Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
At the time of writing this article, almost all of Studio Ghibli movies are/were available to watch on Netflix.
While I recently saw “The Boy and the Heron,” directed by Hayao Miyazaki, on the big screen, which has been hailed by some critics as his best film yet, I respectfully would have to disagree. The movie features stunning animation, the kinds you cannot take your eyes off and a gorgeous tapestry of fantasy elements embedded into the theme of personal grief, however, it’s not my Miyazaki favorite. I feel these three movies by Hayao Miyazaki were a lot more memorable than “The Boy and the Heron” and they are all on Netflix –
1. Princess Mononoke (1997) – This is a breathtaking film which follows the adventures of Ashitaka, a young warrior cursed by a demon, as he sets out to seek a cure, he meets Princess Mononoke AKA San, a fierce girl raised by wolves. Ashitaka gets caught in a battle between a settlement led by Lady Eboshi, which is at war with the surrounding forest and its mystical creatures, including the enigmatic San. Set in medieval Japan, “Princess Mononoke” is an epic film that deals with the timeless conflict of “man versus nature”. Even though I saw the film sometime in the 2000s, I remember being amazed by both the animation and the storytelling. Besides, San’s character would hold special nostalgic value for those who love Mowgli from “The Jungle Book”, as like Mowgli, San is raised by animals and the forests are her real home.
2. My Neighbour Totoro (1988) – As someone who spent their childhood summers in a beautiful remote village, I absolutely loved this gem of a film that’s about two sisters moving to the countryside and meeting mystical fun creatures in the forest. Totoro is a large, bear-like, friendly forest spirit who befriends the sisters Satsuki and Mei, helping them cope up with their new life. Before fantasy fans became familiar with the magical Knight Bus from “Harry Potter”, Hayao Miyazaki gave us the magical “Catbus” in “My Neighbour Totoro”, a quirky, cute cat-shaped bus which quickly teleports creatures from the spirit world in the forest. Fun fact – Totoro also serves as the mascot for Studio Ghibli.
3. Ponyo (2008) – While not as popular as other Ghibli titles, Ponyo is definitely one of my favorite animated movies, a completely whimsical re-telling of “The Little Mermaid” through Miyazaki’s magical lens. Ponyo is a magical little fish girl who lives with her sisters under the strict rule of their wizard father. A rebel at heart, she sneaks out of home one day but becomes trapped in a bottle, and is rescued by a human boy named Sousuke. The two become instant best friends. Thanks to their instant bond, Ponyo longs to become a human girl to live with Sousuke and defies her father to fulfill her dream. The hand-drawn backgrounds and animation are stunning in the movie, and I love how Miyazaki portrays the power of friendship and childhood innocence in the film.
Honorable mention – Spirited Away – The fantasy film about witches, ghosts, demons and what no is obviously one of the most famous Studio Ghibli title, even though it’s not my personal favorite. But given its amazing world-building and unique creatures, for many animation fans “Spirited Away” would surely be more memorable than a lot of other Ghibli creations.
If you are an animation enthusiast, be sure to check out these movies on Netflix. What’s your favorite Hayao Miyazaki movie?!
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