Studio Ghibli...what is your favorite movies?

[coffeehubby]

I like a lot of Miyazaki but am looking to expand my collection. What other Studio Ghibli titles/ animation films do you like besides the Miyazaki stuff?

I enjoyed Spirited away and Porco russo to give you an idea of my taste. I'm curious about Tales From earthsea and works by Miyazaki's son.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Spirited Away was the only one I really liked.

[LadyRushia]

Moved to Anime.

[ChristianKitsune]

Whispers of the Heart was my FAVORITE so far... XD its kinda slow for people who like action, but if you're looking for a cute slice of life with a little bit of romance this movie is great XD.

[chibiphonebooth]

i loveeee howls moving castle, ponyo on a cliff, spirited away, princess mononoke, porco rosso... i love all of them. ;_;

castle in the sky was pretty good too. :]

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Princess Mononoke was my favorite, but I've only watched it along with Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle.

[coffeehubby]

I have seen or own most of those titles, and I do enjoy them. I'm looking for something outside of Miyazaki but within the Studio Ghibli titles...thanks.

My favorite is Porco Russo, I suppose because it's geared for guys.

[Hana Ryuuzaki]

[font="palatino Linotype"]Dude, I love ALL of Miyazaki-sensei's movies. The only one I haven't seen is Ponyo, but I'm hoping to catch a glimpse soon~

A really really REALLY good movie by Studio Ghibli but NOT directed by Miyazaki is The Cat Returns.
GAH IT IS SO GOOD.
:][/font]

[RFC]

I am not an expert, but I personally loved Howl's Moving Castle the best

[coffeehubby]

I have seen ( and loved): Spirited Away/ Howl's Moving castle/ Luputa, Castle In The Sky/ Porco Russo ( favorite)/ Princess Monocle/ Naussica Valley Of The wind/ Cat Returns/ Kiki's Delivery Service/ Pomo Poko/Whisper Of The Heart........and I even am watching episodes of Sherlock Hound which is Miyazaki's ealier work. He did something earlier about an adventurous boy named Conad or conan....
I love all this stuff

[Spike Ikari]

Hoo boy, there's too many Ghibli and Miyazaki films I love, and I'm especially excited about Ponyo in August. I think though I love all of the ones I've seen, I could probably watch My Neighbor Totoro over and over, because it always puts me in a good mood when I'm feeling down, and captures this sense of wonder that I don't see in many other films.

[Maokun]

[quote="coffeehubby (post: 1314220)"]I have seen ( and loved): Spirited Away/ Howl's Moving castle/ Laputa, Castle In The Sky/ Porco Rosso ( favorite)/ Princess Mononoke/ Nausicaä]

Fixed it for you Not trying to be a pompous jerk (though I've been called that), just so you'll know better if you ever need to look around related stuff.

Anyway, to answer your question: The other great director in Ghibli is Isao Takahata who maintains a sort of friendly rivalry with Miyasaki. I think most people will agree with me that The Grave of the Fireflies is his Magnum Opus and is definitely a must watch (just keep in mid to have close to you a box of tissues.) His other films with Ghibli are Pom Poko which you already mentioned, Omohide PoroPoro (Only yesterday) which is very recommendable as well, very mature (in the good sense) and My Neighbors the Yamata, a light-hearted family comedy with cartoonish animation. His most notable pre-Ghibli works would be the immortal classic series Heidi: Girl of the Alps and the movie Hols: Prince of Sun.

As for Miyasaki, if you want some other pre-Ghibli stuff you could check the movie Lupin the 3rd: The Castle of Cagliostro and the series Nadia: Secret of the Blue Water which he created but was directed by another (at least IMHO) genius director, Hideaki Anno. The old series you are thinking about is called Future Boy Conan.

[ClosetOtaku]

I liked The Grave of the Fireflies very much -- but have a hard time sitting through repeated viewings. Omohide Poro Poro is my non-Miyazaki Ghibli favorite, probably because I prefer "slice of life" type anime. Available only subtitled.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Tales of Earthsea was very disappointing and Pom Poko was convolted and distracting. I enjoy most other Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli movies though.
My favourites are: Nausicaa, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Porco Rosso, Grave of the Fireflies, and Whisper of the Heart.
Future Boy Conan is great but there's a definite lull in quality for several episodes part way through. Otherwise it's amazing for it's time.

[coffeehubby]

I don't mind being corrected Maokun. I assume I mis-spelled a few titles! Thanks..

[sharikqah]

I actually prefer Miyazaki's earlier works. Both Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) & Laputa: The Castle in the Sky (1986) have a kind of simple (not simplistic) storytelling which summarize all the values that he & Studio Ghibli stand for. Courage, loyalty, hope, love, respect for the environment etc.

But the classic Miyazaki film is Mononoke-Hime (1998). Very complicated story, very powerful themes, & a very unresolved ending. It's the only Miyazaki film which I can safely say requires multiple viewings to satisfy one's attempt to understand it. It's a good reflection on postmodern life as we know it.

Miyazaki also did one music video - On Your Mark in 1995 - for the Japanese singing duo of Chage & Aska. There's not much of a story there, but for Miyazaki's "earlier" work, the ideas of escape and death are quite unusual.

I noticed there's one Studio Ghibli film not mentioned here, which neither Miyazaki Hayao or Isao Takahata produced. It's called I Can Hear the Sea, or Ocean Waves (1993). It's also kind of slice of life, with school romance in it. But it bears the Studio Ghibli style which is Miyazaki's signature: quietly thoughtful, with a good storyline, & one main female character. I've only seen it once because it's very hard to find.

[GeneD]

I've only seen Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle. I'd rate them as Howl's Moving Castle > Spirited Away > Princess Mononoke, but I'd really like to see Princess Mononoke again a second time.

[bigsleepj]

Castle in the Sky and Grave of the Fireflies. I also like Nausicaa. I also REALLY like Porco Rosso, which is actually a very good movie if you get to understand it right.

[ADXC]

This one of those tough questions in life. Personally, Ive enjoyed them all. There isn't one Id say I didn't like. Probably my favorites though are:

Spirited Away
Nausica of the Valley of the Wind
Princess Mononoke
Pom Pom Poko
Whisper of the Heart
Porco Rosso
Just Yesterday
Laputa- Castle in the Sky
Howl's Moving Castle
My Neighbor Totoro

Okay, so maybe I really didn't narrow it down at all, but they are all so good!

[Blitzkrieg1701]

It frustrates me to no end that Castle of Cagliostro pre-dates the formation of Ghibli and thus doesn't count

Of the Miyazaki movies (well, the elder Miyazaki; Goro Miyazaki's Earthsea really was below Ghibli's standards), I suppose I like Castle in the Sky the best. Of the rest, Whisper of the Heart is my favorite.