Pom Poko (Japan, 1994)

As the human city development encroaches on the raccoon dog population's forest and meadow habitat, the raccoon dogs find themselves faced with the very real possibility of extinction. In response, they engage in a desperate struggle to stop the construction and preserve their home.

I've mentioned it before, but Pom Poko is my favorite film from animation giant Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away), as unconventional as that may be. The amount of heart and soul in this story is staggering and by the end you desperately want to see all the tanuki's live happily in peace. Director Isao Takahata shows the real life expansion of  Tama New Town in the 1960's, only it's through the eyes of those we rarely think about when a new development project takes place. Takahata's love for Japanese history and folklore shines through in every nook and cranny, and the huge number of references to iconic Japanese spirits makes it seem like a real-life fairytale. 

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Drama

Only Yesterday (Japan, 1991)

A twenty-seven-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo.

Only Yesterday is probably the most mature film animation giant Studio Ghibli has ever done, far away from the usual fantasy elements that often marks their other creations. Here, we're acquainted with 27-year old Taeko who, while taking a job out in the sticks, thinks back to her early days in the city. Made by Isao Takahata (Grave of the Fireflies), Only Yesterday shows an incredible appreciation for nature and the life outside our stressful bubble of hectic social life and work. Studio Ghibli takes something as ordinary as slicing up a pineapple and makes it a joy to watch because it's so carefully and meticulously animated. Takahata took 17 members of his staff on a research trip to a rural area in Yamagata prefecture similar to the place where many of the film's present-day (1982) scenes are set. There the staff consulted with a farmer named Inoue, who taught them about harvesting safflowers, as the film's heroine, Taeko, does in the narrative. The staff videotaped their journey so that they would be able to re-create accurately in animation both the fields of safflowers and the natural beauty of the region in general.

The cinematography is a love letter to the films of Yasujiro Ozu (Tokyo Story) with the "camera" set very low and rarely moving. Where Hayao Miyazaki makes films about the often fantastical and made-up worlds, Takahata usually focuses on the character driven stories and the deeply personal journeys that leaves a bittersweet taste with the viewers. The juxtaposition of Taeko's younger and older self naturally portrays the dreams we give up, the wishes never fulfilled but also how we're different people from when we were young. 

Genre: Drama/Romance

The Red Turtle (Japan/France/Belgium, 2016)

A man is shipwrecked on a deserted island and encounters a red turtle, which changes his life.

The Red Turtle isn't entirely a Japanese production, but you'll thank me big time for giving it a pass. Directed and written by Dutch animator Michael Dudok de Wit, and with help from Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, we are treated to some of the most gorgeous and heartfelt animation I've seen in a long time. Being completely free of dialogue, the film relies on stunning visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack to express its narrative. Watching it feels like taking part of another's life, another's amazing experiences and their sorrow and happiness.

It's one of those films that stays with you for a long time after having seen it.

Genre: Animation/Fantasy

Ocean Waves (Japan, 1993)

Taku travels to his hometown for his high school reunion. During the trip, he recalls the memories of the days in high school. Friendship, subtle love, a trip to Tokyo and so on, all came back to him as the film evolves.

Ocean Waves was made by Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away) and also was the first film directed by someone other than Hayao Miyazaki. Instead, Ghibli wanted only the youngest staff members to make a film with a smaller budget than before (though it ended up going over both budget and schedule) and what we got was something really special. To think that an animated film from '93 is better framed and paced than many movies made today is also pretty cocky. Ocean Waves (a.k.a. I Can Hear the Sea) was a more mature film involving a love triangle and reminiscing about the past, and it's a crime that whenever people talk about Ghibli's stellar filmography this rarely gets brought up.  

In the same way Taku remembers his school days, maybe you will too think back at people you've met, and old friends you'll never meet again.

Genre: Animation/Drama/Romance

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (Japan, 2013)

An old man makes a living by selling bamboo. One day, he finds a princess in a bamboo. The princess is only the size of a finger. Her name is Kaguya. When Kaguya grows up, 5 men from prestigious families propose to her. Kaguya asks the men to find memorable marriage gifts for her, but the 5 men are unable to find what Kaguya wants. Then, the Emperor of Japan proposes to her.

Once again a new Studio Ghibli film has made it to western shores, and I dare to say that this is one of their best one yet. For the first time in ages, Hayao Miyazaki is not the director, but Isao Takahata, who made Grave of the Fireflies (1988) and Pom Poko (1994). Here, Takahata has based his film on one of Japan's oldest folktales: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, where a baby girl is discovered inside the stalk of a glowing bamboo plant and is said to be from Tsuki-no-Miyako ("The Capital of the Moon"). The film is rich with Japanese customs and culture and overall feels like a love letter to nature.

There's not much in this film not worth praising, the art style is very distinctive and beautiful, and there's a certain scene where Kaguya runs as fast as she can and flees out into the wild where it's drawn with such perfection and with very violent lines. This film shows an amazing love for traditional animation in a world where CGI has become a standard, and that's extremely endearing to me.

Joe Hisaishi, who composed the score for Studio Ghibli-films such as Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001), is also back with full force and has written one of his best soundtracks ever (maybe the best?). The story is equally magical and juggles family values, ancient teachings, the importance of home and loss. So basically this film has every quality of a Studio Ghibli-masterpiece, but I'm very sad that this is most probably Takahata's last film. At least he finished amazingly strong, and gave us one hell of a breathtakingly beautiful movie.

For people interested, my Top-3 of Studio Ghibli-films would have to be:

1. Pom Poko (1994)
2. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)
3. Porco Rosso (1992)

Genre: Animation/Drama/Fantasy

The Wind Rises (Japan, 2013)

Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes, inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni. Nearsighted from a young age and unable to be a pilot, Jiro joins a major Japanese engineering company in 1927 and becomes one of the world's most innovative and accomplished airplane designers. The film chronicles much of his life, depicting key historical events, including the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the Great Depression, the tuberculosis epidemic and Japan's plunge into war. Jiro meets and falls in love with Nahoko, and grows and cherishes his friendship with his colleague Honjo.

Here we are with a brand new Studio Ghibli film, The Wind Rises, and what is said to be the last Hayao Miyazaki film. This is his goodbye to all his fans and to his past as one of the worlds greatest animators, and how fitting it that he decides to make this his most different film to date? When The Wind Rises was released in Japan, kids all over the country didn't like it, they thought it was boring. In a sense, I can understand that, because it's a far cry from earlier films by Miyazaki like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. Hayao Miyazaki himself said that this isn't a movie for kids, and it shows in the slower tempo and lack of fantasy elements. Here's a film about a real life plane engineer, and how he sought out his dream. As I said, it's probably the most different film by Miyazaki, the most mature and serious. The one thing that remains intact is the wonderful animation, it's so warm and has that sort of fairy tale feel to it, even though the story is set in a realistic world this time. 

There's no wonder Hayao Miyazaki put so much effort in this film because airplanes is one of his favorite things, both to draw and to experience up close, so there's little doubt that this film has meant much to him and I'm really glad he finally got to make film that centers around planes (his film Porco Rosso (1992) also featured a lot of planes though not as in depth). If you can accept the more grown up story, then this film is a wonderful treat that has lots beautiful sights to show. The problem for all those Japanese children is that they were expecting another cute film like Ponyo (2008), and this couldn't be further away from that, but it's a fantastic film in every way possible. 

Genre: Animation/Biography/Drama

Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo (Japan, 2013)

Giant God Warrior is a short film by Studio Ghibli, known for such classics as Spirited Away (2001) and Princess Mononoke (1997). Here, they bring out the God Warrior from their animated masterpiece Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), one of several god warriors who destroyed the world. This short film can easily be found online, and it doesn't really matter if it lacks subtitles. It's a true testament of how miniature sets and handmade props can outshine digital special effects and computer graphics. I would be so glad if the whole film industry would start using these techniques and practical effects, because it's so much more fun to watch. 

It clocks in at about ten minutes, but it's ten minutes of beautiful destruction and chaos, ten minutes of how Tokyo is reduced to ash.  

From Up on Poppy Hill (Japan, 2011)

Umi, a 16-year old girl, lives in Kokuriko Manor, a house that overlooks Yokohama harbour. Every morning, Umi raises a set of signal flags with the message "I pray for safe voyages". The identity of the person raising the flags arouses much local interest, and a poem about her is published in a school newspaper. The author of this poem, Shun, always sees this flag from the sea as he rides a tugboat to school. The two students eventually meet, and a strong friendship is formed.

Another year, and finally another Studio Ghibli-film. From Up on Poppy Hill is one of those few Ghibli-movies that doesn't feature a storyline with lots of fantasy, thus making it more reminiscent of Whisper of the Heart (1995). Set in the year 1963, Poppy Hill explores the growing relationship between two students and the problems surrounding them. Ghibli's rendition of Tokyo in the 60's looks great, and many sceneries are spectacular in that distinctive Ghibli-kind of way. A warm and more subtle Ghibli-film. 

Genre: Animation/Drama/Romance

Studio Ghibli-productions (Japan)

Studio Ghibli has made many of the worlds best animated movies, so they're well worthy of a place in this list. I could write an essay on how beautiful Porco Rosso (1992) is, or how Castle in the Sky (1986) captures the very nature of a perfect fantasy journey. But you must experience them for yourself, all of them, and it'll be like devouring an enormous slice of Japanese culture.

My personal favorite is Pom Poko (1994), which follows the lives of a group of tanuki (raccoon dogs) who are trying to save their forest from an ongoing suburban development project. The movie is often overshadowed by more popular Ghibli-films like Spirited Away (2001) or Princess Mononoke (1997), so I thought I could at least mention it here. It also has one of the best soundtracks of the whole bunch, though that's always tough to decide because the music in these films are pure heaven.