As I wrote my movie recommendation for WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE — Studio Ghibli’s most recent release — I was thinking about all of its movies I’ve seen and how I would rank them.
As you might know, Hayao Miyazaki, the master animator behind Studio Ghibli’s thirty years of success, retired in 2013 after releasing his final film, THE WIND RISES. (I hope he was bluffing about his retirement.)
In any event, WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE (WMWT) is first production from Studio Ghibli where Miyazaki was not involved in any capacity. The helms have been turned over to Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Miyazaki’s protege) who directed the wonderful WMWT movie which I highly recommend.
Please note, remarkably there is not one Studio Ghibli a movie which I did not enjoy watching. Do not misconstrue the lower rankings to mean I did not like them. Instead, the higher rankings mean I’ll never get tired of watching these movies over and over, like WMWT which I’ve watched three times already. (Conversely, my comic book movie rankings include ones which I absolutely despise.)
WMWT is a tour de force like many of Studio Ghibli’s films. It’s a resumé of work which will never be repeated nor can ever be matched. (Sorry Pixar.) The degree of creativity, imagination and execution will be truly be a once-in-a-century happening.
Thank you Studio Ghibli for sharing your talents and producing movies which will inspire generations to come.
As of November 2015, here are my rankings:
1. SPIRITED AWAY (2001)
2. PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997)
3. HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (2004)
4. WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE (2014)
5. FROM UP ON POPPY HILL (2011)
6. WHISPER OF THE HEART (1995)
7. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988)
8. GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (1988)
9. ONLY YESTERDAY (1991)
10. PONYO (2008)
11. THE WIND RISES (2013)
12. NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (1984)
13. THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (2010)
14. PORCO ROSSO (1992)
15. CASTLE IN THE SKY (1989)
16. OCEAN WAVES (1993)
Next up for me to watch:
THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA (2013)
KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989)
THE CAT RETURNS (2002)
POM POKO (1994)
Cheers!
