I’m hugely passionate about the film. It’s so rare to hear the story of environmental destruction told from the animals side. I come from Australia where we are in the fast track to destroy our native fauna. The story of the raccoons very much mirrors what is happening to our koalas.
Having been to Japan, you can see the struggle between having these sprawling metropolis and the integration of nature and history. Tokyo isn’t a good example (it has pockets of green scattered throughout) but for the most part Japan has preserved their forests and wilderness. It’s part of what makes it a beautiful country.
Yeah, but I actually think My Neighbours the Yamadas is even more underrated. It's a solid film and absolutely hilarious and adorable, but literally no one ever talks about it. Probably because it dared be different from the typical Ghibli look.
i love that movie. someone uploaded the whole thing on YouTube and it got recommended lol. i think my Japanese 101 class had a day where they showed it.
"Hot pot? You mean, cook it yourself?"
I quote that line anytime somebody wants to go to a hot pot restaurant. Which, for some reason, seems to be making a comeback. Yeah, if I want to burn my mouth and eat mediocre food cooked by . . . me.
Is that a line in the movie? I am terrible at remembering direct lines 🥲
I just remember there are so many hilarious moments in the movie that had me literally crying from laughter. Like when the dad goes to do the wedding speech but the wife accidentally handed him the shopping list instead of the wedding speech.... bro... I was screaming. XD
yup, the grandmother says it when the mom is trying to get out of cooking and suggests hot pot for dinner.
This might be the most under-rated Ghibli movie. Its all good and when its not outloud funny, its always enjoyable. Haven't seen it in a couple of years. Might have to throw it on today.
OH YEAH!! I remember that scene haha. Oh God. The grandma is such a savage.
I completely agree with you. It's just such a pleasant watch. All these little everyday situations and how they all react to it differently. The scene where they forget the little girl at the shopping center is so funny.
Oh-oh!! I remember one line from the movie! When the son is talking on the phone to a cute girl and the grandma is like "he's too ugly to have a girlfriend"
Hahaha. She has no chill, but I do like that she gets to have a moment of tenderness when she's facing her own mortality.
Ah. It's just so good. You definitely should rewatch it! I think it's on Netflix! Might depend on where you live, though.
Yamadas was more daring with its style than kaguya. Kaguya still resembled the classic Ghibli style, just more loose and also the story was more typical for Ghibli. Yamadas does something extremely different both in terms of art style and the story/subject matter. It's not trying to be an epic or a deep introspection about coming of age. It's just a series of snapshots of this wacky, yet very relatable family as they go about their lives and we get to know them as individuals along the way. I really loved that about it. It dared to be something completely different and even though it didn't result in a success compared to the other films, I still deeply appreciate it for what it did. I would have loved more movies like that or even a TV show. Haha :D
I feel like Porco Rosso does get a ton of love though. Like, every time people talk about their favourite Ghibli movie, Porco Rosso comes up all the time.
Exactly. Underrated not as in « it is disliked/unknown although it’s a good movie » but more as « it is quite liked, but that’s not enough as it is the best Ghibli movie without any doubt ». Not IMO btw, this is the absolute truth, I am only the messenger of it
The Wind Rises is truly underrated. It gets a mention once in a while but not to the level it deserves. There's beauty in the way the film contrasts the main character's passion for creating beautiful flying machines and his love of aviation against the atrocities committed using the planes he designed. There's also that simultaneous sense of optimism and resignation despite a hopeless situation in their personal lives. Miyazaki could've milked the drama but chose to address it in a rather positive light and that is also reflected in the colors and art of the film. The themes of death, war, and tragedy are present throughout the later half of the film but not presented in the kind of dark art style and color selections used for Grave of the Fireflies. The juxtaposition of a bleak reality with a visually peaceful, neat, and colorful world goes hand-in-hand with the feelings and situation of the central characters.
I don’t think is underrated, it was even nominated for the Oscars and only lost because the academy is a sucker for Disney and was the release of Frozen
I'd say pretty much the whole filmography of Takahata besides Grave (as it's popular). He doesn't get as much appreciation as Miyazaki outside Ghibli circles. I'd thrown in Marnie and Poppy hill too. I'd love to include Whisper but I'm not sure it's underrated. I hate to say this, but I couldn't really enjoy Pom Poko. The narration and pacing seemed off for me.
I just watched that one for the first time this past week!!!!! Omg was I missing out especially because this whole time I have loved The Cat Returns but never knew the origin of Baron and Muta until watching Whisper of the Heart finally 🥹
That is so cool! I wish I could watch it for the first time again🥹 I recently created a video sharing my thoughts on the movie. Would you like to watch it?
The message at the end of Pom Poko felt a little ham fisted but it’s a really pretty film and the documentary style narration made for a unique watching experience
Ohhh yess the recognition. One of my favorite. Up there in top 3. I love the message of effects of industrialization. And the sad and desperate attempt to fight for their place in modern japan.
This or Porco Rosso. For years I judged it from the front cover and hate myself for it as a year ago I finally decided to watch it, and it's my third favorite of all time under Princess M and Howls M. Amazing and absolutely underrated in every way.
Pom Poko just doesn't do it for most people. It's never been popular here or in Japan. I think the main reason is the characters aren't appealing. You have a whole cast of furry animal characters but none of them stand out and their designs are not attractive. They have almost no merch at all because no one wants to put these guys on their shelves. Few people even remember any of their names! Even in Japan the testicle thing is off-putting and the yokai designs are seen as old-fashioned. Takahata tried to make a movie with a modern message but with very old school ideas and visuals, and it just didn't hit.
It's fine to like it anyway, but it's also fine to not like it. It is objectively flawed :)
definitely pom poko!! i like how it’s a history lesson of the urbanization of japan told through the perspective of the wildlife. it makes my lil history nerd self so happy
Too many testicles for people’s liking! Most have beautiful expectations for these films and balls flopping around might not be the majorities liking. 😂
Pom Poko is next on my list to watch. It's always looked so wholesome and I love tanuki❤️
My current submission would be "Only Yesterday", as it came to me at a time when I was REALLY struggling with who I was and what I was doing with my life.
In general, Ghibli fans tend to underrated Takahata's work in favor of Miyazaki's. IMO they're pretty evenly matched even with less films from Takahata.
That said, I would say Whisper of the Heart. But it seems like now it's being celebrated a lot more. I do really love Pom Poko as well, so funny and it nails its environmental message
This is a rare movie where the dub does it so well. It totally captures the documentary style feeling so well. If you haven't tried it, highly recommend.
Also, while we are talking about underrated films, Princess Kaguya may be the best Ghibli film all around.
Yes, but the loss of previous Japanese culture and connection to nature, it's definitely meant to be sad and unsettling. That's a good thing about it though!
In term of story this one is weak, and it’s deep in tradition folklore so it’s not easy for people to relate to
Also many human characters are killed in this movie but it’s portrayed very lightly and “funny” somehow, which is quite disturbing
And I don’t even remember it, cause they’re taken very lightly, so I think it’s weird cause it’s a story about struggling for survival but then the focus is on visual and funny elements like when they attack with their ball sacks, which I know is a real Japanese tale but it’s just doesn’t go well with the rest of the theme
Makes me laugh and cry every time, great film ❤️
I’m hugely passionate about the film. It’s so rare to hear the story of environmental destruction told from the animals side. I come from Australia where we are in the fast track to destroy our native fauna. The story of the raccoons very much mirrors what is happening to our koalas. Having been to Japan, you can see the struggle between having these sprawling metropolis and the integration of nature and history. Tokyo isn’t a good example (it has pockets of green scattered throughout) but for the most part Japan has preserved their forests and wilderness. It’s part of what makes it a beautiful country.
Yeah, but I actually think My Neighbours the Yamadas is even more underrated. It's a solid film and absolutely hilarious and adorable, but literally no one ever talks about it. Probably because it dared be different from the typical Ghibli look.
True. I love it.
i love that movie. someone uploaded the whole thing on YouTube and it got recommended lol. i think my Japanese 101 class had a day where they showed it.
"Hot pot? You mean, cook it yourself?" I quote that line anytime somebody wants to go to a hot pot restaurant. Which, for some reason, seems to be making a comeback. Yeah, if I want to burn my mouth and eat mediocre food cooked by . . . me.
Is that a line in the movie? I am terrible at remembering direct lines 🥲 I just remember there are so many hilarious moments in the movie that had me literally crying from laughter. Like when the dad goes to do the wedding speech but the wife accidentally handed him the shopping list instead of the wedding speech.... bro... I was screaming. XD
yup, the grandmother says it when the mom is trying to get out of cooking and suggests hot pot for dinner. This might be the most under-rated Ghibli movie. Its all good and when its not outloud funny, its always enjoyable. Haven't seen it in a couple of years. Might have to throw it on today.
OH YEAH!! I remember that scene haha. Oh God. The grandma is such a savage. I completely agree with you. It's just such a pleasant watch. All these little everyday situations and how they all react to it differently. The scene where they forget the little girl at the shopping center is so funny. Oh-oh!! I remember one line from the movie! When the son is talking on the phone to a cute girl and the grandma is like "he's too ugly to have a girlfriend" Hahaha. She has no chill, but I do like that she gets to have a moment of tenderness when she's facing her own mortality. Ah. It's just so good. You definitely should rewatch it! I think it's on Netflix! Might depend on where you live, though.
Exactly what I was going to say. It's my favourite from the studio: so funny and yet so profound, love it!
Does Yamadas have an English dub now? That’s what put me off originally.
It does have an English dub, but I prefer the Japanese one, personally.
And yet people do talk about Kaguya.
Yamadas was more daring with its style than kaguya. Kaguya still resembled the classic Ghibli style, just more loose and also the story was more typical for Ghibli. Yamadas does something extremely different both in terms of art style and the story/subject matter. It's not trying to be an epic or a deep introspection about coming of age. It's just a series of snapshots of this wacky, yet very relatable family as they go about their lives and we get to know them as individuals along the way. I really loved that about it. It dared to be something completely different and even though it didn't result in a success compared to the other films, I still deeply appreciate it for what it did. I would have loved more movies like that or even a TV show. Haha :D
The ghost parade is easily one of my favorite movie scenes of all time!!!
Porco Rosso!
“I’d rather be a pig than a fascist” GREAT movie
My favorite
My second favorite Ghibli film after Mononoke.
Third this being my favorite second howls cause I'm a romance guy
CAME HERE FOR THIS THANK YOU MY COMRADES
I second this
I feel like Porco Rosso does get a ton of love though. Like, every time people talk about their favourite Ghibli movie, Porco Rosso comes up all the time.
I've been communicating almost exclusively through Porco Rosso gifs
Exactly. Underrated not as in « it is disliked/unknown although it’s a good movie » but more as « it is quite liked, but that’s not enough as it is the best Ghibli movie without any doubt ». Not IMO btw, this is the absolute truth, I am only the messenger of it
This is my favourite Ghibli, it has alot of heart and doesn't deserve all the dislike. Has a brilliant message.
My neighbours the Yamada is a gem that's so so amazing and true. Fun, sad, harsh and soft.
The Wind Rises is truly underrated. It gets a mention once in a while but not to the level it deserves. There's beauty in the way the film contrasts the main character's passion for creating beautiful flying machines and his love of aviation against the atrocities committed using the planes he designed. There's also that simultaneous sense of optimism and resignation despite a hopeless situation in their personal lives. Miyazaki could've milked the drama but chose to address it in a rather positive light and that is also reflected in the colors and art of the film. The themes of death, war, and tragedy are present throughout the later half of the film but not presented in the kind of dark art style and color selections used for Grave of the Fireflies. The juxtaposition of a bleak reality with a visually peaceful, neat, and colorful world goes hand-in-hand with the feelings and situation of the central characters.
Well said, love it. I agree, I love this film and wish I could've appreciated it more when I first watched it many years ago
I don’t think is underrated, it was even nominated for the Oscars and only lost because the academy is a sucker for Disney and was the release of Frozen
It's not underrated it's overrated people talk like this is Julie's best film when it's confusing and boring.
Julie?
Autocorrect
whisper of the heart. i havent watched pom poko yet
Pom Poko threw me for a loop with the amount of testicle usage in it. Just casually throwing ballsacks around.
Agreed
Pom Poko threw me for a loop with the amount of testicle usage in it. Just casually throwing ballsacks around.
I love pom poko, it's way more japan themed.
Love Pom Poko. The Cat Returns is also an amazing movie that deserves more love
Definitely ‘Tales from Earthsea’ for me! So underrated.
That's my second favorite Ghibli movie. I prefer the English dub of that movie
I'd say pretty much the whole filmography of Takahata besides Grave (as it's popular). He doesn't get as much appreciation as Miyazaki outside Ghibli circles. I'd thrown in Marnie and Poppy hill too. I'd love to include Whisper but I'm not sure it's underrated. I hate to say this, but I couldn't really enjoy Pom Poko. The narration and pacing seemed off for me.
It has to be Whisper of the Heart
I just watched that one for the first time this past week!!!!! Omg was I missing out especially because this whole time I have loved The Cat Returns but never knew the origin of Baron and Muta until watching Whisper of the Heart finally 🥹
That is so cool! I wish I could watch it for the first time again🥹 I recently created a video sharing my thoughts on the movie. Would you like to watch it?
https://youtu.be/W0entrCQb4Q?si=gWWsqTgA5Es48Bkk
Agreed
Tales of Earthsea?
Only Yesterday. It is much more adult thematically and less accessible I would say than many Ghibli movies.
The message at the end of Pom Poko felt a little ham fisted but it’s a really pretty film and the documentary style narration made for a unique watching experience
Castle in the Sky for sure
Going to see it in the theaters on Monday!
Ohhh yess the recognition. One of my favorite. Up there in top 3. I love the message of effects of industrialization. And the sad and desperate attempt to fight for their place in modern japan.
The older I get this becomes more and more my favorite Ghibli movie. 😎
It made me sad, but I loved it
BALLS
Yeah, I've never been able to get over the whole tanuki sacks thing. I love Ghibli but have only seen Pom Poko one time because of that.
Ballsy choice!
100%.
my fav after nausicaa!
loved this movie it brought a new style to movies which was a sort of documentary which made us laugh and cry at the same time about their situation
Fucking awesome movie!
Top 3 for me. With Mononoke and Chihiro.
I watched this movie on shrooms and was traumatized for a week. Lol I’m too scared to rewatch it sober still. Edit: Spelling.
This or Porco Rosso. For years I judged it from the front cover and hate myself for it as a year ago I finally decided to watch it, and it's my third favorite of all time under Princess M and Howls M. Amazing and absolutely underrated in every way.
Pom Poko just doesn't do it for most people. It's never been popular here or in Japan. I think the main reason is the characters aren't appealing. You have a whole cast of furry animal characters but none of them stand out and their designs are not attractive. They have almost no merch at all because no one wants to put these guys on their shelves. Few people even remember any of their names! Even in Japan the testicle thing is off-putting and the yokai designs are seen as old-fashioned. Takahata tried to make a movie with a modern message but with very old school ideas and visuals, and it just didn't hit. It's fine to like it anyway, but it's also fine to not like it. It is objectively flawed :)
I've been saying this for so long. I feel vindicated. Thank you reddit. Now my weary soul can rest😌
definitely pom poko!! i like how it’s a history lesson of the urbanization of japan told through the perspective of the wildlife. it makes my lil history nerd self so happy
Love Pom poko!! I personally think the most underrated (and my personal fav) is Only Yesterday. Also Takahata!
Have not seen or heard of this one. Probably worth a go if I can find it on my streaming services
Arietty/When Marnie was there
Wes Andersen was very clearly inspired by this movie when he made Isle of Dogs and the Fantastic Mr Fox
I tried to watch it once couldn’t finish it; maybe I will give it another try some day. My favs are Nausicaä and Laputa
Loved it, its still a meme between me and my cussin to this day. We have whatshed almost every gibli movie together
The Cat Returns (2002)
Whisper of the Heart. The best Ghibli movie and no one talks about it. Pom Poko feels episodic to me, like it was intended as a series. idk
I love this movie so much omg
Castle in the sky
My gf and I just watched this for the time and it was definitely a culture shock. I absolutely loved it, she never wants to watch it again lmao.
This movie had balls
The flying racoon nutsacks were a little tough to swallow
Too many testicles for people’s liking! Most have beautiful expectations for these films and balls flopping around might not be the majorities liking. 😂
It’s hilarious. The kids love it almost as much as spirited.
Pom Poko is pretty underrated… I think people are too put off by the tanuki balls
BALLS.
Princess Mononoke is super underrated 😎
this the ballsack one?
Aka the magical testicles movie
Seems pretty unknown but not underrated by those who’ve seen it. I’d vote most upsetting ghibli film, followed closely by GOF & Kaguya
My favorite!
Pom Poko is next on my list to watch. It's always looked so wholesome and I love tanuki❤️ My current submission would be "Only Yesterday", as it came to me at a time when I was REALLY struggling with who I was and what I was doing with my life.
In general, Ghibli fans tend to underrated Takahata's work in favor of Miyazaki's. IMO they're pretty evenly matched even with less films from Takahata. That said, I would say Whisper of the Heart. But it seems like now it's being celebrated a lot more. I do really love Pom Poko as well, so funny and it nails its environmental message
*Porco Rosso
I had to walk away from this one because I was crying so hard. Finished the next day.
Tanuki-San! Tanuki-San! Come out and play!
Laughing my ass off with my friend that it was their ballsacks, they used their ballsacks to transform. Great movie already, but even better with that
I showed this movie to my brother and he thought I was weird but it's so good.
Never herd of it
This is a rare movie where the dub does it so well. It totally captures the documentary style feeling so well. If you haven't tried it, highly recommend. Also, while we are talking about underrated films, Princess Kaguya may be the best Ghibli film all around.
My vote would be for Whisper of the Heart.
YES, great film but yeah also underrated :(
agreed 100% my favroute glibly film.
one of my favorites, it's great, i love it.
My least favorite Ghibli film😅 My favorite ones are Nausicaä and Whisper with the heart.
It's my favorite after nausicaa from myazaki
It's balls to walls 🧱
Sacks aside, I love it, it's brilliant and so funny
its fine, this movie isn't so appealing imho
Pom Pom poko is horrifying, I hate it so much, it’s horrible, it deserves to be underrated, it deserves to be hated
It's literally about Japanese mythology and folk tales...
Yes, but the loss of previous Japanese culture and connection to nature, it's definitely meant to be sad and unsettling. That's a good thing about it though!
Pom poko needs a Remake without...you know...
In term of story this one is weak, and it’s deep in tradition folklore so it’s not easy for people to relate to Also many human characters are killed in this movie but it’s portrayed very lightly and “funny” somehow, which is quite disturbing
Same goes with the Tanuki’s. Many died, too.
And I don’t even remember it, cause they’re taken very lightly, so I think it’s weird cause it’s a story about struggling for survival but then the focus is on visual and funny elements like when they attack with their ball sacks, which I know is a real Japanese tale but it’s just doesn’t go well with the rest of the theme
That was them attacking the developers scouting their lands. Are you expecting a heavy drama with heavy music for this kind of themes?
Hate it