Fall’s influx of chilly nights makes me want to hole up inside, underneath a fluffy blanket, and do nothing but eat snacks and watch dreamy movies. When October comes knocking, most people probably want to hop on the Halloween train and watch haunted classics. But I’m much more interested in getting lost in stunning movies that put me on an emotional rollercoaster. Specifically, Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli movies.
Lucky for me and you, Max has a number of them, just waiting to be enjoyed. While there aren’t enough hours in a weekend to watch them all, there are enough hours to watch these 7 gems. So, stock up on snacks and settle in for a weekend chock-full of the animated masterclass.
Friday Night: A Spooky Starting Point (2 hours and 5 minutes)
Spirited Away
Spirited Away is the perfect appetizer in this 8-course Studio Ghibli meal. And it also feels like a good nighttime movie as it’s rife with supernatural elements and many scenes take place after dark. The movie encapsulates the best elements of Studio Ghibli movies, combining beautiful and lively animation and imagery, a wild cast of characters (and creatures—creature presence is essential to the delight factor of a Ghibli movie) from curious kids to bashful spirits to even a dragon, and the perfect amount of zany chaos and magic. And buried under the movie’s many entertaining antics is a deeper story about change and overconsumption. You’ll walk away from Spirited Away both mesmerized by the animation and wondering about the ways of the world.
Saturday: Natural Delights and Dangers (7 hours and 10 minutes)
My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro is a certified classic and the perfect movie to ease you into a long day of movie-watching. So pour yourself a bowl of cereal and get settled. Totoro’s a shorter movie, clocking in at only an hour and twenty-nine minutes, and definitely geared more toward a younger audience. But its childish wonder majorly contributes to its charm.
The main characters, a young sister duo, are too much fun to follow as they explore the magical secrets of their new home. And the magical secrets, AKA Totoro (a big goofy fluffy fantasy creature) and his miniature pals are a treat that makes you want to be a kid again. The movie really brings your wildest childhood imagination to life. Totoro is a whimsical, magical, and incredibly heartfelt tale that may make you cry tears of both joy and sadness.
Ponyo
Ponyo is like taking an afternoon trip to the aquarium with its fish-out-of-water story and its stunning aquatic visuals. The shots of the ocean, from the waves turning into giant fish to the bizarre and magical happenings underneath the sea, are nothing short of enchanting. And, at times, a little bizarre. Ponyo ebbing and flowing between fish form and human form is a rather strange sight to behold. But Ponyo’s strange whimsy makes the story feel so lively and exciting. Plus, the character design is impeccable, from the adorable children to an eccentric villain to Ponyo’s dazzling mermaid-like mother and, of course, the collective of old ladies. Ponyo is truly an oceanic pocket of quirky and comical delight—the perfect movie to spend an afternoon sinking into.
Princess Mononoke
Staying within the theme of nature, Princess Mononoke plants you in the middle of a (magical) woods for a deeper, more somber story that’s just right for the late afternoon into evening time. The film explores the human destruction of nature in an epic narrative following a young prince who gets mixed up in the battle between the natural world and humans. It features a boisterous cast, including some great, strong female characters like Princess Mononoke and Lady Eboshi. And the movie’s creatures are also fantastic, from the Kodama to the wolves to the Forest Spirit itself. Princess Mononoke has moments of beautiful serenity and moments of bombastic action that together create a thrilling yet emotional movie. Prepare to be hypnotized by the animation and imagery and saddened by the story that hits a little too close to home.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
There’s no better movie to finish off the day than Kiki’s Delivery Service. Plus, Kiki’s will be a breath of lighter (bread-scented) air after the Princess Mononoke. Hop on a broom and follow the young witch Kiki as she embarks into the world to find herself, running into a number of amusing catastrophes along the way. Kiki’s spirit is infectious, and her determined and hopeful personality makes her easy to fall in love with. You can’t help but root for her and her sidekick, a hilarious, sarcastic black cat named Jiji. The various settings in Kiki’s are divine, from a bustling seaside town to a woodsy cottage to a bakery filled with delectable-looking baked goods. The movie’s scrumptious, cheery original soundtrack is just icing atop the cake. Kiki’s Delivery Service is as sweet as dessert and will warm your heart like an oven baking cookies.
Sunday: A Heavy Ending Full of Wonder (4 hours and 4 minutes)
The Boy and the Heron
The Boy and the Heron is a newcomer to the Studio Ghibli lineup, but became an instant classic upon its 2023 release. There’s a reason it won an Oscar—it’s an adventure for the ages, visually and musically. The film thrives and flourishes in the realm of strange, jumping through different worlds to explore grief, trauma, and healing. It really is a stunning movie from start to finish. Your screen will be illuminated with settings that are nothing short of majestic. Side characters really steal the show, with the Gray Heron (voiced by Robert Pattinson who does an incredible job) sending a strange chill down your spine and the fierce and feisty young Kiriko lighting up every scene she’s in. And Joe Hisaishi worked literal magic with the movie’s soundtrack. It’s some of, if not his best work, for Studio Ghibli.
Howl’s Moving Castle
You have to conclude your Studio Ghibli binge with the best: Howl’s Moving Castle. Everything about this movie—all 2 hours of it—is magical, from the scenery to the music to the characters. It’s rich with meaning, deeply steeped in anti-war sentiments, but also manages to be fantastical and fun. The story, while murky at times, focuses on the beauty that comes from within people, which is as lovely as the animation itself. Howl’s scenery and imagery are second to none, displaying gorgeous watercolor-like landscapes and a particularly special falling star scene.
Plus, Howl boasts by far the best characters of any Ghibli film. The outlandish wizard Howl, clever and cynical main character Sophie, sweet sidekick Markl, a surprisingly amusing scarecrow with a turnip for a head, and of course, the marvelous and sparky fire demon Calcifer. If you only watch Howl’s for Calcifer, I wouldn’t blame you. And the film’s signature song, “Merry-Go-Round of Life,” is just perfect.
Howl’s Moving Castle is truly Miyazaki’s crème de la crème and the only way to finish out a Studio Ghibli binge.
