Hayao Miyazaki, the director of Studio Ghibli, has offered some of the best animated films of all time. Some of his best works are Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle. His films are nostalgic and provide joy to viewers of every age. For decades, his works conveyed hope and faith in love. The common messages of his works are that what’s lost can be found, that no matter how harsh this world is, there are aspects worth experiencing, and that what collapses can be rebuilt.
82-year-old Miyazaki’s supposedly final film, The Boy and the Heron is set during the events of World War II, 12-year-old Mahito Maki is moved to the countryside after the demise of his mother. He tries to cope with all the changes—his mother’s death, his father’s new marriage, and more. Mahito encounters an enigmatic grey heron while living in the village of his new stepmother. The grey heron leads him into a magical world with the promise of being able to protect his family. The film explores themes like war, friendship, prejudice, socioeconomic disparity, and humanity. Here are 5 Studio Ghibli movies to watch if you liked The Boy and the Heron in no particular order.
My Neighbor Totoro
We can’t make a list for a film that includes a mystical creature and not mention my favorite Ghibli character, Totoro. My Neighbor Totoro is the story of two sisters, Satsuki and Mei. They move to a new dwelling in the countryside with their father to be closer to their mother, who is admitted to a hospital. One day, Mei stumbles upon a rabbit-looking creature named Totoro, who resides in a nearby forest with his family. The sisters befriended this adorable spirit and explored the forest. The film includes a cat which is also a bus, and tiny Totoros.
Spirited Away
The Oscar-winning film Spirited Away is about 10-year-old Chihiro and her adventure in a dreamy city of spirits and monsters. Chihiro and her family get lost in a spirited town while moving to their new home. Tempted by all the free food available in the empty town, her parents greedily feasted and turned into pigs. While Chihiro explores the city to help out her parents, she learns more secrets. Like several Ghibli characters, including Mahito Maki, Chihiro also deals with transformation, growth, and maturity. Spirited Away portrays themes like social problems, labor exploitation, class differences, and discrimination.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Kiki’s Delivery Service focuses on the theme of growing up. The film is about Kiki, a young witch, and her talking black cat Jiji’s adventures in the town of Koriko. They must finish their one-year witch training. Kiki offers delivery service to the people of this coastal town. Through her acts of bravery and kindness, Kiki earns the gratitude of the new community. Kiki’s image of a black dress, short hair, red bowknot hair, and a talking black cat has become the iconic image of Ghibli and Miyazaki’s work.
The Cat Returns
17-year-old Haru rescues a cat that was about to get into an accident. She discovers that the cat is Prince Lune. Lune’s father, the Cat King, asks Haru to marry Lune. While in the cat kingdom, Haru begins to develop feline features. When she is prevented from leaving the kingdom, the two statues Baron and Toto, who have magically given life, offer assistance in obtaining her liberty. The Cat Returns deals with the themes of existentialism, romanticism, and despotism.
Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday is about a 27-year-old office employee, Taeko, who travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood days. Even though the film displays the love interest between Taeko and Toshio. The real love story is between Taeko and her younger self. This film, unlike most Ghibli movies, is about the adult demographic. Only Yesterday deals with themes like melancholy, disappointment, the struggles of adulthood, and more. In the end, the film ends with Taeko facing her true self and her viewpoint of the world.
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