8 Studio Ghibli Movies That Are Better Than 'Spirited Away'

TV & Film

Jul 1

Spirited Away poster — Image Source: BBC

Spirited Away is the first movie that people associate with Studio Ghibli, but they have a large body of work that is equal to or exceeds their most famous entry. So which movies do we believe top Spirited Away?

8) Whisper Of The Heart

Whisper Of The Heart poster — Image Source: IMDB

This is possibly one of the most underrated Ghibli movies. It was written by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Yoshifumi Kondō, who unfortunately passed away before he was able to make any more contributions to the Ghibli family. Based on the manga of the same name, this romance between two teens is charming. It addresses the pull of a creative calling over love as the two protagonists dedicate themselves to their arts (a violin maker and a writer) as well as each other. The John Denver song, Country Roads, is front and center, which delayed its release in the US as Ghibli struggled to get the rights. The writing of Whisper of the Heart is subtle and well-developed, unlike Spirited Away, which can be confusing at times. The perfect movie to introduce anime to a girlfriend, and it will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling.

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7) Howl’s Moving Castle

Another excellent Ghibli movie that was nominated for an Academy Award. The film’s strong anti-war message came from director Miyazak’s anger at the Iraq war, and he expected it to be poorly received in the West as a result, but audiences saw it in droves. If you loved the surrealism of Spirited Away, this Ghibli, with shades of Lewis Carrol, is for you. Howl’s Moving Castle has a more mature level of storytelling than its predecessor. It has amazing vocal talents to bring the English dub to life, including Emily Mortimer, Christian Bale, Billy Crystal, and Lauren Bacall.

6 ) The Secret World Of Arietty

Based on the popular book, The Borrowers by Mary Norton are about a family of tiny humans who live in secret under the floorboards. But the plot also draws heavily from Frances Hodgson Burnet’s The Secret Garden. The film follows the relationship between a sick young boy and ‘borrower’ Arriety. There are so many inventive details in this movie that make it a favorite for cosplayers, from the clothes peg in Arriety’s hair to her sewing pin sword. This Ghibli is family-friendly, unlike Spirited Away, which is set in a ‘bathhouse’. The Secret World of Arriety is the highest-grossing anime film, not based on a game franchise, and it had the largest opening weekend for a Ghibli movie ever. Incidentally, Tom Holland stars in the English dub as well as Olivia Coleman, Saoirse Ronan, and Will Arnett.

5) Ponyo

f you love Spirited Away for its quirky sense of humor, then Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo is the film for you. The story of a daughter of a sea wizard who tries to become human and accidentally floods a town is a Ghibli classic. It’s full of magic and mythical sea creatures, but due to the toddler-like attitude of Ponyo, it’s more fun than Spirited Away. Unlike Spirited Away, It has an all-star cast for the English dub, including Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas, and Matt Damon.

4) My Neighbour Totoro

My Neighbour Totoro poster — Image Source: Dazed

Some of the most recognizable images in Ghibli come from this movie, including Mei standing beside Totoro at the bus stop and the cat bus. My Neighbour Totoro is inventive and heartwarming, as well as embracing the Shinto aspect of Japanese culture. Like Grave of the Fireflies (My Neighbour Totoro was released as part of a double feature), it has a unique animation style that is a cut above Spirited Away.

3) The Wind Rises

This relatively modern Ghibli uses elements of the life of fighter plane designer Jiro Horikoshi to create a moving tale about the conflicts of an artist creating machines used for war. Directed by the great Hayao Miyazaki, it’s full of the charm of his other movies and surpasses Spirited Away in its characterizations and animation. The Wind Rises also has one of the best scores in the Ghibli stable. The English dub uses the vocal talents of Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and Martin Short. The Wind Rises received a host of accolades and was even nominated for a Best Animated Feature Academy Award

2) Grave Of The Fireflies

Despite being made back in 1988, it has the most creative visuals in a Ghibli film by a mile. Filmmaker Isao Takahata used non-traditional animation methods such as outlining in brown instead of black to make a stunning presentation. Grave of the Fireflies follows a brother and sister after the bombing of Kobe and the destruction of their home. Grave of The Fireflies is considered one of the best war films of all time, and we challenge you not to be in tears by the end of your first viewing. This movie’s message hits so much harder and is a lot more direct than Spirited Away, which sometimes hides key issues under layers of symbolism. Not one for the casual viewer, but not easily forgotten.

1) Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke poster — Image Source: Film at the Lincoln Center

The bloodiest Ghibli just about avoided an R rating; it’s definitely not one to put on in front of small children. But Princess Mononoke tends to appear in most ‘all-time greatest anime’ lists for a reason, it’s an epic masterpiece, and it leaves Spirited Away in the dust. The detail in each second of film is astonishing, and it’s hard to imagine the work it took, considering that 90% of the film was hand drawn. The movie focuses on the struggle between developing man and the environment, a hot-button issue even back in 1997 when it was released. It’s another Hayao Miyazaki movie and has his fingerprints all over it. Princess Mononoke pushed Ghibli to new heights, and it’s arguably the best in their collection.

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