Top 5 Studio Ghibli Films Every Anime Fan Must Watch Once

Studio Ghibli is one of the anime studios people always talks about like it’s a legend or something. And honestly, there’s a real good reason why. Other studios like MAPPA or even Madhouse is doing great stuff too, but Ghibli just feels different. It’s like those films was made with heart, not just pretty animation and cool scenes.

Everyone who watch anime probably seen Totoro or Kiki or maybe even Porco Rosso at least once. But there’s other films that hits deeper, and not just because they looks good. These movies? They stays with you even after the credits has rolled off.

 

5. Princess Mononoke – Nature Fights Back, Hard

 

 

This one’s really intense. Like, not your usual soft and cozy Ghibli stuff. Princess Mononoke shows how bad things gets when humans mess with nature too much. And don't try to make it pretty.

Ashitaka, who’s the main dude, gets cursed and goes off on this crazy journey to find some kind of cure. While he travel, he sees humans and nature fighting all the time. The animals talk. The gods are scary. There’s blood and fighting—it’s all there.

But the story isn't just like “humans are evil.” It actually shows both side pretty fair. Everyone thinks they doing what’s right, and Ashitaka just got stuck in the middle of all of it. Still, it ends in a way that make you thinking a lot. This ain’t a film you forget soon.

4. Howl’s Moving Castle – Yeah, It’s Like a Fairytale, But Smarter

 

 

Howl’s Moving Castle is just super beautiful, like in almost every single way possible. The story based on a book, but Miyazaki kinda made it his own totally. People often compare it to Beauty and the Beast, but honestly it got way more stuff going on.

There’s this girl, Sophie, who thinks she’s boring and plain-looking. She gets cursed by some witch and suddenly turns old—it’s random, but it makes sense later on. Then she meet Howl, this overdramatic magical guy with a house that moves and personal issues. There’s also a war happening, but it’s kind of just in the background while the main story's more about love and kindness making people stronger.

Also the movie quietly says that war is dumb. Like, the way magic gets used to mess everything up? Yeah, classic Miyazaki saying “war bad” again.

3. Spirited Away – The Gold Standard of Anime Films

 

 

If you never watched Spirited Away, like what are you even doing? This the Ghibli film. Not just famous—it’s straight-up perfect. It even won an Oscar back then, which kind of surprise Hollywood but also not really 'cause the movie’s that good.

Chihiro’s just a normal girl who ends up stuck in a spirit world. Her parents turn into pigs (yeah, pigs), and she gotta survive working in a weird bathhouse full of strange creatures. It sounds crazy, but the film is so beautiful you just go with it.

It’s really about growing up and being brave even when you’re scared like crazy. Chihiro change a lot during the movie, and by the end you feel proud like she’s your little sister or something.

2. The Boy and the Heron – This One’s Personal

 

 

Miyazaki said he was retiring, but then he went and dropped this one, like, ten years later. The Boy and the Heron is kinda weird honestly. But it’s also pretty amazing too. It even win an Oscar, so yeah—it’s officially good.

Mahito, the kid, loses his mom during a bombing and move to the countryside with his dad and new stepmom. Clearly he’s not doing great. He starts seeing this weird bird and ends up inside a strange dream world where nothing feels quite right.

This ain’t a big action movie or something. It’s more about grief. About losing someone and figuring out how to keep living. Mahito don’t fix everything with magic, but he learns how to move forward. And honestly, that’s the most magical part of all.

1. Grave of the Fireflies – You Will Cry

 

 

No lie, Grave of the Fireflies gonna make you cry hard. It’s not magical or fun or even relaxing. It’s just sad, but in a powerful and unforgettable way.

It’s set in World War II, and it’s about Seita and Setsuko, two kids trying to stay alive after their city get bombed. There’s not really any happy moments. Just them trying to survive and failing sometimes. It really hurts to watch.

But the movie’s important. It shows how war affect the ones who ain’t fighting—the kids, the normal people. It’s more than just another sad story. It’s a warning that stays with you long time.

 

Also Read : 5 Overpowered Anime Characters Who Would Easily Defeat Sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen

 

These five films? They are more than just anime. They’re pieces of art that leaves marks on your heart. Some make you cry, others give you hope, and some just make you think quietly for a while.

If you like fantasy, deep emotion, or quiet stories that sneak into your heart, Ghibli definitely got something for you. And honestly, if you ain’t watched these yet, you are missing out on what makes anime so beautiful.

 

Written By “Sujoy Bhowmik - India Today Gaming”