other said:
Surprised you'd say that. I loved this and it's even more exceptional as an animation given it was done in 1988!

Spirited Away must be the best known, I'd have thought. That's great.
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I am not saying it's a bad film, just that it isn't so much an "entertaining" watch as some of the other films. If someone was starting out watching Ghibli films I would start them off on some of the more mainstream titles first before this one in case it's story put them off.
 
Visited the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo recently and whole heartedly recommend it if you're in the area. Forget about the usual bland, ordered style of museum but something almost magical and worthy of being included in one of the films.
 
princess mononoke is one of my favourite films, i watched it when i was younger and found it bizarre, its great re watching the films as an adult as you pick up on a lot more themes in the film
 
Princess Mononoke and The Cat Returns have been scheduled for release in Japan in December so we should get them in the middle of 2014.

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Morfik said:
Visited the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo recently and whole heartedly recommend it if you're in the area. Forget about the usual bland, ordered style of museum but something almost magical and worthy of being included in one of the films.
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Did you see the robot from Laputa? And did you get any souvenirs ?
 
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