Personal favorites: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (First exposure to Ghibli, loved the epic scale, a little rough around the edges but I enjoyed the "raw" feeling, well written female protagonist, interesting side characters, loved the plot and environmental messages) Spirited Away (Magical film, it deserves all the praise, is not overhyped) Howl's Moving Castle (Plot at times is a bit messy but I enjoyed the fantastical elements, visually very well done and creative) Great: Castle in the Sky (Just a fun adventure film, only problem I have with it is the two main characters are a little undeveloped and at times the pace is a bit rushed) Princess Mononoke (Fleshed out some ideas from Nausicaä, characters are very well written and interesting, probably the most violent out of all the Ghibli films had some more disturbing images which is why I knocked it down one peg-not pleasant to the eyes) Good movie: My Neighbor Totoro (Very campy movie. I'd call it a "vibe" film. Good film to watch on a rainy day to cheer you up. Innocent feeling) Kiki's Delivery Service (Fun film about growing up and venturing out on your own. I don't have much to say about this one. Has a simple story) Porco Rosso (Plane sequences were very fun to watch, underwhelming third act, and doesn't have the most likable protagonist) The Cat Returns (Probably had the most fun with this film, believe it or not, thoroughly enjoyed this one, transported to another world)
Ponyo (Liam Neeson did a wonderful job voice acting as the father, visually this one really stands out, I do see the influence of Little Mermaid) Good movie but not my cup of tea: Only Yesterday (I don't like to look back at my childhood memories but I think this one depends on where you are in life) Whisper of the Heart (Probably my favorite of the "slice of life" films they've done, it's a feel-good movie about going after your dreams, very inspirational) The Wind Rises (It's a very well done film, kind of a sad tragic film in a way, contains my least favorite scene of their whole filmography-blood gushing out. I felt a little depressed after watching this one. Interesting dilemma of finding/doing your purpose but having that role have destructive elements) When Marnie was There (Probably one of the weirder films they've done. I enjoyed the plot twist ending. I wasn't a fan of how they depicted their relationship before the plot twist. It was a little too intimate for me) Meh: My Neighbors the Yamadas (It's a fine film just didn't really do anything for me) Arrietty (It's a well-done film, and it's visually striking I just wasn't invested in the smaller-scale story. This is probably the blandest film they've done) From Up on Poppy Hill (Very beautiful visually, didn't like the potential incest plotline) Gets too much hate but I was entertained: Tales from Earthsea (Might be their worst film but I was laughing at how bad it was so it's kind of like The Room. The villain looked like Noodle from Gorillaz so that's a plus) Earwig and the Witch (This film is not as bad as people say it is. I wish they fleshed out the ending more, it just ended abruptly but if you understand what it's based on it's a pretty good adaptation because the author died before they could finish it) Bad movie would not rewatch/I did not like: Ocean Waves (Longest 70 minutes of my life, did not have likable characters and I just didn't care about the teen drama/love triangle) Pom Poko (I did not like this film. It was visually weird at times and the tone was all over the place. Might be my least favorite film of theirs) The Tale of the Princess Kugaya (I did not connect with the protagonist/message of the film. A little too out there for me) One-Time Viewing Experience Grave of the Fireflies (This movie is very well made and I appreciate it but it's way too depressing for me to rewatch)
Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I loved reading your comments as it feels like you were in the room with us. I’m definitely going to have to watch “The Cat Returns” now. I didn’t know about “Ocean Waves”. according to Wikipedia, it was an opportunity for the younger animators to get experience, but went overbudget
@@HamishDownieYou’re welcome. Thanks for your comment. Think of The Cat Returns as a sequel to Whisper of the Heart. It’s a shorter film like 70 minutes but it’s very creative, imaginative, and really unlike anything I had seen before (out of all their films this one is most like a Disney film). Let me know what you think when you get a chance to watch it. I enjoyed watching you guys discussing your thoughts. Studio Ghibli has a new film coming out called The Boy and the Heron, it’s by Hayao Miyazaki film. I’m planning to watch it this weekend, it might be his final film so I heard it’s like a culmination of everything he has done so far, I’m looking forward to it.
When you check out "The Boy and the Heron" be sure to check David's review to compare notes: ruclips.net/video/nHhg3Ow0D4Q/видео.htmlsi=_Rg_jdQCUAtvxZ3t - I do enjoy his videos and he posts content on Japan. I hope we can make something together again soon. I'll check out "Whisper of the Heart" then "The Cat Returns", and let you know how I go!
Personal favorites:
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (First exposure to Ghibli, loved the epic scale, a little rough around the edges but I enjoyed the "raw" feeling, well written female protagonist, interesting side characters, loved the plot and environmental messages)
Spirited Away (Magical film, it deserves all the praise, is not overhyped)
Howl's Moving Castle (Plot at times is a bit messy but I enjoyed the fantastical elements, visually very well done and creative)
Great:
Castle in the Sky (Just a fun adventure film, only problem I have with it is the two main characters are a little undeveloped and at times the pace is a bit rushed)
Princess Mononoke (Fleshed out some ideas from Nausicaä, characters are very well written and interesting, probably the most violent out of all the Ghibli films had some more disturbing images which is why I knocked it down one peg-not pleasant to the eyes)
Good movie:
My Neighbor Totoro (Very campy movie. I'd call it a "vibe" film. Good film to watch on a rainy day to cheer you up. Innocent feeling)
Kiki's Delivery Service (Fun film about growing up and venturing out on your own. I don't have much to say about this one. Has a simple story)
Porco Rosso (Plane sequences were very fun to watch, underwhelming third act, and doesn't have the most likable protagonist)
The Cat Returns (Probably had the most fun with this film, believe it or not, thoroughly enjoyed this one, transported to another world)
Ponyo (Liam Neeson did a wonderful job voice acting as the father, visually this one really stands out, I do see the influence of Little Mermaid)
Good movie but not my cup of tea:
Only Yesterday (I don't like to look back at my childhood memories but I think this one depends on where you are in life)
Whisper of the Heart (Probably my favorite of the "slice of life" films they've done, it's a feel-good movie about going after your dreams, very inspirational)
The Wind Rises (It's a very well done film, kind of a sad tragic film in a way, contains my least favorite scene of their whole filmography-blood gushing out. I felt a little depressed after watching this one. Interesting dilemma of finding/doing your purpose but having that role have destructive elements)
When Marnie was There (Probably one of the weirder films they've done. I enjoyed the plot twist ending. I wasn't a fan of how they depicted their relationship before the plot twist. It was a little too intimate for me)
Meh:
My Neighbors the Yamadas (It's a fine film just didn't really do anything for me)
Arrietty (It's a well-done film, and it's visually striking I just wasn't invested in the smaller-scale story. This is probably the blandest film they've done)
From Up on Poppy Hill (Very beautiful visually, didn't like the potential incest plotline)
Gets too much hate but I was entertained:
Tales from Earthsea (Might be their worst film but I was laughing at how bad it was so it's kind of like The Room. The villain looked like Noodle from Gorillaz so that's a plus)
Earwig and the Witch (This film is not as bad as people say it is. I wish they fleshed out the ending more, it just ended abruptly but if you understand what it's based on it's a pretty good adaptation because the author died before they could finish it)
Bad movie would not rewatch/I did not like:
Ocean Waves (Longest 70 minutes of my life, did not have likable characters and I just didn't care about the teen drama/love triangle)
Pom Poko (I did not like this film. It was visually weird at times and the tone was all over the place. Might be my least favorite film of theirs)
The Tale of the Princess Kugaya (I did not connect with the protagonist/message of the film. A little too out there for me)
One-Time Viewing Experience
Grave of the Fireflies (This movie is very well made and I appreciate it but it's way too depressing for me to rewatch)
Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I loved reading your comments as it feels like you were in the room with us. I’m definitely going to have to watch “The Cat Returns” now. I didn’t know about “Ocean Waves”. according to Wikipedia, it was an opportunity for the younger animators to get experience, but went overbudget
@@HamishDownieYou’re welcome. Thanks for your comment. Think of The Cat Returns as a sequel to Whisper of the Heart. It’s a shorter film like 70 minutes but it’s very creative, imaginative, and really unlike anything I had seen before (out of all their films this one is most like a Disney film). Let me know what you think when you get a chance to watch it. I enjoyed watching you guys discussing your thoughts. Studio Ghibli has a new film coming out called The Boy and the Heron, it’s by Hayao Miyazaki film. I’m planning to watch it this weekend, it might be his final film so I heard it’s like a culmination of everything he has done so far, I’m looking forward to it.
When you check out "The Boy and the Heron" be sure to check David's review to compare notes: ruclips.net/video/nHhg3Ow0D4Q/видео.htmlsi=_Rg_jdQCUAtvxZ3t - I do enjoy his videos and he posts content on Japan. I hope we can make something together again soon.
I'll check out "Whisper of the Heart" then "The Cat Returns", and let you know how I go!