Top 6 Miyazaki Films of All Time

Hayao Miyazaki is a beautiful storyteller and one of the greatest animators of the century. With his production house Ghibli Films, he has created movies that capture our imagination in a magical way. Miyazaki brings out his own rich vision through the animations and depicts tales of life in a positive, uplifting, and charming way. 

Let us take a look at five of the best animations films made by this academy award -winning director.

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1. Only Yesterday

This beautiful animated film traces the life of the fictional character Taeko, a 27-year-old girl, in the year 1982. Throughout the film the journey of Taeko, in present and within memories of older days, is scripted  wonderfully. 

This movie captivates the audience and brings to them a longing for childhood and nostalgia. So, if you are up for a heart-warming movie that stays with you and brings a smile to your face, go watch this Ghibli magic!

2. Spirited Away

Yet another film where Miyazaki casts his spell over the audience with simple storytelling. The story revolves around Chihiro, a ten-year-old girl and her family discovering an abandoned amusement park while on a countryside outing.

They soon find out that the place has monsters, ghosts and is a supernatural hub of sorts. Chihiro befriends a boy called Haku who explains to her the rules of the place. This movie with its Alice-in-Wonderland vibes was released in 2002 and garnered huge success worldwide.

If you are looking for a fairytale through the eyes of Miyazaki, Spirited Away is a sure thing to watch.

3. Castle in the Sky

This 1989 Miyazaki classic and one of my personal favorites, Castle in the Sky enchants you. From pirates running after a magic crystal, to a floating magical kingdom in danger and a young couple’s endeavor to save it, the movie is a captivating journey.

Written and directed by Miyazaki, this movie makes you fall in love with the beauty of animation and its flawless storytelling. So, if you have just discovered the magic of animation films, Castle in the Sky will surely make you return for more.

4. The Secret World of Arrietty

14-year-old Arrietty is a tiny human, who lives with her parents in a garden home, undetected by its owners. But one fine day Shawn, a 12-year-old boy, who comes to live in the house, discovers the secret of these tiny humans living in his backyard. He befriends Arrietty but at the same time, their friendships endanger the hidden lives.

Beautifully told, the movie views the world through the perspectives of the tiny in a giant’s world. Miyazaki once again spins a promising tale that will surely captivate you till the very end,

5. My Neighbour Totoro

A family-oriented children’s movie at its core, My Neighbour Totoro is the tale of two young girls who find themselves in a magical forest with creatures called Totoros. Soon they befriend and embark on a journey of life and learning.

This Studio Ghibli production is yet another example of Miyazaki’s immense power of conveying the lessons of life through heart-warming animations.

 6. Princess Mononoke

This movie captures a powerful message of nature and the destruction brought upon her by human civilization. Princess Mononoke is the protagonist, who tries to save the environment from the grasp of a mining village. 

With the advance of technology and urbanization humans have incessantly exploited nature and Miyazaki beautifully captures this through the movie.

A box-office-record breaker in Japan, this movie makes you think and lets you search for the Princess Mononoke hidden within some of us!

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