Studio Ghibli is one of Japan's leading animation studios, active worldwide. Every film released, including those directed by master director Hayao Miyazaki, is hailed as a masterpiece. We'll be introducing Ghibli films in chronological order, including behind-the-scenes information and plot details. Let's trace Ghibli's long history.
List of Ghibli Films by Release Date: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Debut Film
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was first released in March 1984. Although it wasn't actually being produced by Studio Ghibli at the time, it has now become an essential Ghibli work. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was originally a manga serialized in Animage by director Hayao Miyazaki, and of course it is also published around the world. It was said that films wouldn't be made without an original source, so Miyazaki quickly began drawing the manga as the original author. The series began serialization in 1982, and after four hiatuses, it was completed in 1994. A new version of the Kabuki play is scheduled to be released in 2019. We're looking forward to it.
Awards
Director Hayao Miyazaki won the Grand Prize at the 23rd Japan Cartoonists Association Awards in 1994 and the 26th Seiun Award in the Comics category in 1995 for "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind." The manga has also sold a total of 12 million copies in book form, and has been translated and published in eight countries worldwide, demonstrating Miyazaki's talent with his first film.
List of Ghibli Films by Year of Release: Laputa: Castle in the Sky
A Memorable First Film
Studio Ghibli was founded after the release of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, so "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" was Studio Ghibli's first film. It was released in August 1986. This was the first original work without a source material. While it's an adventure film aimed at children, director Hayao Miyazaki aimed to go beyond that and create a film that adults could enjoy as well. Indeed, "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" is enjoyable for a wide range of ages.
Famous Quotes
When you think of Laputa: Castle in the Sky, this scene is the one that stands out. The "Balse!" scene, which you can't help but scream every time, was so popular that when it aired on Friday Roadshow for the first time in a while, Twitter in Japan crashed due to so many tweets about it (lol). It actually became so well-known overseas that people were worried about Japan. That's how exciting it is for Japanese people, no matter how many times they watch it.
List of Studio Ghibli Movies by Year of Release: My Neighbor Totoro
Speaking of Ghibli!
When you think of Ghibli, this film comes to mind. "My Neighbor Totoro" was released in April 1988. The tagline was, "This strange creature probably still lives in Japan. And keep those pure feelings forever." It's a film that brings back memories of childhood, when every day was filled with excitement. And above all, Totoro is adorable.
Start Here
This clip of Totoro's profile now appears at the beginning of Ghibli films, but of course it started appearing when Totoro was released. Therefore, it's not included in "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" or "Castle in the Sky." It's included on DVDs and Blu-rays, but it wasn't originally included. Totoro, now a Ghibli icon, wasn't even the first film. It really gives you a sense of Studio Ghibli's history.
Ghibli Films by Year: Grave of the Fireflies
Films Directed by Isao Takahata
Grave of the Fireflies is probably the only Ghibli film with a bad ending. It was shown alongside My Neighbor Totoro. It's based on a short story by Akiyuki Nosaka, written based on his own wartime experiences. It's so realistic because it was written by someone who experienced it. It's so painful to see the two characters having so much fun like this, it makes me feel that war is something we should never have. It's a truly realistic and heart-breaking work, so much so that there have been complaints that broadcasting it on television would traumatize children.
Live-Action Adaptation
The live-action film was released on July 5, 2008. Setsuko's adorable face makes it even more painful. The two somehow look alike. She's perfect for the role. It was also adapted into a TV drama in November 2005, revealing the horrors of war and the fact that there are still children, like Seita and Setsuko, still living in the ravages of war. Grave of the Fireflies was a work that received mixed reviews (due to its overly realistic nature), but it has been remade in many different ways and remains beloved to this day.
What's Shown in the Poster
This is a poster for Grave of the Fireflies. The original background is black, but if you brighten it up, you'll see what's said to be the B29s that dropped bombs on Japan. In fact, the flying lights weren't fireflies, but incendiary bombs. When you think about it, Setsuko's smile is truly touching. At just 4 and 14 years old, they struggled to survive in a world where they couldn't survive even if they wanted to. These two were incredibly strong. It's frustrating to think that if I were older, I'd be able to bow my head more, but it's difficult for a child. It really brings home the horrors of war.
List of Studio Ghibli films by release year: Kiki's Delivery Service
Sudden rise in popularity
Kiki's Delivery Service was released in July 1989. While the audience numbers for Laputa: Castle in the Sky (770,000) and My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies (800,000) were impressive, Kiki's Delivery Service drew an astounding 2.64 million. This work made Studio Ghibli even more famous, making it one of Japan's leading animation companies. Studio Ghibli's rise has only just begun!
Stage Play
There have been many stage adaptations of Kiki's Delivery Service, all of which are musicals. A stage version also premiered in the UK in 2016, making it a highly acclaimed work worldwide. Perhaps we'll see it on stage again in the future. Incidentally, the original manga, which took 24 years to complete and was completed in October 2019, is a six-volume work, so be sure to read it. It has a strong fantasy element, so the story is slightly different from the Ghibli version.
List of Ghibli Films by Year of Release: Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday, or "Only Yesterday" in English, is a film directed by Isao Takahata and released in July 1991. It was the first film by Studio Ghibli to employ its staff as full-time employees. They're making great strides! It was released in the US in 2016, marking the first time a Japanese anime film was released with an English dub. It's making its way globally. The original work is a manga by Okamoto Hotaru and Tone Yuko, serialized from 1987 to 1988 and consisting of two volumes.
Popular Work
It won the Best Money-Making Director award at the 9th Golden Gross Awards and the Best Picture award at the 15th Japan Academy Awards. It also attracted approximately 2.17 million viewers over 10 days, not as many as Kiki's Delivery Service, but still boasting some of the highest audience numbers of any film in history. This bittersweet story weaves together Taeko's past and present. I still remember how thrilling the first love scene was! While not a fantasy, it's a very compelling work, and watching it as a child leaves a completely different impression than watching it as an adult.
Stage Play
Of course, it's also been adapted into a stage musical. It was decided to adapt it for the stage in 2011, marking Studio Ghibli's first stage adaptation. Only Yesterday is a work that boasts many Ghibli firsts. The stage version was so popular that it was initially shown at the Ginza Theater, but the following year it was expanded to a nationwide screening. This film is also enjoyable for both adults and children.
List of Studio Ghibli Films by Year of Release: Porco Rosso
Another Update
Porco Rosso, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, was released in July 1992. Just as the tagline suggests, it's simply cool. It drew approximately 3.05 million viewers and grossed 5.3 billion yen, breaking the Japanese box office record at the time. It won countless awards, and its famous line, "A pig that can't fly is just a pig," became a huge hit at the time, making it a hot topic. Even though he's a pig, he looks cool.
Anime for Adults
Of course, there are plenty of scenes kids would love, like cool airplanes and wild parties, but Porco Rosso is an anime for adults from start to finish. Director Hayao Miyazaki even said, "It's completely my own taste. I failed." It's a work that truly showcases adult coolness. Not only the battle scenes, but the protagonist Porco's stance and even his small gestures are irresistibly cool. Even though he's a pig! (lol)
Future
The movie didn't show whether Porco turned back into a human or what happened to Gina. Isn't that really interesting? Apparently, Porco turned back into a human thanks to Fiona's kiss, and Gina won the bet. If you look closely at the final scene at Gina's shop, you'll see Porco's plane parked there, even though it's daytime. They finally got together. I remember being envious of Gina's cute bet as a child. Gina is beautiful and strong, but she also has a feminine and cute side to her, making her incredibly charming.
List of Ghibli Films by Year of Release: Ocean Waves
Broadcast Films
Although not a film, this was a 1993 production by young Studio Ghibli directors. Neither director Hayao Miyazaki nor director Isao Takahata had any involvement! It was partly intended as a way to foster young talent, but it was only broadcast on television twice, so many people may not know about it. It aired at 4 PM at the time, but it was a huge hit, achieving an unprecedented audience rating of 17.4%.
Why isn't it broadcast more often?
In fact, while the series primarily features high school students, I suspect it may not be broadcast frequently due to scenes featuring smoking and drinking. The second broadcast was in 2011, and at the beginning, a caption read, "This series contains scenes of underage drinking and smoking. However, we will respect the original work's character and the author's intentions and broadcast the series in its original form." It's understandable, considering it's become a social issue. It's something that requires significant attention.
Drama Adaptation
Ocean Waves was adapted into a TV drama as part of a Christmas special in 1995. This was Shinji Takeda's first starring role, and the role of the heroine, Rikako, was played by the highly popular Hitomi Sato, who won the audition out of approximately 4,400 applicants. Everyone looks so young! Be sure to check it out!
List of Ghibli Films Released in Order of Year: Pom Poko
You'll Want to Dance
This film, released in 1997, is set in the town of Tama New Town in the 1960s. The story follows a group of cheerful tanuki (raccoon dogs) who use a decaying chemical called "bakegaku" to challenge humans in order to protect their hometown. The tanuki are always singing and dancing, and they look like they're having so much fun, many of you have probably sung along to the film.
Great tempo
I liked the relationship between the main characters, Shokichi and Ponkichi, the most. The narration, by Kokontei Shincho III, was fast-paced, cool, and perfectly matched the atmosphere of the story, making it particularly memorable. The story unfolds at a rapid pace, making it enjoyable to watch. Isao Takahata directed, wrote the original story, and created the screenplay. I'm sure many people's perspective on raccoons and foxes has changed after watching this movie.
Secret Appearances
In fact, when the raccoon dogs transform into monsters, food, and various other things, characters from previous Ghibli films secretly appear. It's a wonderful touch from director Isao Takahata—have you noticed? Appearing are Kiki from "Kiki's Delivery Service," flying through the sky on a broomstick; Totoro from "My Neighbor Totoro," barking and flying on a chess piece with an umbrella; Taeko from "Only Yesterday," who for some reason flies like Ultraman; and Porco from "Porco Rosso." It's a little hard to find, but please try searching for it.
List of Studio Ghibli Films by Year of Release: Whisper of the Heart
Directorial Debut by Yoshifumi Kondo
"Whisper of the Heart" was released in 1995. Based on a shojo manga, it was a very sparkling film, and I remember being thrilled. It was the debut feature-length animated film by director Yoshifumi Kondo, who also worked on the animation team. He has supported the animation and direction of directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and is known for his meticulous depictions and natural direction. He's the perfect fit for Whisper of the Heart.
Famous Songs
The confession scene is hard to miss, but the scene where Shizuku sings with excitement while everyone plays is also memorable. And the scenes of Seiji, who later falls in love with her, making the violin and playing it were incredibly beautiful and cool. This is a fun story about the sweet and earnest love of middle school students. Country Road was also a hugely popular song at the time, even appearing in textbooks.
List of Ghibli Films by Year of Release: Princess Mononoke
Masterpieces
The masterpiece "Princess Mononoke" was released in 1997. It's a film that remains captivating no matter how many times you watch it, and director Hayao Miyazaki also wrote the screenplay and original story. It took 16 years to conceive and three years to produce, making it a truly powerful work. Can monsters and humans coexist? Each has their own thoughts, and both are righteous, making it a masterpiece that moves you with every scene.
Director Hayao Miyazaki's Seriousness
Every film is serious, but I've never seen an anime that made me think so much. Above all, each character is wonderful, and the acting of the actresses and actors who portray them is also superb. He casts many actors who have appeared in previous Ghibli films, including Yuriko Ishida, Yoji Matsuda, Tsunehiko Kamijo, and Sumi Shimamoto. You can really sense the director's enthusiasm there.
Cool
While many people think Ashitaka is cool (of course he is!), I think San is just as cool. I believe she fulfilled her duties as the heroine beyond expectations and always thought of the forest. San, who has lived an incredibly amazing life, is just as cool in her way of life and her determination to fight. As the title of the work suggests, Princess Mononoke is incomplete without San.
List of Ghibli Films by Year: My Neighbors the Yamadas
Relaxing
"My Neighbors the Yamadas" was released in 1999. It's a heartwarming comedy depicting the daily life of the Yamada family. It's based on the four-panel comic strip "Nono-chan." Originally titled "My Neighbors the Yamadas," it was serialized in the Asahi Shimbun morning edition. It's a short anthology of stories, filled with family anecdotes and the unique atmosphere of the Yamada family. The film is directed by Isao Takahata.
Studio Ghibli Films by Year of Release: Spirited Away
No. 1 in Japan
Even now, in 2019, Spirited Away still holds the top spot in the box office rankings. Released in 2001, this record could only be surpassed by director Hayao Miyazaki. Initially, it was thought the film would not be as successful as Princess Mononoke, but it has since become a huge hit, surpassing even that record.
Expanding Globally
At the 52nd Berlin International Film Festival, it became the first animated feature film in the world to win the Best Animated Feature Award. It also won the Best Animated Feature Award at the 75th Academy Awards, another first in history. This led to the film being shown around the world, and it was Disney, with whom the film has a close relationship, that provided the impetus for its global releases. It was the moment when the film's name spread from Japan to the world!
List of Ghibli Films by Year: The Cat Returns, Ghiblies 2
Ghibli's First Sequel
"The Cat Returns" was released in 2002. It was directed by Hiroyuki Morita, who has worked on many Ghibli films. It is a spin-off written by Shizuku Tsukishima, the protagonist of "Whisper of the Heart." It was Ghibli's first sequel. The Baron was so cool in this film.
Ghiblies 2
This is the sequel to the short animated film that aired on the Nippon Television network in 2000. It was shown alongside The Cat Returns and has a unique worldview. It was directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, who has also worked on many Studio Ghibli films. For some reason, Ghiblies 2 is addictive. I particularly enjoyed the curry competition storyline (lol). Incidentally, it won the Grand Prize at the 20th Golden Gross Awards.
List of Studio Ghibli Films by Year of Release: Howl's Moving Castle
Amazing Awards
"Howl's Moving Castle" was released in 2004. It also attracted attention for starring Johnny's idol Takuya Kimura. Howl's Moving Castle has an impressive award history. It has received acclaim not only in Japan but around the world, proving its immense popularity. Apparently, director Hayao Miyazaki first encountered the original Howl's Moving Castle when he found it among the children's books he received monthly from Tokuma Shoten. It was this book that inspired him to take a liking to it, and the project was born. It's wonderful to be able to find a work that inspires you to write among so many books.
First Time in 15 Years
In fact, this is the first time in about 15 years that Hayao Miyazaki has directed a film based on an original work by someone else! The original work is "Howl's Moving Castle" by British author Diana Wynne Jones. It was a foreign work. Also, for the first time in about 12 years, the heroine's voice actress will also be singing the theme song. Chieko Baisho's singing voice was incredibly beautiful.
List of Studio Ghibli films by release date: Earthsea
Goro Miyazaki's first directorial work
This is "Tales from Earthsea," released in 2006. It was the directorial debut of Goro Miyazaki, the son of Hayao Miyazaki. He was recommended to direct by Toshio Suzuki, a longtime Ghibli producer. His father, director Hayao Miyazaki, was initially vehemently opposed, but apparently silenced him after seeing Goro's illustration, which also appeared on the film's poster (lol). The more you look at the more you like, the more you like!
Going Overseas
This film was invited to the 63rd Venice International Film Festival, where it received the lowest ratings. While the harsh reviews may have been due to the fact that he's Miyazaki's son, Goro still has a lot of potential, so we're looking forward to his next film. The theme song for Tales from Earthsea, "Teru's Song," was highly praised in Japan. The lyrics were written by director Goro Miyazaki.
List of Studio Ghibli Films Released in Order of Year: Ponyo on the Cliff
Responsible for All
"Ponyo on the Cliff" was released in 2008. For the first time in seven years since Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki directed, wrote, and produced the original story. For Ponyo on the Cliff, he chose not to use CGI. The original artwork staff must have had a lot of trouble in pursuing the benefits of analogue. Apparently the most troublesome thing was the sea. When you look again, be sure to check out the ocean.
Unusual sale
In fact, the theme song, "Ponyo on the Cliff," was released more than six months before it was screened. This song was also a huge hit. At the theme song recital, director Miyazaki Hayao appeared, who was in a bad mood due to the delay in production, but when he heard the theme song, he was in a good mood when he saw the cute Ohashi Nozomi-chan (lol). He apparently got even more motivated when he had a happy ending that was as good as this song. That's lovely!
List of Ghibli publications by year: Borrowing Arrietty
First directorial film
The release of "Arietty, a Bonus" was released in 2010. This is the first film by director Yonebayashi Hiromasa, who was originally an animation staff member. He was the veteran artwork and video staff who was the best in Ghibli, with the best drawing and speed. This film was planned by Miyazaki a long time ago, and it seems that it was produced by producer Suzuki who recommended director Yonebayashi. It seems that there were quite a few opinions with Director Miyazaki in the production, but I wonder if it was a film typical of Director Yonebayashi.
Model
In fact, Sho's model in the work is Kamiki Ryunosuke, who was also the voice actor. From the beginning, he had planned to be the voice actor Kamiki, but he put up posters of Kamiki on walls and other parts to study his facial expressions. It's true that Kamiki-san's soft side is expressed. Kamiki's role is also perfect, making this the third Ghibli voice actor. It's stable and good, and suits Ghibli.
List of Ghibli publications by year: From Kokuriko Hill
Love Story
"From the Kokuriko Hill," released in 2011, is the second film by director Miyazaki Goro. There are many works in Ghibli that are based on love, but this work has also become a shojo manga from Kokuriko Hill. The story takes place in Japan in 1963, when student movements were still active. People today may be surprised to see it, but there were a lot of events happening back then. This work will give you a sense of the times.
Ghibli publication year list Kaguyahime
Last work
The Tale of Princess Kaguya, released in 2013, was directed, scripted and original idea by director Takahata Isao. This is the first film in 14 years since Yamada-kun, who is next to Hohokekyo, and he passed away about four years after the release of this film. So this will be the last one. He was active in the anime industry until the end, and was a director who left behind memorable works. This story of Princess Kaguya has also become a truly masterpiece with great attention to detail, from the artwork to the videos.
Ghibli publication year list: Wind Rises
Retirement Declaration
"The Wind Rises" was released in 2013. Director Miyazaki Hayao is the original work, scriptwriter and director, and has announced his retirement after this film. This work is based on the real Horikoshi Jiro, and includes a novel by Hori Tatsuo. The original is a serialized manga directed by Miyazaki Hayao, published in a magazine called "Model Graphics." This is the first time that director Hayao Miyazaki's original manga has been turned into a movie since Red Pig.
Love, War, Illness
It was shocking to see that a boy who had always dreamed of airplanes had made a fighter plane, but there are many other depictions of Horikoshi Jiro's life being tragic. The person he fell in love with has tuberculosis and passes away, but the love affair between these two was also good. It was impressive to see how he spent his days in such a sad, heart-warming love. The painful feelings of war and Jiro's honest, serious, and slightly relaxed personality made me very impressed and captivated me.
Ghibli publication year list: Memories of Marnie
Works that are not involved at all
In 2014, director Yonebayashi Hiromasa's second film, "Memories of Marnie," was released. This film is not related to director Hayao Miyazaki or Takahata Isao, and after this film, director Yonebayashi left Ghibli and launched a new studio Ponok. I was a little sad because I thought Director Yonebayashi was the successor to Ghibli, but I hope they will produce more and more good works!
Director Yonebayashi's identity
It's a Ghibli-like film, and has a new feel that directors Miyazaki Hayao and Takahata Isao don't have, making it a film that will draw you in the world more and more. We will learn about Marnie's past and Marnie's life in the last moment, but the presence and atmosphere up until then was a very delicate and beautiful work. With this work in mind, Ghibli producer Suzuki has announced that he will take a break from creating the work.
Ghibli is still on the move!
What did you think? [Ghibli] Timeline! List of publication order! We have introduced you. Due to director Hayao Miyazaki's age, he once declared his retirement, but in 2017 he recruited staff again and is currently creating feature-length animations. I would like to see someone who will become a successor sooner, and I respect director Miyazaki Hayao, who is enthusiastic about his next film. It's rare for a director to be so beloved. I hope Ghibli continues to create works.
