Studio Ghibli Reviews

film #6 of 21 in my Studio Ghibli marathon (Porco Rosso)

this is one of their films where i literally never heard anything about it so i didnt know whether this was gonna be just as great and masterful as their previous films but thankfully this is, it's definitely one of the high most-deep layered of Ghibli's works, the storytelling is easily some of the best that Ghibli has done, its very different and unique and kept me engaged and the main character is one of the most dynamic, multi-layered and unique characters i've seen in an animated film, all the characters here are well-defined and have understandable reasons and are actual real people, the voice acting and animation are once again A++ top notch, it's storytelling is outstanding, it does feel like bizzare in some places (i mean its an movie on an fighter pilot pig) but its fascinating and kinda heartbreaking on the stuff that happens here, the character interactions are sooo real, meaningful and incredible, it had me smiling yet had me crying and the ending is incredible especially with how well-ambigious it was and how it effectely worked sooo amazingly, another perfect film in Ghibli's filmography

Rating/Grade: 100 (A+)

Film #7 of 21 in my Studio Ghibil marathon (Ocean Waves)

when you make a lot of films, there is definitely an chance theres an film that either isnt as remembered or talked about or isnt as good as your most iconic ones, no studio or director is perfect and Ocean Waves is no expection as while it isnt as A+ masterful as their previous six films, its still an great film, it is simple but it works, the messages it tells on frustration on requited love can really hit home for soo many people and apparently this was made-for-TV but it doesnt feel like it, the animation is great as always, the character are interesting (depsite an couple feeling a bit underdeveloped) and feel real and while not as hard-hitting, it does hit every emotion needed, again an couple of characters can feel a bit underdeveloped and depsite its short runtime it can be an bit stretched out but Ocean Waves is still an damn great film

Rating/Grade: 94 (A-)

Film #8 of 21 in my Studio Ghibli marathon (Pom Poko)

another film from their filmography that i haven't heard about till now and another film that is while not one of their true best is still an great film, it does drag in some spots and can be a bit too preachy with its environmental messages but the messages do hit and the animation, the voice acting, the characters, the humor, the use of narration, the way the film is told and how it's structured and the emotional hard-hitting moments that happen do make this film an great one i can see myself appreciating more :)

Rating/Grade: 94 (A-)

Film #9 of 21 in my Studio Ghibli marathon (Whisper Of The Heart)

the previous two films were great but not as great as Ghibil's previous first six films but we now have another masterclass animated film in their filmography with Whisper Of The Heart

it hits everything i already know from an Studio Ghibil film

beautiful and breathtaking animation-check excellent voice acting-check well-handled pacing-check relatable and likeable characters especially the main character-check detalied, simple but highly engaging storytelling-check incredible music-check made me smile from ear to ear-check made me feel a lot of emotion-check interesting and invested world building that doesn't rely heavily on exposition-check feel-good, gut-punch and heartfelt moments-check huge attention to detail-check developing real characters-check displaying messages and themes that feel close to home-check and an film i can see myself constantly rewatching-check, check and checkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

in all seriousness, Whisper Of The Heart is fantastic, in some ways i can see the pacing being an problem to some mainly on how it can tend to focus on stuff involving real life that could be mundane and kinda boring but Ghibli makes it all fascinating and interesting from beginning to end, the themes and messages do hit home involving youth and man it's crazy how many masterful films they have done, with their next one being one of their most iconic, it's gonna be interesting to say the least

Rating/Grade: 100 (A+)

Film #10 of 21 in my Studio Ghibil marathon (Princess Mononoke)

this is one of (if not) the most iconic and well-known film in Studio Ghibli's filmography, i know some that would consider this their very best film and while idk if i would say that yet (mainly cause i want to watch their filmography first) Princess Mononoke is an masterclass of animation

like there is truly a lot to discuss with this film from having some of the most breathtaking and best animation they have done thus far, the storytelling and world-building here is outstanding, the voice acting is some of the best that Ghibli has done, the themes on the effects of industralization on nature, deforestations and how it affects others is highly compelling in everyway and we have something involving environmentalism that isn't jammed down your throat, the main characters you follow on this journey are relatable, engaging, likeable and fascinating from beginning to end, even the "villain" is incredibly engaging and i loved how they have villains they aren't portayed as evil people, just either misunderstood or just being real people and i love who he doesn't portay each side as right or wrong, the relationships are well-defined and some of the most real relationships ever put to any film especially the two leads and the love story as well, it's world has soo much life to it, the detalis and aspects it dives deep into affected me severly and has one of the most beautiful endings/final shots to an film i've seen ever, i can't say whether this is my favorite Studio Ghibli film just yet but it's one i feel bad i didn't watch sooner and can see why it's so iconic and well-remembered to this day

Rating/Grade: 110 (A++)

Film #11 of 21 in my Studio Ghibli marathon (My Neighbors The Yamadas)

man the 5/5 just keeps on coming for Studio Ghibli films, this one i have never even heard of till now and i wish i did cause My Neighbors The Yamadas is another awesome film

the animation itself may feel simple but also very unique in the story they are telling here and the story also may seem simple but it's also engaging and considering some of the stuff that happened is just stuff in mundane life it should be boring but he make it very engaging, interesting and investing, it's kinda like an japanase simpsons in an way, not to mention this is easily their funniest film to date, one of the funniest films i literally have ever seen, it still can hit the emotion when needed but the humor stands out more here, the family itself is fun, great and lovely and all their interactions are freakin gold, i even love how it tries to deliver good messages for women without it feeling shoved down your throats, i smiled and felt good throughout the runtime, the pacing was top-notch and i overall had an blast with the film and feel could be one of their most rewatchable and this is by far their most under-appreciated as i never seen anyone discuss this film

Rating/Grade: 100 (A+)

Film #12 of 21 in my Studio Ghibli marathon (Spirited Away)

if you were to say what is Ghibli's most iconic and well-known film and what is their best film, Spirited Away would normally be everyone's answer to that question and again i won't say if it is (since i am reviewing them and will be ranking them) it isn't hard to see why Spirited Away is fondly remembered 20 years later

the animation is literally some of the best i've ever seen in any animated film, visually it's breathtaking, the storytelling is some of the most inventive, emotional, deep, thought-provoking stuff done in all of the Ghibli films i've seen thus far and in general in films period, the world-building is again amazing, the characters from Chihiro, Haku and especially No-Face are some of the most compelling characters ever put to animation, honestly dought do i even need to say why this sfilm is so beloved and still is beloved to this day, from the animation, story, writing, directing, character, character development, character growth, hard-hitting themes and messages that aren't afraid to hit the emotion it needs and to not play it safe or give easy answers, all which this studio has done amazingly over my marathon of watching all these films, again don't wanna say it's my favorite film just yet, need to think about it and don't wanna say till i watch all their films but Spirited Away is an timeless classic for an reason, an new all-time favortie animated film and film in general

Rating/Grade: 110 (A++)

Film #13 of 21 in my Studio Ghibli marathon (The Cat Returns)

an fascinating thing so far with watching all of Ghibli films is watching some films i'm surprised haven't been talked about much or at all, with Ocean Waves, Pom Poko and My Neighbor The Yamadas and now The Cat Returns which while isn't one of their true best is still an damn great film

this film is definitely one of their more odd features and your views on this film will depend if you can go along with the story and it some ways isn't the most emotional film in Ghibli's filmography but the characters especially the main girl are great (a bit thin in character development) but still likeable and well-acted enough to be interesting, it isn't as hard-hitting as you expect it to but it hits what is needed, the animation is of course unique and beautiful like most of their films, the characters are great, the relationships are well-done, it's pretty funny, has some sweet, feel-good moments, great aspects involving the cat world itself and the cat themselves, moments that had me smiling and cracking up, again not one of Ghibli's promiment films or best films but still one worth checking out :)

Rating/Grade: 92 (A-)

Film #14 of 21 in my Studio Ghibli Marathon (Howl's Moving Castle)

man deciding what is gonna be my #1 best of Ghibli's filmography when i finish watching all their films is gonna be one of the toughest and hardest things i've ever done period, this is their 14th film and gave 11 my highest grade/rating (this film being one of the 11), Howl's Moving Castle is another Ghibli film that's very iconic in their filmography where if you ask what would you say is one of their best, this film would be one of them and it isn't hard to see why people love this film as Howl's Moving Castle is another example of animation perfection

the animation is breathtaking as always, the world-building and setups are incredibly engaging, the characters here are some of the absolute best in any Ghibli film from from Howl, the scarecrow, the talking fire and many others, i can see some people complaining on Sophie's aging curse on how confusing it is but it never bothered me, the characters interactions are some of the most layered and deep i've seen in an Ghibli film, the themes of industrialization and war are very compelling and deep, it has some of the most touching and most emotional moments in any Ghibil film, the love story between Sophie and Howl is natural, beautiful and wonderful and one of the best romances i've seen in an animated film, it is also more ambigious than most Ghibli's films but it works and keeps you thinking long after the credits roll, i can see why this is one of their more well-known film and again deciding what's gonna be their best is gonna be wayy harder than i realize

Rating/Grade: 110 (A++)

Film #15 of 21 in my Studio Ghibli marathon (Tales From Earthsea)

we have another film from then that i don't really know much about, the only thing i really do know about it is that it's known for being Ghibli's worst film and after watching it, it most likely will be but it's still an solid film, sure the story might not make sense at times, sure it's a bit all over the place with the tone and what it wants to say and i can see why people think the film is bad or not good but it's the animation, the voice acting, the attempts it was going for with the story and characters, some visually amazing moments, some good characters, some interesting used ideas and concepts and effort at least that do save the film as it's being bad or okay, it's solid but weak :)

Rating/Grade: 70 (B)

Film #16 of 21 in my Studio Ghibli marathon (Ponyo)

man deciding how to rank all of Ghibli's films is gonna be the definition of the hardest thing i've ever done along with deciding my #1, Ponyo is always an film ive heard sooo many great and amazing things about and it deserves all that praise

the animation continues to be as beautiful, breathtaking and detalied as ever before, its honestly amazing how much attention to detail is put in these films especially this one, i loved the connection between Ponyo and Sosuke and how adorable and amazing it feels, how they put attention to the ocean and who Ponyo is just incredible, the relationships are lovely and beautiful, the storytelling is simple and light but highly engaging from beginning to end, this film has also one of my favorite opening scenes in any animated film, i laughed, i cried, i smiled from ear to ear, the music is great, the pacing is great, the tone shifts an few times but never to where it's jarring, it's world is amazing as always, the mother is great especially the crazy driver, it does leave a few things unanswered but not in an way that feels it's frustrating not getting the answers, overall another masterpiece :)

Rating/Grade: 100 (A+)

Film #17 of 21 in my Studio Ghibli marathon (The Secret Worl

we are getting closer to have finished watching every Ghibli film and we have an film that ive heard a lot about never havent seen much people talk about and we have another all-time best animated film for me with Arrietty

with some of the most tender, unique and detalied and warming animation they have ever done especially with how photorealistic it is, the amazing and beautiful score that's one of the best scores they have ever done and actually adds soo many layers and emotions to the film, an simple but tender and wonderful story, fantastic characters especially with Arrietty herself, hard-hitting small but emotional moments, more incredible world-building, great use of humor, emotion, excellent pacing learning soo much in such 95 minutes, incredible voice acting. great relationships, great, well-handled messages and storytelling and such an beautiful film like with an majority of Ghibli's films i'll be remembering for years to come :)

Rating/Grade: 100 (A+)