Where to start with Studio Ghibli: a beginner's viewing order
Updated November 2026
Studio Ghibli is the Japanese animation studio founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. Its films are hand-drawn, gentle and strange in the best way, and they are loved by kids and adults equally. If you've only heard the name, the catalogue can look a bit intimidating. It doesn't need to be.
Here's a beginner's order: three films to start with, three to go deeper, and a few to save for when you're already a fan.
Start here
1. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Two sisters move to the countryside with their father and discover a large, fluffy forest spirit living nearby. Very little "happens" in the usual sense, and that's the point: it's about childhood, curiosity and summer days. Short, warm and the perfect introduction to the Ghibli mood. Totoro is also the studio's logo.
2. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
A young witch leaves home at thirteen, as tradition says she must, and starts a delivery service by broomstick in a seaside town. It's a story about growing up, finding your place and what happens when you lose confidence. Light, charming and quietly wise.
3. Spirited Away (2001)
A girl wanders into a world of spirits and has to work in a bathhouse for gods to save her parents. It's the most famous Ghibli film and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Richer and stranger than the first two, which is why it works best third: by now you know the studio's style and can just enjoy the imagination.
Go deeper
Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
A young woman is cursed into an old body and finds shelter in the walking castle of a vain, powerful wizard. Romantic, funny and full of extraordinary images. A good choice if Spirited Away was your favourite.
Princess Mononoke (1997)
A young prince is caught in a war between forest gods and the humans destroying the forest. It's an epic, with battles and some violence, so better for teenagers and adults. Many fans consider it Miyazaki's masterpiece.
Castle in the Sky (1986)
A girl with a mysterious crystal and a boy from a mining town race pirates and the army to find a legendary floating city. Pure adventure, with flying machines everywhere. The first film the studio officially made.
Save these for later
- Grave of the Fireflies (1988). Directed by Isao Takahata, about two children trying to survive at the end of the Second World War. A masterpiece, and one of the saddest films ever made. Not for a casual Friday night.
- The Wind Rises (2013). A fictionalised life of the engineer who designed Japanese fighter planes. Slower and more adult, about dreams and their consequences.
- The Boy and the Heron (2023). Miyazaki's most recent film, which also won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Dreamlike and personal, it rewards viewers who already know his earlier work.
- Porco Rosso (1992). A pilot cursed to look like a pig hunts sky pirates over the Adriatic. Less famous, but a favourite of many fans.
With small kids?
My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Ponyo (2008), a playful take on the little mermaid story, are the safest choices. Spirited Away has a few scenes that can frighten young children; Princess Mononoke and Grave of the Fireflies are best left for later.
Dubbed or subtitled?
Both are fine. Many Ghibli films have well-made dubs in several languages, which are great for kids who don't read yet. Purists prefer the original Japanese with subtitles. If you're not sure, try a few minutes of each and keep whichever feels natural.
In short
- Start with My Neighbor Totoro, then Kiki's Delivery Service, then Spirited Away.
- Loved it? Go to Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke and Castle in the Sky.
- Keep Grave of the Fireflies, The Wind Rises and The Boy and the Heron for when you're hooked.
QuickFlick has a Studio Ghibli collection with the studio's films in one deck. Swipe right on the ones that catch your eye and let the final choice pick tonight's first step.