Profile: Studio Ghibli

Vast amounts of imagination, ground-breaking animation and bringing a whole new way of story-telling. This is the world of Studio Ghibli.

This Japanese film studio has brought much joy to many people from around the world. After being endorsed by Disney, the mainstream western world have discovered the biggest gem anyone has in the filming industry.

Lead by director Hayao Miyzaki, his imagination is just indescribable and amazingly puts Disney to shame and makes them look, well quite ordinary. It is quite hard to believe, but all you need to do is give them a go. You will be transported to many different worlds and meet so many new characters. Below is my ranking of all Studio Ghibli films with a short review for the top 10:

24) Earwig And The Witch

23) Ocean Waves
22) Only Yesterday
21) Tales From Earthsea
20) My Neighbors The Yamadas
19) The Cat Returns

18) The Boy And The Heron
17) The Wind Rises
16) Pom Poko
15) Arrietty
14) From Up On Poppy Hill
13) When Marnie Was There
12) Porco Rosso
11) Kiki's Delivery Service

10) Laputa: Castle In The Sky - Studio Ghibli's second feature film and a huge action adventure one for everyone to enjoy.

This non-stop magical adventure does not have that Japanese feel to it. So this would probably appeal to the mainstream western world more than the others.

9) Ponyo - A modern and more advanced fantasy telling of The Little Mermaid.

With it being underwater, there is a lot of opportunity for Miyazaki to create many fascinating creatures and of course spirits, because that is a big thing with Japanese fantasy films.

8) Whisper Of The Heart - A wonderful love story that really surprised me as I thought I would not like this.

This is the type of film that makes you appreciate the smaller things in life.

7) Grave Of The Fireflies - My highest ranked non-fantasy theme movie from this studio.

But one of Ghibli's very few intensely moving and highly emotional features.

Seen as a masterpiece by many, this moving war tale shows the studio's variety.

6) The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya - One that I decided not to go and see at the cinema thinking it would be a miss for me. I should never under-estimate this studio.

When I eventually saw it, I was completely overwhelmed by its story-telling, style of animation and just all-round wonderful viewing experience.

5) My Neighbor Totoro - A lot of people's secret favorite and it is definitely making me like it even more every time I watch it.

One of Studio Ghibli's earlier creations produced one of the most famous characters in the animation genre that eventually became the logo of Studio Ghibli itself.

4) Howl's Moving Castle - Probably seen as the last modern classic Studio Ghibli have created.

They broke their own grounds of imagination and animation technology to give us another beautiful story and with imagination that not even Studio Ghibli could never have dreamed of as this was an adaptation of a childrens novel.

3) Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind - Officially it is not, but it is seen as the first Studio Ghibli feature and they definitely hit the ground running with this epic fantasy adventure.

This put Japan on the map as a major animation film maker.

2) Princess Mononoke - Took me ages to finally find this one and it is worth the wait.

The story is vast, the animation goes without saying and the topics it covers is executed perfectly.

Certain one of the studio's most moving features.

1) Spirited Away - My first Studio Ghibli experience, and still the best one I've ever seen. Well deserving of its Oscar for Best Animated Film.

Everything about it just made the animation genre jump to a whole new level. Everyone really needs to thank this film as the success of this 2001 epic made the studio become endorsed by Disney and be shown in the western world.