I'll start with the three runner-ups before getting into the top five.
3rd Runner Up: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
You can click on the link to read about the plot. When I first started watching this movie, I really didn't think I would like it so much. The world the story was set in was a bit boring, but the actual story and action was fantastic. You could feel Nausicaä's attachment to the Valley of the Wind and her people, as well as her desperation for peace and harmony.
2nd Runner Up: My Neighbor Totoro
I had to make this a runner-up because although the movie was cute and it did have some deeper aspects to it, the movie itself was strange. Had I watched this when I was younger I'm sure I would have fallen in love with the movie and wanted a Totoro for myself. I guess this was the most difficult film to find something to relate to, thus keeping me detached.
1st Runner-Up: Princess Mononoke
I really did love this movie, but it's not one I could re-watch over and over again a lot as opposed to the top five listed below. Princess Mononoke took a little too long to warm up to Ashitaka (for my liking, mind you) and that made me anxious. Everything else about this film is brilliant. Ashitaka is a great main character with a lot of respectable attributes, and Princess Mononoke is just a freaking badass in general. I mean, she was raised by freaking wolves. Doesn't get more badass than that.
Now on to the top five favorites!
I think one of the main things that drew me to this film was the fact that the main character was very similar to one of my favorite characters when I was younger: Thumbelina. Except Arrietty had a lot more of an independent personality. I love the relationship between her and Sho. It wasn't a growing romance, but rather a growing fondness for one another.
#4 Ponyo
I absolutely adore Ponyo. This film was so light-hearted and adventure-filled it was hard for me to dislike it, honestly. It had young romance in it, and everything was just so...pure. The illustrations for this film were fantastic as well. I loved the way the ocean was illustrated. Great.
#3 Whisper Of The Heart
I didn't think I would like this film as much as I did. This is exactly the kind of story I am a sucker for: young, blooming romance. The main character is uncertain with what she wants to do with her life, and the story follows her journey of finding our main male character, and how he is intertwined with her future. She pushes him away in the beginning, just like a lot of my favorite female protagonists, and just...man. The kind of romance I wish I had, but realize it would be creepy if it happened in real life.
#2 Spirited Away
When I tried watching this when I was younger, I didn't like it. Actually, I thought I hated it. This film gave me such a weird emotion that I couldn't quite put my finger on, and I just didn't enjoy it at all. Anytime it came on TV, I'd flip channels to find ANYTHING else to watch. But after watching it again sometime in the past year, I REALLY enjoyed it. I love Chihiro (or Sen) and Haku's friendship/relationship. I love how crazy everything is in this world. I was sad at the ending because I didn't want it to end, and I wanted more closure (or at least a sequel).
#1 Howl's Moving Castle
This film...I can't even. This movie was my favorite I think because Howl's character was just the right amount of caring, mysterious, conceited; he was just the whole deal. Someone I would ideally fall in love with. And Sophie is such a sweet, caring girl who thinks of others so much before herself. This film had a great plot, a lot of adventure, a lot of confusing aspects (which is normal with Ghibli films haha) and a GREAT happy ending that I was a complete sap for. The only part that confused me was when Sophie randomly turned back to her normal age (she was sleeping in one scene, and then another scene she was looking for Howl in his weird tunnel). I was just confused as to what triggered the change. BUT, great movie. So great. So. Great.
BONUS FILM!
Grave of the Fireflies
I couldn't add this film to my list of favorites because I felt like it deserved its own category. Although this is one of my FAVORITE Ghibli films, it is also probably one of the saddest films I have ever seen (no, not one of the saddest Ghibli films specifically, but one of the saddest films EVER). Gosh, this film was sad from beginning to end. I had high hopes for this film, and it definitely met my expectations, but God...I have never, EVER bawled my eyes out so much. Even though it's an animated film, the story is very real, I swear if I didn't know better I would've thought it was non-fiction. It was beautifully done. I recommend this one the most out of all of the Ghibli films, despite how tragic the story is from beginning to end.
Sorry these descriptions weren't so great, I guess you'll just have to watch the films to know what I'm talking about! I highly recommend all of the films I've listed above.
#4 Ponyo
I absolutely adore Ponyo. This film was so light-hearted and adventure-filled it was hard for me to dislike it, honestly. It had young romance in it, and everything was just so...pure. The illustrations for this film were fantastic as well. I loved the way the ocean was illustrated. Great.
#3 Whisper Of The Heart
I didn't think I would like this film as much as I did. This is exactly the kind of story I am a sucker for: young, blooming romance. The main character is uncertain with what she wants to do with her life, and the story follows her journey of finding our main male character, and how he is intertwined with her future. She pushes him away in the beginning, just like a lot of my favorite female protagonists, and just...man. The kind of romance I wish I had, but realize it would be creepy if it happened in real life.
#2 Spirited Away
When I tried watching this when I was younger, I didn't like it. Actually, I thought I hated it. This film gave me such a weird emotion that I couldn't quite put my finger on, and I just didn't enjoy it at all. Anytime it came on TV, I'd flip channels to find ANYTHING else to watch. But after watching it again sometime in the past year, I REALLY enjoyed it. I love Chihiro (or Sen) and Haku's friendship/relationship. I love how crazy everything is in this world. I was sad at the ending because I didn't want it to end, and I wanted more closure (or at least a sequel).
#1 Howl's Moving Castle
This film...I can't even. This movie was my favorite I think because Howl's character was just the right amount of caring, mysterious, conceited; he was just the whole deal. Someone I would ideally fall in love with. And Sophie is such a sweet, caring girl who thinks of others so much before herself. This film had a great plot, a lot of adventure, a lot of confusing aspects (which is normal with Ghibli films haha) and a GREAT happy ending that I was a complete sap for. The only part that confused me was when Sophie randomly turned back to her normal age (she was sleeping in one scene, and then another scene she was looking for Howl in his weird tunnel). I was just confused as to what triggered the change. BUT, great movie. So great. So. Great.
BONUS FILM!
Grave of the Fireflies
I couldn't add this film to my list of favorites because I felt like it deserved its own category. Although this is one of my FAVORITE Ghibli films, it is also probably one of the saddest films I have ever seen (no, not one of the saddest Ghibli films specifically, but one of the saddest films EVER). Gosh, this film was sad from beginning to end. I had high hopes for this film, and it definitely met my expectations, but God...I have never, EVER bawled my eyes out so much. Even though it's an animated film, the story is very real, I swear if I didn't know better I would've thought it was non-fiction. It was beautifully done. I recommend this one the most out of all of the Ghibli films, despite how tragic the story is from beginning to end.
Sorry these descriptions weren't so great, I guess you'll just have to watch the films to know what I'm talking about! I highly recommend all of the films I've listed above.
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