I only got to my 5th and 4th before getting tired and stopping so here's the rest.
If you haven't read the previous post then its' HERE
3. Spirited Away
Well this would probably be number one for most people? And deservedly so...despite being 3rd for me. It won an Academy Award (? or some American movie award anyway) which then sparked a greater interest in Ghibli films in people outside Japan. It's a bit like a Japanese version of Alice in Wonderland, a young girl getting stuck in a dream like world, meeting quirky characters and customs. It's amazing how Miyazaki Hayao and his team can think up and bring to life such amazing ideas and worlds such as these time and time again, yet keep each one somewhat different and unique to each other. The Kaonashi (don't know what it's called in English) is a bit creepy but it's "Ah...Ah....Ah...ah..." phrase got stuck in my head and I impersonated it a lot when asking people to give me something lol. Anyway, this one is a masterpiece.
2. Kurenai no Buta/ Porco Rosso
You might fine this decision surprising? It's definitely not a typical answer you'd get when asking people what they're favourite Ghibli films are. Nevertheless it comes second for me, mainly based on how I seem to 'feel' like watching it more than the others most of the time. I think it may be because the main character is a male again. Usually, the lead is a young girl that has a long future full of dreams ahead of her, but on this film instead has an adult man/pig bounty hunter that flies around in a bright red biplane above the blue Sicilian seas. That alone equates to awesome in my books.
Aside from that though, while keeps the typical kind of Ghibli humour and warm atmosphere, it also has a melancholic or more 'grown up' undertone. The main character has a mysterious past (like how he became a pig), one seemingly of regret and guilt. They don't tell you exactly what happened in his past, but that just makes me want to know even more, and watch it again.
1. Princess Mononoke/ Mononoke Hime
Number one for me is Princess Mononoke. Although Ghibli usually sets itself in an olden day Europe type place or modern Japan, this time they did a story set in a mythical old Japan. I really like the styles and just the overall atmosphere of stories set in medieval Japan in general, but when Ghibli Studio's did it they added even more of that sense of eerie mysteriousness and magic. The characters are all great, the scenery is magnificent and soundtrack is epic. Comparative to others, it was also a lot more serious and dark too, which I like. Usually in Ghibli they have a more comedic, feel good atmosphere (which is also very nice), but I tend to prefer films like this. The action scenes are also exciting and breathtaking, even shocking, especially when some poor guys arms were torn off by a super powered arrow shot by the main character, Ashitaka. I also loved the monsters/gods that appear on this film, from the wild shadow monkey things that throw stones at people, the gigantic warthogs, the white wolves, right to the strange forest god that looks like a deer.
Just a wonderful film. Miyazaki Hayao and his partners at Ghibli are all unbelievable genius'.
Well that's my 3~1 of favourite Ghibli films. I noticed that all of my top five apart from one have a main male character lol. I didn't even realise until taking a look at the list again. I guess that shows it's pretty important for viewers to be able to relate to characters in stories for them to like it more.
Other films that I thought about including but ended up not were Howl's Moving Castle and Lupin the 3rd: Count of Cagliostro. What are your favourite Ghibli films though? I'm assuming that it will probably somewhat different to my selection.
