Studio Ghibli is pretty much the only anime producer that doesn't drive me to extreme boredom. With several popular films like Spirited away and Howl's Moving Castle they're pretty much the main anime film producer of today, even though most of their films are older than I am!
So, here's my list of my favourite Ghibli films:
1. Princess Mononoke - Better plot than the others, with a great deal more action and easily the best monsters in Ghibli's history. Generally a very cool film with a decent script and it is pretty emotional. Occasionally cheesy lines but some really great ones too;
"Tastes like super-donkey piss."
Made by who I consider easily the best Ghibli animator, Hayao Miyazaki, who generally produces the more tight and action packed films.
2. Laputa-Castles In The Sky - another Miyazaki film, this one has more or less the same plus sides; good plot, great villains, very aesthetically pleasing, and some really great Steampunk machines. Only problem is that the dubbing makes a boy of 15 sound like a 32 year old pedophile.
3. Howl's Moving Castle - Based off a good book by Diana Wyn Jones (though barely faithful to it), this Miyazaki film has more of those awesome Steampunk machines, easily the best script ("What a pretty fire!") and some of the better plot points. It lacks some of the tightness of the previous two, though, and the plot doesn't really seem all that well played out.
4. Nausica Of The Valley Of The Wind - Yes, another Miyazaki. Featuring a rather easy to grasp plot and some of the best creatures of the series, it gets a nice spot here at fourth. Looks very pretty too.
5. Spirited Away - Generic option and the best known Ghibli film, it does however feature a very strong plot and characters, but less of the sinister feel of Mononoke and worse characters than Laputa. Slightly more of a feelgood film, but it doesn't appeal to much to me anymore. Still a good watch, though.
6. Grave Of The Fireflies - Depressing but a very good film otherwise. Not really my thing though.
7. My Neighbour Totoro - Very much a feelgood film, it has makes the subject of a dead parent seem almost joyful. Tonnes of charm, but also tonnes of problems, with some poor lines and some slightly childish themes that get in the way.
8. Porco Rosso - Featuring the almightly pig pilot, this makes tonnes of logical sense, plot-wise, and has some very memorable characters. However, it isn't all that inspiring, and the majority of the films strengths are occasionally lacking.
9. Kikki's Delivery Service - See the above but with witches instead of pigs.
10. Ponyo - Oooooo, this had potential. Great characters but the plot was seriously tedious.
Feel free to comment or post your own lists.
