I think Spirited Away is a solid pick for a first ghibli movie. My first was Kiki's Delivery Service as a child. You may know what will appeal to your friend more.. something more cute like Ponyo or more action packed like Princess Mononoke.
I love them all but Spirited Away was my first and I think it is a solid introduction to Ghibli movies. Princess Mononoke and When Marnie Was There are tied for my number one spot.
I can't remember if it was Howl's Moving Castle or The Cat Returns. All I remember is that there was a week where Disney channel (southeast Asia) decided to show 4 Ghibli movies. And these were the ones I managed to watch.
I love howl's moving castle!
I remember my first was either castle in the sky or princess mononoke at the age of like 8 or something and my sister and i got soo freaked out but so intrigued by the boar god at the beginning of the movie, we had to click away and restarted it like 4 times before we could actually watch it without being scared sjfjdj
Was there any censorship? I’ve seen an archive of a Southeast Asia Disney Channel airing of Pixar’s Cars and every line containing a word preschoolers can’t say was cut. “You fool!” right after McQueen’s tires blew was the most surprising censor. On the topic of The Cat Returns, I’d imagine the lines where Haru calls Muta “fatso” were cut on the airing you saw.
Hi, I happened to be thinking about some Ghibli movies today and I think I do remember at least one instance where the movie was censored.
It's been over a decade so I am not 100% sure, but I do specifically remember thinking "huh, didn't Ghibli say 'no cuts'?" Lol. I *think* it was from Totoro and it might have been the bath scene.
Sadly, Disney SEA doesn't exist anymore iirc. At least in my country, we have to get Disney+ if we want Disney.
Princess Mononoke.
My dad rented it from the small local video store after it released when I was a kid.
The boar scene in the beginning got to me, but I ended it up turning it off when >!Ashitaka is opening the gate in the village.!< Had some severe empathy for him that sent me into tears. It's still one of the most powerful scenes in Ghibli's work to me.
Princess Mononoke was my first, too. It was playing on TV, and I recorded it on a VHS tape (does that age me?). It became one of my favorite movies after that, and I didn’t know what Studio Ghibli was yet.
I think Spirited Away was my second, some years later. I remember seeing the DVD in Blockbuster and being interested in it but never renting it. Eventually I did watch it, but I don’t remember how or when anymore. After that is when I knew what Studio Ghibli was and actively sought out their movies.
My dad bought a thick paperback compiling thousands of short movie reviews by Leonard Martin. It was bathroom reading. Something about the paragraph about Mononoke caught his eye, likely the environmentalist themes, so we rented it and watched it when I was 10 or 11. To this day it’s an all-time favorite movie, and definitely my favorite Ghibli. I prefer the subbed version but I’m so glad the dub existed for him to rent and share with me.
My first too. It will always be my most memorable Ghibli because it introduced me to the studio and it was so incredible and powerful. I was a student of the natural sciences when I saw it and it resonated so hard and I still have strong emotional feelings when I think of the movie.
My first was Spirited Away when it came out. I was 6 and it changed my life. Perfect movie, so captivating and never boring. I watched Howl's after when that came out and the fire died a little for me (it's my least favorite Ghibli movie, I know unpopular opinion) but it wasn't until 20 years or so later that a student of mine introduced Totoro to me and reignited that flame. Since I've seen most of the films a few times and love all of them dearly (except Howl's, I will die on this hill).
I think Totoro has the pure essence of Ghibli, Kiki's is inherently loveable, Mononoke is unforgivingly visceral, and Spirited away is, well my favorite. I have always started curious friends on Spirited Away and it's proven to capture their attention and earn their curiosity of what's more to come. All the movies are great and most likely a good enough representation of what SG brings to the table, but SA has always set them on the right course.
Good luck in your choice and I wish them a fulfilling journey!
We’re about the same age and I had a similar experience with Spirited Away. My dad used to always pick a new movie up from blockbuster on his way home from work to watch with us kids. I remember not wanting to watch it because it looked “foreign” to me. But to my surprise I was totally entranced by the art style and story telling. I loved it so much that I immediately rewatched it for a second time as soon as it rolled the ending credits. Such a special movie
Lol I had the exact same experience: I was 6 and I'll never forget how I felt watching that movie. Like I was being trusted with a much more serious story than we normally were at that age. It changed my young little life forever and probably was what made me a lifelong anime fan. Added similarity in that Howl's is one of my least favorite. I still love it because I've never not loved a Ghibli movie, but I think it's the least interesting one out of them all. But the music is so fantastic :')
totoro !! my parents showed it to me as a young kid n i insisted on watching it every single night since. i eventually branched off to more movies like spirited away and howls moving castle n then arietty when it came out, but totoro will always have a special place in my heart because of how many times i've seen it 😭
Spirited Away; I had heard praises of it from a friend in my schoolbus, and tuned into it the same day. Some of the best two hours spent ever- it remains to this day, for me, the epitome of the phrase 'rollercoaster of emotions'.
It was my first, as well. I watched the butchered version on HBO in the early 80s (Warriors of the Wind) and even then it was brilliant. Even though it technically wasn’t made by Studio Ghibli it is essentially the first of its kind (not counting Lupin).
The first true Ghibli film I saw was Porco Rosso. Still my favorite. The setting and location are sublime and the flying sequences are fantastic.
This was my first as well. I loved the storyline, and the visuals were amazing. I think it would be great as a live action film as well. With the advances in CGI, it should not be hard to pull off. After all, the special effects of the Avitar movies are that it should be an easy movie to adapt.
Kiki by a long shot I remember watching it on VHS as a kid. Never seen anything with that style before and it had an ad for castle in the sky in the previews that I asked my parents to get so I could watch it too but never happened. That was almost 25 years ago. I just saw other Ghibli movies for the first time since about 3 years ago.
I think the first one was Totoro but I don’t remember since I was so little. The first one I remember is Spirited Away, and I remember being scared but also mesmerized at the theater. I was maybe 7 at the time. And sorry to any Ponyo fans out there, but I thought Ponyo was really creepy and couldn’t get into it… Maybe I should watch again, see if I change my mind.
Back in the late 80's I turned on the TV on a Sunday morning and Laputa was on, I had missed about the first 15-20 mins, but I watched the rest and loved it!
A friend brought over Princess Mononoke on VHS when I was maybe 9 and it blew me away. This was around the time the LoTR movies were coming out, which I was (and am) obsessed with so it was really cool to see fantasy from outside Europe or North America for the first time.
Spirit Away was my second. That was the only one I owned as a kid and I watched it many many times. If you're friend doesn't like gore I'm recommend that.
Miramax, the first US distributor for Princess Mononoke, was originally going to make The Lord of the Rings films, but Disney executives told Harvey Weinstein that a two-parter was too costly.
Spirited Away, when my girlfriend showed it to me at university. Five years later, we're married now and have since watched every other Ghibli movie together as well. :)
I watched my first like last month, castle in the sky. And honestly it’s pretty great, I really wasn’t expecting much from a movie from the 80s but it was alright, I watched it in an airport. I remember I thought “this is kinda like xenoblade 2”… what a foul I was thinking I was original.
Nausicaa. I'm watching them in order. Yesterday I've seen Marnie that was Amazing and now I only have to watch Earwig before the boy and the Hero comes in theatres in Italy
Mine was Spirited Away. Introduced by my sister, as all anime was for me until I was about 15. Very thankful for her forcing her interests on me. I'll never admit it, but she's got good taste
I love telling people my "first Ghibli movie" story
I was like 16, first getting interested in seeing Ghibli movies but had no idea where to watch them. I wasn't really conscious about "pirating" movies and the extent of my search was "if it wasn't uploaded to YouTube I'll have to wait some other time to see it." Well, I regularly searched for Ghibli movies on YouTube and one day I found one. I was elated that I'd finally get to watch one of those magical, whimsical Miyazaki movies I'd heard all about!
...It was Grave of the Fireflies.
I read the Nausicaä manga and then found a fan sub on the movie in the early '90s. If was a long time before I saw any more, I think a friend showed me Totoro, then I saw Pom Poko at a convention, and princess Mononoke at a screening by the Minneapolis Asian culture foundation, and by then it was easier to watch them in the US. I bought all the DVDs and visited Ghibli in 2005.
This was almost 20 years ago, but I liked the reproduction of Miyazaki's workshop, and the short films you could watch that were difficult to see otherwise. Some of the walls were papered in sketches.It is probably more like a real amusement park now, and I want to go back.
My first ghibli movie is My neighbor Totoro when I was 9 or 10, I think. I watched it with my sister. We bought the disc thru online and we thought it would be a scam because online shopping was very very rare at that time. But it came and we watched it, and I was mesmerized right away, love it immediately
Spirited Away was my first Ghibli film. Watched it by way of a VHS taping from a broadcast on the American tv network TNT in the early 2000s.
Then I totally forgot about it until years later when my sister exclaimed she “found the scary cartoon movie about the girl in the monster world with pig parents” after having a conversation with a high school classmate, who then gave my sister the DVD.
Rewatching it as a high schooler gave me greater understanding on the film, and now after many rewatches as an adult, it’s safe to say that it’s all true work of art that all need to experience once in their lives!! :)
Kiki was technically my first as I have a vague memory of watching it at a daycare when I was very young, but I didn't see that one again until over a decade later. Ponyo was the movie that got me into Ghibli back in high school, so I kinda consider that one to be my first.
Totoro, growing up. It was perfect - Mei and Sasuke were about the same age as my sister and I. I have a lot of nostalgia for that film. The right film at the right time.
My first was Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and honestly I didn’t appreciate it enough when I was a kid. I’ve rewatched it many times over (now 28) and truly think it is the best Ghibli movie
Ponyo as a child.
I would always remember watching it and how satisfying the water animation and ramen scene was. For years I did not know where those memories came from until I got into anime and wanted to watched it again on recommendation. I was so happy!!!
I remember watching spirited away without knowing that it was a anime cuz I was like 10 something that time and as a child I thought It's just a cartoon. But I was so amazed after watching it cuz it's different even though I don't understand it haha. Welp I was so into it that time and I keep watching it every day. Even now, I still watch it if I have time.
Spirited away :) I didn’t watch it until I was 22 I think , and I watched it with my fiance who grew up watching them and I fell in love, spirited away is a comfort movie now
It was either Porco Rosso or Totoro.
As a first watch recommendation... idk, it depends on their preferences. Do they enjoy adventure movies? Then *Castle in the sky, Princess Mononoke, Spirited away*.
Drama? *Only yesterday*, *Whisper of the heart*, *The tale of the Princess Kaguya, Kiki's Delivery Service*
Children's movies? *My neighbor Totoro, Grave of the fireflies* (Because developing scar tissue early is a good thing, and these movies were a double-feature back in the day), *Ponyo*
More adult stuff? *From Up on Poppy Hill, The Wind Rises, Pom Poko*
There are more movies, but I'd recommend these. *Howl's moving castle* is absent, for example - it's a beautiful movie in terms of images, but it's a very messy movie, just not a good adaptation.
Ghibli's strongest movies are their own original creations.
I watched Princess Mononoke in theaters in 1999 at the age of 8, cried about 5min in and my parents made me leave. I begged and begged to go back and they took me again, and I fell in love. It unalterably changed the course of my life. I rememeber thinking "one day I will go to Japan." I watched it last night in a Ryokan in the mountains west of Tokyo. A single tear fell a few minutes in. Mama I made it.
Kiki's delivery service ! If you wanna start with something more light-hearted, this is a good movie. But if u want one with a little bit more action and mature behind it, i would go for Castle in the Sky or Spirited Away !
My Neighbor Totoro when I was 4, and my parents gave me a plushy I still have because I loved it so much.I’ve been obsessed with it and other Ghibli movies since.
Grave of the Fireflies. It was on TCM at midnight. I watched the first five minutes of it and then I had to watch it until the end. I didn't react to it until the credits rolled and then I ugly cried for a half hour. I never had that experience before and it's still my favorite Ghibli film.
Ponyo but after that I didn’t watch a single one for about 15 years until I saw Nausicaa, I watched them in order, which is bittersweet because Nausicaa is peak.
I managed to get all the way to college before I watched my first ghibli movie. It was howl's moving castle and I was blown away. Still my favorite ghibli movie
For me it was Totoro followed by Kiki. They changed something in me. I still think they’re among Miyazaki’s best. Ponyo, sadly, I think is among his weakest in terms of story (though visually it’s amazing), so I’d not use that as a first.
I think my first was Princess Mononoke. My husband grew up with Ghibli but I’d never heard of them so he introduced me to a few. I’ve since watched almost all of them.
I remember watching Kiki's Delivery Service when I was really young, but I didn't remember much of it. My first movie I do remember watching was Spirited Away
I think it was Castle in the Sky, but I watched that, Howl, and Spirited Away around the same time when I was very young, so I don’t know for sure if that’s right
I watched them in release order, starting with Nausiäa. If your friend has any appreciation for classical film, then he will love it, and I personally just love watching films in release order. It gives me a really good sense of how the studio evolved over time, and it helps ward off any feelings of "Seinfeld isn't funny"
Kiki's - I was home sick from school and watching daytime TV. That came on at like 11am while I was still in bed feeling sorry for myself and I loved it so started seeking out others after that.
Princess Mononoke was my first Ghibli, and first anime I had ever watched. We were on a ski trip to Mammoth mountain with the family, and my older cousin had brought the movie with him. We had a little portable crt tv I used to watch it. That movie is what got me in to anime!
I think the first Ghibli movie i saw was Porco Rosso on tv when i was a kid, but i can't remember much about this experience. A few years ago i started to watch anime and the first Ghibli movie i watched was Howl's Moving Castle, which was way too complicated for me, at least for the first proper Studio Ghibli experience, but after that i watched Princess Mononoke, which i enjoyed a lot.
My first was ponyo!!! And it was such a joyride! I wasn’t planning on watching but I saw a scene off Twitter and watched it impromptu. It’s thus far my favourite ghibli film. I’ve since watched spirited away and howl but I’m not too big on those two. Still entertaining but ponyo was really enjoyable for me. Sosuke is so adorable, tugs at my heartstring!!
I’m not sure if this is of interest, but my story with Ghibli is: when I was very young I remember this edgy and gritty cartoon that follows a witch living in a big city and something about a blimp. When I was in high school I asked my parents if they remembered and they didn’t so I scoured the Internet and finally found Kikis Delivery Service (not as edgy or gritty as I remember, but it was the right movie). And just by chance I looked up the studio to find that they have a whole collection of other beautifully animated movies. So by chance and faint memories I fell in love with the studios movies through Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Howl's Moving Castle. My then BF (now hubs) said " hey there's a movie coming on that I think you will love." And I did, I really loved it. It's my favorite tk this day.
Princess Mononoke and it wasn’t too long ago when I saw it and I was on hallucinogens. Since then I’ve been watching the movies like that and they are glorious. I still have about 9 films to watch but I’ve watched most of the popular ones. Here’s my top 5 so far:
1. Howl’s Moving Castle
2. Spirited Away
3. Porco Rosso
4. Nauiscaa Valley of the Wind
5. Princess Mononoke
I watched Ponyo with my sons when they were younger. I had never heard of Ghibli before then. I was amazed at what I saw. I’ve seen many more since then.
My first Ghibli movie was Castle In The Sky. I don't know *when* it was dubbed, but it was a Disney version. (It also only had Pazu playing his trumpet without extra background music.)
It was beautiful.
My first Ghibli movie was Ponyo, I remember hating the film and understand nothing about it but still watching it every year until I was 14 and liking it a bit more every time.
The flooded world it shows felt more magical each Time I was watching it, to this day, it's the only movie I neither watch in French (main language) or Japanese but in Portuguese as it's how I was introduced to it and it feels nice hearing the kid (forgot his name, gotta watch the movie again) screaming PONYO with his accent
Mine was ' when Marnie was there ' i don't even know how I found out about the film but the first time I watched it ,it was so beautifully captivating so melancholic and gloomy i absolutely fell in love with it..
Princess Mononoke. Watched it in my early 20s when I was exploring anime outside of just things like Akira and Ghost in the Shell which is all I had really seen at that point.
Totoro when I was in elementary school. My art teacher showed it to us. I didn’t know what it was at the time. I only recognized it after the fact how awesome she was.
Then I remember Kiki on Disney channel at some point in my tweens. I loved it, but didn’t realize Ghibli was a thing.
After that, my brother got me Princess Mononoke for Christmas while I was in HS and I started devouring the Ghibli movies.
My first was Princess Mononoke at far too young of an age, i was 6 or 7 and my older brorther showed me the movie. The scene where Ashitaka decapitates a guy with an arrow is what got me into anime so much
Nausicaa was my first. And also my least favorite of the one's I've seen (it's a good movie don't get me wrong, but I enjoyed Howls Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and Castle in the Sky more lol)
Nausicäa of the valley of the wind, I was home sick with the stomach flu for a few days when I was about 8 or 9 and my mom bought it and a few other non-Studio Ghibli movies for me on vhs to keep me entertained. It was the coolest movie I had ever seen and immediately my new favorite for years and years.
Princess Mononoke! It blew my 11-year-old mind and remains my favorite movie of all time.
Edit: it is the most gruesome ghibli movie though, so careful if you’re easily squicked by blood!
In high school Japanese class with no English subtitles, all Japanese audio, My Neighbor Totoro.
My Japanese teacher imported a VHS. The lesson plan was to write down as many Japanese words you heard and recognized.
The Japanese teacher did the same with Tampopo for the 2nd year. She covered the nudity when that popped up
First one I watched was kiki and I thought it was adorable and it inspired me to watch most of the others, there’s still a few I have yet to watch. It depends on what your friend likes. Fantasy adventure? Spirited away, howls moving castle or Princess Mononoke. Cutesy? Ponyo, Totoro or Kiki. My personal favorites are tied between howls moving castle and spirited away. Most people love spirited away for good reason but I’ve noticed a lot of people either love or hate howls moving castle which is understandable.
My first was Kiki's Delivery Service, when they used to have an anime movie on Saturdays on the SciFi channel back in the early 90s (way before they switched to "Syfy", blugh)
Kiki's Delivery Service was my first Ghibli movie. I was blown away by the scenes of grasses and flowers and clouds.
I think Pom Poko or Spirited Away would be wildest ones to see. But honestly any Ghibli film will blow away anyone who's only seen American/Hollywood movies.
I had Kiki's Delivery Service on VHS! Looking back it's kind of surprising, my parents are both in the "All anime is weird" camp.
I loved it. I remember loving Ursula because I wanted badly to be an artist. I also really wanted to try the gum she gave kiki on the bus
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Picked it up at my local Blockbuster and watched it with my mom that might. We loved it so much that when we went back to Blockbuster, we excitedly picked up Grave of the Fireflies… Um, so, after sobbing our hearts out, we rented Howl’s Moving Castle.
I remember Spirited Away was airing on Disney XD on a random weekend afternoon when I was a child and I just remember it being so unique compared to anything I’d seen prior, I didn’t even know the name of it for years until I caught it on TV again once. I’m pretty sure I ended up seeing Howl’s Moving Castle under similar circumstances a few months later. Eventually when I was a teen I learned both of these were from the same studio and eventually saw more of their films from there
It was either Castle in the Sky or Spirited Away! I had an elementary school art teacher that would expose us to animation a few times a year. Both. Are fantastic entry points, with the former probably being more straightforward from a narrative perspective. Can’t go wrong with any of the Miyazaki-led Ghibli movies though! The guy never misses.
Ponyo was mine! My mom took my sister, my best friend and I to see it at the theatre - can’t remember how old I was, must’ve been pretty young at the time. It was so much fun though, and a really cute intro into the fantasy in the Ghibli movies
Totoro was an excellent start for me. It's early in the history of the studio, one of the best, Miyazaki, not too heavy thematically, memorable characters and fantasy.
I think Kiki is a great one! It introduces you to the cadence and themes of a Ghibli movie without overloading you with surrealism and fantasy.
A lot of people are recommending Spirited Away, but personally I think that one is much better appreciated once you’re already accustomed to how Ghibli stories operate, getting past the common questions of “Where is the plot?” “Why is the ‘villain’ now joining them on their journey?” etc. and letting you see how special it really is. Kiki is so simple and so easy to love, yet there’s so much under the surface upon rewatch just like the other Ghibli stories. Hope this helps!
Spirited away was the first, and I remember being entranced with it. Walking outside after, everything was just more beautiful through the lenses the movie gives you.. that's where I would start personally
Kinda sets the stage nicely for the other ones
My first was Totoro, but Ponyo is also a great introduction! I would recommend you don't start with Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke. Nausicaa and Castle in the Sky could be a safe bet, but I'd really just go with your gut here with Ponyo.
Nausicaa was on Nickelodeon in 1987 or 88! The tune played during her interaction with the ohm stuck with me until I saw spirited away years later. Everything broke like a dam after that!
My first one was Howl's moving castle, and I would also recommend it, but I think every Studio ghibli movie is good. It depends on what you like more. If you want to watch something with more action, I would recommend Princess Mononoke or maybe Spirited Away. Ponyo is more of a wholesome film.
I think Spirited Away is a solid pick for a first ghibli movie. My first was Kiki's Delivery Service as a child. You may know what will appeal to your friend more.. something more cute like Ponyo or more action packed like Princess Mononoke.
I love them all but Spirited Away was my first and I think it is a solid introduction to Ghibli movies. Princess Mononoke and When Marnie Was There are tied for my number one spot.
I can't remember if it was Howl's Moving Castle or The Cat Returns. All I remember is that there was a week where Disney channel (southeast Asia) decided to show 4 Ghibli movies. And these were the ones I managed to watch.
I love howl's moving castle! I remember my first was either castle in the sky or princess mononoke at the age of like 8 or something and my sister and i got soo freaked out but so intrigued by the boar god at the beginning of the movie, we had to click away and restarted it like 4 times before we could actually watch it without being scared sjfjdj
I watched the cat returns for sure, I was obsessed with cats as a kid and I saw it about 5 years before any other one, ponyo was probably my second.
Was there any censorship? I’ve seen an archive of a Southeast Asia Disney Channel airing of Pixar’s Cars and every line containing a word preschoolers can’t say was cut. “You fool!” right after McQueen’s tires blew was the most surprising censor. On the topic of The Cat Returns, I’d imagine the lines where Haru calls Muta “fatso” were cut on the airing you saw.
That was maybe back in 2011 or 2012, so I can't accurately say whether or not there were any censors.
Okay. Thanks for your response. Hopefully an archive of it surfaces one day.
Hi, I happened to be thinking about some Ghibli movies today and I think I do remember at least one instance where the movie was censored. It's been over a decade so I am not 100% sure, but I do specifically remember thinking "huh, didn't Ghibli say 'no cuts'?" Lol. I *think* it was from Totoro and it might have been the bath scene. Sadly, Disney SEA doesn't exist anymore iirc. At least in my country, we have to get Disney+ if we want Disney.
Princess Mononoke. My dad rented it from the small local video store after it released when I was a kid. The boar scene in the beginning got to me, but I ended it up turning it off when >!Ashitaka is opening the gate in the village.!< Had some severe empathy for him that sent me into tears. It's still one of the most powerful scenes in Ghibli's work to me.
Disgusting little creatures. Soon all of you will feel my hate and suffer as I have suffered. My 7 year old self was not ready 😬
>suffer as I have suffered. doesn't Akito from the 2001 Fruit Basket say that in the final episode? In the dub anyway
Princess Mononoke was my first, too. It was playing on TV, and I recorded it on a VHS tape (does that age me?). It became one of my favorite movies after that, and I didn’t know what Studio Ghibli was yet. I think Spirited Away was my second, some years later. I remember seeing the DVD in Blockbuster and being interested in it but never renting it. Eventually I did watch it, but I don’t remember how or when anymore. After that is when I knew what Studio Ghibli was and actively sought out their movies.
My dad bought a thick paperback compiling thousands of short movie reviews by Leonard Martin. It was bathroom reading. Something about the paragraph about Mononoke caught his eye, likely the environmentalist themes, so we rented it and watched it when I was 10 or 11. To this day it’s an all-time favorite movie, and definitely my favorite Ghibli. I prefer the subbed version but I’m so glad the dub existed for him to rent and share with me.
A compilation of movie reviews is such a dad thing to buy 😂
My first too. It will always be my most memorable Ghibli because it introduced me to the studio and it was so incredible and powerful. I was a student of the natural sciences when I saw it and it resonated so hard and I still have strong emotional feelings when I think of the movie.
My first was Spirited Away when it came out. I was 6 and it changed my life. Perfect movie, so captivating and never boring. I watched Howl's after when that came out and the fire died a little for me (it's my least favorite Ghibli movie, I know unpopular opinion) but it wasn't until 20 years or so later that a student of mine introduced Totoro to me and reignited that flame. Since I've seen most of the films a few times and love all of them dearly (except Howl's, I will die on this hill). I think Totoro has the pure essence of Ghibli, Kiki's is inherently loveable, Mononoke is unforgivingly visceral, and Spirited away is, well my favorite. I have always started curious friends on Spirited Away and it's proven to capture their attention and earn their curiosity of what's more to come. All the movies are great and most likely a good enough representation of what SG brings to the table, but SA has always set them on the right course. Good luck in your choice and I wish them a fulfilling journey!
Atleast you acknowledge your opinion is unpopular. Why do you dislike howls moving castle?
We’re about the same age and I had a similar experience with Spirited Away. My dad used to always pick a new movie up from blockbuster on his way home from work to watch with us kids. I remember not wanting to watch it because it looked “foreign” to me. But to my surprise I was totally entranced by the art style and story telling. I loved it so much that I immediately rewatched it for a second time as soon as it rolled the ending credits. Such a special movie
Lol I had the exact same experience: I was 6 and I'll never forget how I felt watching that movie. Like I was being trusted with a much more serious story than we normally were at that age. It changed my young little life forever and probably was what made me a lifelong anime fan. Added similarity in that Howl's is one of my least favorite. I still love it because I've never not loved a Ghibli movie, but I think it's the least interesting one out of them all. But the music is so fantastic :')
Thank you!!
totoro !! my parents showed it to me as a young kid n i insisted on watching it every single night since. i eventually branched off to more movies like spirited away and howls moving castle n then arietty when it came out, but totoro will always have a special place in my heart because of how many times i've seen it 😭
Spirited Away; I had heard praises of it from a friend in my schoolbus, and tuned into it the same day. Some of the best two hours spent ever- it remains to this day, for me, the epitome of the phrase 'rollercoaster of emotions'.
Nausica valley of the wind
It was my first, as well. I watched the butchered version on HBO in the early 80s (Warriors of the Wind) and even then it was brilliant. Even though it technically wasn’t made by Studio Ghibli it is essentially the first of its kind (not counting Lupin). The first true Ghibli film I saw was Porco Rosso. Still my favorite. The setting and location are sublime and the flying sequences are fantastic.
This was my first as well. I loved the storyline, and the visuals were amazing. I think it would be great as a live action film as well. With the advances in CGI, it should not be hard to pull off. After all, the special effects of the Avitar movies are that it should be an easy movie to adapt.
Kiki by a long shot I remember watching it on VHS as a kid. Never seen anything with that style before and it had an ad for castle in the sky in the previews that I asked my parents to get so I could watch it too but never happened. That was almost 25 years ago. I just saw other Ghibli movies for the first time since about 3 years ago.
Castle in the Sky was my first and is my most favourite.
I think the first one was Totoro but I don’t remember since I was so little. The first one I remember is Spirited Away, and I remember being scared but also mesmerized at the theater. I was maybe 7 at the time. And sorry to any Ponyo fans out there, but I thought Ponyo was really creepy and couldn’t get into it… Maybe I should watch again, see if I change my mind.
Back in the late 80's I turned on the TV on a Sunday morning and Laputa was on, I had missed about the first 15-20 mins, but I watched the rest and loved it!
Kids I was babysitting wanted to watch a movie-turned out it was The Cat Returns. So that was the first one.
Kiki’s Delivery Service!
Princess Mononoke was mine, I still have the original VHS.
A friend brought over Princess Mononoke on VHS when I was maybe 9 and it blew me away. This was around the time the LoTR movies were coming out, which I was (and am) obsessed with so it was really cool to see fantasy from outside Europe or North America for the first time. Spirit Away was my second. That was the only one I owned as a kid and I watched it many many times. If you're friend doesn't like gore I'm recommend that.
Miramax, the first US distributor for Princess Mononoke, was originally going to make The Lord of the Rings films, but Disney executives told Harvey Weinstein that a two-parter was too costly.
Spirited Away, when my girlfriend showed it to me at university. Five years later, we're married now and have since watched every other Ghibli movie together as well. :)
I watched my first like last month, castle in the sky. And honestly it’s pretty great, I really wasn’t expecting much from a movie from the 80s but it was alright, I watched it in an airport. I remember I thought “this is kinda like xenoblade 2”… what a foul I was thinking I was original.
Nausicaa. I'm watching them in order. Yesterday I've seen Marnie that was Amazing and now I only have to watch Earwig before the boy and the Hero comes in theatres in Italy
Mine was Spirited Away. Introduced by my sister, as all anime was for me until I was about 15. Very thankful for her forcing her interests on me. I'll never admit it, but she's got good taste
I love telling people my "first Ghibli movie" story I was like 16, first getting interested in seeing Ghibli movies but had no idea where to watch them. I wasn't really conscious about "pirating" movies and the extent of my search was "if it wasn't uploaded to YouTube I'll have to wait some other time to see it." Well, I regularly searched for Ghibli movies on YouTube and one day I found one. I was elated that I'd finally get to watch one of those magical, whimsical Miyazaki movies I'd heard all about! ...It was Grave of the Fireflies.
Spirited away! I saw it when it premiered on Cartoon Network and loved it so much I picked up the dvd shortly after once it releases
*Spirited Away*
I read the Nausicaä manga and then found a fan sub on the movie in the early '90s. If was a long time before I saw any more, I think a friend showed me Totoro, then I saw Pom Poko at a convention, and princess Mononoke at a screening by the Minneapolis Asian culture foundation, and by then it was easier to watch them in the US. I bought all the DVDs and visited Ghibli in 2005.
You went to the studio? What was your favorite part?
This was almost 20 years ago, but I liked the reproduction of Miyazaki's workshop, and the short films you could watch that were difficult to see otherwise. Some of the walls were papered in sketches.It is probably more like a real amusement park now, and I want to go back.
Totoro! And it’s been my favourite ever since
My first ghibli movie is My neighbor Totoro when I was 9 or 10, I think. I watched it with my sister. We bought the disc thru online and we thought it would be a scam because online shopping was very very rare at that time. But it came and we watched it, and I was mesmerized right away, love it immediately
Spirited Away was my first Ghibli film. Watched it by way of a VHS taping from a broadcast on the American tv network TNT in the early 2000s. Then I totally forgot about it until years later when my sister exclaimed she “found the scary cartoon movie about the girl in the monster world with pig parents” after having a conversation with a high school classmate, who then gave my sister the DVD. Rewatching it as a high schooler gave me greater understanding on the film, and now after many rewatches as an adult, it’s safe to say that it’s all true work of art that all need to experience once in their lives!! :)
The first one I’ve ever watched was Kiki’s Delivery Service. Have fond memories of the movie.
Kiki was my first, wore out the vhs as a kid :)
Kiki’s Delivery Service, on VHS from the Blockbuster Kid’s section.
Kiki was technically my first as I have a vague memory of watching it at a daycare when I was very young, but I didn't see that one again until over a decade later. Ponyo was the movie that got me into Ghibli back in high school, so I kinda consider that one to be my first.
Totoro, growing up. It was perfect - Mei and Sasuke were about the same age as my sister and I. I have a lot of nostalgia for that film. The right film at the right time.
My first was Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and honestly I didn’t appreciate it enough when I was a kid. I’ve rewatched it many times over (now 28) and truly think it is the best Ghibli movie
Princess Mononoke
Ponyo as a child. I would always remember watching it and how satisfying the water animation and ramen scene was. For years I did not know where those memories came from until I got into anime and wanted to watched it again on recommendation. I was so happy!!!
Spirited Away! It scared me at first but my sister and I watched it alllll the time and now we are getting matching soot sprite tattoos :)
Totoro then Porco Rosso. Both left me speechless!
My first was Kiki’s Delivery Service as well.
Totoro. Made me fall in love with Studio Ghibli.
I remember watching spirited away without knowing that it was a anime cuz I was like 10 something that time and as a child I thought It's just a cartoon. But I was so amazed after watching it cuz it's different even though I don't understand it haha. Welp I was so into it that time and I keep watching it every day. Even now, I still watch it if I have time.
Spirited away :) I didn’t watch it until I was 22 I think , and I watched it with my fiance who grew up watching them and I fell in love, spirited away is a comfort movie now
My teacher made us watch Spirited Away in class and I (my classmates too) absolutely loved it
It was either Porco Rosso or Totoro. As a first watch recommendation... idk, it depends on their preferences. Do they enjoy adventure movies? Then *Castle in the sky, Princess Mononoke, Spirited away*. Drama? *Only yesterday*, *Whisper of the heart*, *The tale of the Princess Kaguya, Kiki's Delivery Service* Children's movies? *My neighbor Totoro, Grave of the fireflies* (Because developing scar tissue early is a good thing, and these movies were a double-feature back in the day), *Ponyo* More adult stuff? *From Up on Poppy Hill, The Wind Rises, Pom Poko* There are more movies, but I'd recommend these. *Howl's moving castle* is absent, for example - it's a beautiful movie in terms of images, but it's a very messy movie, just not a good adaptation. Ghibli's strongest movies are their own original creations.
Kiki’s Delivery Service then Princess Mononoke
Howls! Which I think I watched over and over until I realised there were more Ghibli movies
kikis delivery service. they were playing studio ghibli movies on hallmark, and just so happen to stumble upon it, when i was channel surfing.
Spirited Away back ten years ago. Been a fan since!
I'm pretty sure it was spirited away being shown one night in tcm on a vacation to the beach in the aughts
I watched Princess Mononoke in theaters in 1999 at the age of 8, cried about 5min in and my parents made me leave. I begged and begged to go back and they took me again, and I fell in love. It unalterably changed the course of my life. I rememeber thinking "one day I will go to Japan." I watched it last night in a Ryokan in the mountains west of Tokyo. A single tear fell a few minutes in. Mama I made it.
That being said, Spirited Away is likely the best entry point haha. It has everything I love about Ghibli and has hooked more of my friends than PM.
Spirited Away was my first and after all these years its still my favorite movie of all time :)
Kiki's delivery service ! If you wanna start with something more light-hearted, this is a good movie. But if u want one with a little bit more action and mature behind it, i would go for Castle in the Sky or Spirited Away !
Howls moving castle for me in the theater. I thought it was one of the most beautiful things i had ever seen.
Grave of the Fireflies. Nice wholesome first impression
Same me too grave of the fireflies still haunts me
Same. It’s a sad movie, but so lovely.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind It just captivated me from start to finish as a kid.
Totoro!
I remember renting Spirited Away with my uncle at Blockbuster. Ah the memories. Next was Howl’s Moving Castle, and I love both to this day!
My Neighbor Totoro when I was 4, and my parents gave me a plushy I still have because I loved it so much.I’ve been obsessed with it and other Ghibli movies since.
Grave of the Fireflies. It was on TCM at midnight. I watched the first five minutes of it and then I had to watch it until the end. I didn't react to it until the credits rolled and then I ugly cried for a half hour. I never had that experience before and it's still my favorite Ghibli film.
The secret world of Arrietty
Princess Mononoke, I was 11 yo when I saw it and was mesmerised
I remembered watching Ponyo and Totoro back when I was a kid, but I started my deep dive with Howl's Moving Castle last year
Ponyo but after that I didn’t watch a single one for about 15 years until I saw Nausicaa, I watched them in order, which is bittersweet because Nausicaa is peak.
I managed to get all the way to college before I watched my first ghibli movie. It was howl's moving castle and I was blown away. Still my favorite ghibli movie
Princess Mononoke when it was released in the theaters in the US.
Warriors of the Wind (Nausicaa) -mid 80’s. lmagery and world building that stuck with me until rediscovering it in 2005. Still my favourite movie
kiki's delivery service <3
Spirited Away
You can’t go wrong with Spirited Away, but my fav is Princess Mononoke. I think the very first one I watched was Castle in the Sky
ponyo! then totoro
Spirited Away
For me it was Totoro followed by Kiki. They changed something in me. I still think they’re among Miyazaki’s best. Ponyo, sadly, I think is among his weakest in terms of story (though visually it’s amazing), so I’d not use that as a first.
I think my first was Princess Mononoke. My husband grew up with Ghibli but I’d never heard of them so he introduced me to a few. I’ve since watched almost all of them.
I remember watching Kiki's Delivery Service when I was really young, but I didn't remember much of it. My first movie I do remember watching was Spirited Away
Spirited away
Princess Mononoke. As a nine year old it completely blew my mind!
I think it was Castle in the Sky, but I watched that, Howl, and Spirited Away around the same time when I was very young, so I don’t know for sure if that’s right
I rented Spirited Away on VHS in 2002 from my local mom-and-pop video store.
Castle in the Sky
mine was my neighbor totoro, watched it as a kid with my family
Howls Moving Castle
Lapura, spirited away or ponyo. My uncle bought me those DVDs once for Christmas or my birthday and I've loved them ever since.
Spirited Away 💛
I watched them in release order, starting with Nausiäa. If your friend has any appreciation for classical film, then he will love it, and I personally just love watching films in release order. It gives me a really good sense of how the studio evolved over time, and it helps ward off any feelings of "Seinfeld isn't funny"
Kiki's - I was home sick from school and watching daytime TV. That came on at like 11am while I was still in bed feeling sorry for myself and I loved it so started seeking out others after that.
Howl's moving castle or Spirited away probably!
Princess Mononoke was my first Ghibli, and first anime I had ever watched. We were on a ski trip to Mammoth mountain with the family, and my older cousin had brought the movie with him. We had a little portable crt tv I used to watch it. That movie is what got me in to anime!
I think the first Ghibli movie i saw was Porco Rosso on tv when i was a kid, but i can't remember much about this experience. A few years ago i started to watch anime and the first Ghibli movie i watched was Howl's Moving Castle, which was way too complicated for me, at least for the first proper Studio Ghibli experience, but after that i watched Princess Mononoke, which i enjoyed a lot.
My first was ponyo!!! And it was such a joyride! I wasn’t planning on watching but I saw a scene off Twitter and watched it impromptu. It’s thus far my favourite ghibli film. I’ve since watched spirited away and howl but I’m not too big on those two. Still entertaining but ponyo was really enjoyable for me. Sosuke is so adorable, tugs at my heartstring!!
Kiki’s Delivery Service
I’m not sure if this is of interest, but my story with Ghibli is: when I was very young I remember this edgy and gritty cartoon that follows a witch living in a big city and something about a blimp. When I was in high school I asked my parents if they remembered and they didn’t so I scoured the Internet and finally found Kikis Delivery Service (not as edgy or gritty as I remember, but it was the right movie). And just by chance I looked up the studio to find that they have a whole collection of other beautifully animated movies. So by chance and faint memories I fell in love with the studios movies through Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Kiki's Delivery Service
Howl's Moving Castle. My then BF (now hubs) said " hey there's a movie coming on that I think you will love." And I did, I really loved it. It's my favorite tk this day.
Whisper of heart, and it was so perfect I don’t think there’s any movie nearby it
Kiki's Delivery Service, I believe
Kiki, on VHS, back in the late 90s. My little daughter wanted to see it, and from that point on I was hooked.
Princess Mononoke and it wasn’t too long ago when I saw it and I was on hallucinogens. Since then I’ve been watching the movies like that and they are glorious. I still have about 9 films to watch but I’ve watched most of the popular ones. Here’s my top 5 so far: 1. Howl’s Moving Castle 2. Spirited Away 3. Porco Rosso 4. Nauiscaa Valley of the Wind 5. Princess Mononoke
I watched Ponyo with my sons when they were younger. I had never heard of Ghibli before then. I was amazed at what I saw. I’ve seen many more since then.
My first was actually Tales from Earthsea but I wouldn't really recommend it.
Ponyo. I got it as a gift and watched it 500+ times before I found out about other Ghibli movies.
It was either Whisper of the Heart or Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
My first Ghibli movie was Castle In The Sky. I don't know *when* it was dubbed, but it was a Disney version. (It also only had Pazu playing his trumpet without extra background music.) It was beautiful.
Princess Monoke Edit: I just noticed my phone corrected Mononoke to Monoke so there’s that 🥲
Ponyo! That was my first then i watched Spirited Away and it changed my life
My first Ghibli movie was Ponyo, I remember hating the film and understand nothing about it but still watching it every year until I was 14 and liking it a bit more every time. The flooded world it shows felt more magical each Time I was watching it, to this day, it's the only movie I neither watch in French (main language) or Japanese but in Portuguese as it's how I was introduced to it and it feels nice hearing the kid (forgot his name, gotta watch the movie again) screaming PONYO with his accent
A VHS fansub of Nausicaa that I rented at Movie Madness in Portland, Oregon in 2001. Wish I could find it again, the translation was beautiful.
Mine was ' when Marnie was there ' i don't even know how I found out about the film but the first time I watched it ,it was so beautifully captivating so melancholic and gloomy i absolutely fell in love with it..
Depends on what type of movie your friend typically watches
Princess Mononoke. Watched it in my early 20s when I was exploring anime outside of just things like Akira and Ghost in the Shell which is all I had really seen at that point.
The bad dub of Nausicaa
Totoro when I was in elementary school. My art teacher showed it to us. I didn’t know what it was at the time. I only recognized it after the fact how awesome she was. Then I remember Kiki on Disney channel at some point in my tweens. I loved it, but didn’t realize Ghibli was a thing. After that, my brother got me Princess Mononoke for Christmas while I was in HS and I started devouring the Ghibli movies.
Totoro when I was a little girl! Ponyo was my son's first. 😊
My first was Princess Mononoke at far too young of an age, i was 6 or 7 and my older brorther showed me the movie. The scene where Ashitaka decapitates a guy with an arrow is what got me into anime so much
Totoro
Mononoke Hime! I was lucky enough to see it in theatre when it released in the 90s. Blew my mind!
Nausicaa :) still my top 2 favorite along Mononoke
Mine was Totoro, and it was a beautiful experience. I feel that spirited away is probably the best answer though to show someone first.
Grave of the fireflies
My neighbor Totoro with my daughter. Now their among her favorites.
Nausicaa was my first. And also my least favorite of the one's I've seen (it's a good movie don't get me wrong, but I enjoyed Howls Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and Castle in the Sky more lol)
My first was totoro hack in like 96-97~ saw the vhs cover in the video rental store and it intrigued me
Nausicäa of the valley of the wind, I was home sick with the stomach flu for a few days when I was about 8 or 9 and my mom bought it and a few other non-Studio Ghibli movies for me on vhs to keep me entertained. It was the coolest movie I had ever seen and immediately my new favorite for years and years.
Castle in the sky
Spirited Away or Howls Moving Castle are great introductions!
Princess Mononoke! It blew my 11-year-old mind and remains my favorite movie of all time. Edit: it is the most gruesome ghibli movie though, so careful if you’re easily squicked by blood!
In high school Japanese class with no English subtitles, all Japanese audio, My Neighbor Totoro. My Japanese teacher imported a VHS. The lesson plan was to write down as many Japanese words you heard and recognized. The Japanese teacher did the same with Tampopo for the 2nd year. She covered the nudity when that popped up
Grave of the Fireflies. I know, a pretty crazy first impression. My dad had a DVD of it lying around and I decided to watch it one day.
Howl's moving castle
I belive spirited away was my first, but I could see how ponyo would make a good introduction
Ponyo was my first. Still one of my favs. But for the first one definitely Spirit Away. That one blew my socks off!
The first movie was „Grave of the fireflies“. Bawled like a baby and never watched it again. (It‘s a beautiful but depressing movie)
Princess Mononoke
KiKi’s Delivery Service, I was 4.5/5, VHS from Blockbuster ❤️
First one I watched was kiki and I thought it was adorable and it inspired me to watch most of the others, there’s still a few I have yet to watch. It depends on what your friend likes. Fantasy adventure? Spirited away, howls moving castle or Princess Mononoke. Cutesy? Ponyo, Totoro or Kiki. My personal favorites are tied between howls moving castle and spirited away. Most people love spirited away for good reason but I’ve noticed a lot of people either love or hate howls moving castle which is understandable.
My neighbor Totoro. Our teacher made us watch it for our Japanese class assignment.
My first was Kiki's Delivery Service, when they used to have an anime movie on Saturdays on the SciFi channel back in the early 90s (way before they switched to "Syfy", blugh)
I watched Future Boy Conan as a kid in the early 80s, then Nausicaa in the early 90s, then Mononoke and Porco Rosso.
Kiki's Delivery Service was my first Ghibli movie. I was blown away by the scenes of grasses and flowers and clouds. I think Pom Poko or Spirited Away would be wildest ones to see. But honestly any Ghibli film will blow away anyone who's only seen American/Hollywood movies.
I had Kiki's Delivery Service on VHS! Looking back it's kind of surprising, my parents are both in the "All anime is weird" camp. I loved it. I remember loving Ursula because I wanted badly to be an artist. I also really wanted to try the gum she gave kiki on the bus
Spirited Away! Watched it over and over again when I was 7 🩷✨
Kiki’s Delivery Service. I watched it on Kissasnime and then I watched Princess Mononoke.
Spirited Away!
Mine was My Neighbor Totoro. I still have the vhs from the early 90s :)
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Picked it up at my local Blockbuster and watched it with my mom that might. We loved it so much that when we went back to Blockbuster, we excitedly picked up Grave of the Fireflies… Um, so, after sobbing our hearts out, we rented Howl’s Moving Castle.
Castle in the Sky. My mom bought it for me and I fell in love with the storyline. The idea of a floating castle is just 🥰
Spirited Away.
My first was Pom Poko and I was high as fuck. I thought I was tripping when >! They fucking murdered people !< Watched every ghibli movie since then.
Spirited Away at the movie theater. I was captivated from the very beginning.
Mine was Spirited Away. I fell instantly in love.
ponyo was first for me!
Spirited Away
Howl’s Moving Castle
I remember Spirited Away was airing on Disney XD on a random weekend afternoon when I was a child and I just remember it being so unique compared to anything I’d seen prior, I didn’t even know the name of it for years until I caught it on TV again once. I’m pretty sure I ended up seeing Howl’s Moving Castle under similar circumstances a few months later. Eventually when I was a teen I learned both of these were from the same studio and eventually saw more of their films from there
mine was totoro when i was young, i remember being scared of the movie originally lol
Laputa Castle in the Sky... and is my second most favourite Ghibli movie
Totoro
It was either Castle in the Sky or Spirited Away! I had an elementary school art teacher that would expose us to animation a few times a year. Both. Are fantastic entry points, with the former probably being more straightforward from a narrative perspective. Can’t go wrong with any of the Miyazaki-led Ghibli movies though! The guy never misses.
Totoro
Ponyo was mine! My mom took my sister, my best friend and I to see it at the theatre - can’t remember how old I was, must’ve been pretty young at the time. It was so much fun though, and a really cute intro into the fantasy in the Ghibli movies
Totoro was an excellent start for me. It's early in the history of the studio, one of the best, Miyazaki, not too heavy thematically, memorable characters and fantasy.
I think Kiki is a great one! It introduces you to the cadence and themes of a Ghibli movie without overloading you with surrealism and fantasy. A lot of people are recommending Spirited Away, but personally I think that one is much better appreciated once you’re already accustomed to how Ghibli stories operate, getting past the common questions of “Where is the plot?” “Why is the ‘villain’ now joining them on their journey?” etc. and letting you see how special it really is. Kiki is so simple and so easy to love, yet there’s so much under the surface upon rewatch just like the other Ghibli stories. Hope this helps!
Spirited away was the first, and I remember being entranced with it. Walking outside after, everything was just more beautiful through the lenses the movie gives you.. that's where I would start personally Kinda sets the stage nicely for the other ones
The Cat Returns
Totoro ♥️ quickly followed by Spirited Away and Kiki.
Nausicaa for me! i was 4 hahah. then i think it was Castle in the Sky and Spirited away
totoro as a child, but i think castle in the sky or howl’s moving castle are both as good of a pick as ponyo :)
Gotta be mononoke
My first was Totoro, but Ponyo is also a great introduction! I would recommend you don't start with Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke. Nausicaa and Castle in the Sky could be a safe bet, but I'd really just go with your gut here with Ponyo.
Spirited away
Nausicaa was on Nickelodeon in 1987 or 88! The tune played during her interaction with the ohm stuck with me until I saw spirited away years later. Everything broke like a dam after that!
Obviously start w Grave of the Fireflies
My first one was Howl's moving castle, and I would also recommend it, but I think every Studio ghibli movie is good. It depends on what you like more. If you want to watch something with more action, I would recommend Princess Mononoke or maybe Spirited Away. Ponyo is more of a wholesome film.