Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most legendary living directors of all time. He has very little competition when it comes to Japanese animated films. Born in January 1941, Hayao Miyazaki directed multiple films that became classics. He not only directs movies but also writes screenplays for them. He started his career back in 1963 and worked for multiple big film studios. His directorial debut happened in the late 1970s. His work is highly popular and he got many rewards for it.
Hayao Miyazaki prefers the classical approach and isn’t a big fan of CGI. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why his films continue to charm people and get high ratings.
11 Lupin III: The Castle Of Cagliostro (1979): 71
It’s obvious Hayao Miyazaki does something right when the worst-rated movie he directed still has an above-average rating. Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is one of Miyazaki’s oldest movies. That would explain why not so many viewers know it as his later movies. The film tells the story of a thief who tries to free a princess held captive by an evil count. At the same time, the thief’s looking for a treasure and the princess is the key to finding it.
10 Princess Mononoke (1997): 76
Unlike the previous movie, Princess Mononoke is a classic, beloved by many fans. It works with Hayao Miyazaki’s favorite theme that appears in multiple of his films – the importance and protection of nature. The critics praised the film not only for its story but also for the captivating animation. Since a great part of it takes place in nature, a forest, it’s pleasure to watch the landscapes.
9 Castle In The Sky (1986): 78
This film also has the title Laputa: Castle in the Sky, depending on where one looks for it. Either way, it’s a great adventure that both children and adult viewers will enjoy. Two children decide to find the legendary floating castle. But they’re not the only ones who are looking for it. The film is full of beautiful places and the heroes are sympathetic. A funny fact is that the creators used 381 colors for making this movie.
8 Howl’s Moving Castle (2004): 80
Hayao Miyazaki not only cares about nature but also loves to tell stories about castles. This film proves it once again. Howl’s Moving Castle tells the story of young girl Sophie who works for the powerful wizard Howl.
Gradually, Sophie learns more about her employer and discovers his magical home. Watching the film allows each viewer’s imagination to roam free. The film got an Oscar nomination for the best-animated film and even though it didn’t win, it’s now a classic.
7 Porco Rosso (1992): 83
The heroes of Hayao Miyazaki’s films aren’t always humans. But what they have in common is that they have a goal and go after it. They don’t like to give up, despite the obstacles life throws in their way. Porco used to be a human but a curse changed him and he now has a pig’s face. He doesn’t let the curse stop him. Porco is a talented pilot and he’s about to compete in a race. What’s more, he has his lady to fight for. The film takes place in Italy in the 1930s which makes him different from most of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies.
6 The Wind Rises (2013): 83
The Wind Rises is one of Hayao Miyazaki’s latest directorial works. It got the must-see stamp on Metacritic, unlike some other Miyazaki films. Miyazaki once again drew inspiration in Italy and focused on flying. He tells the story of Jiro who loves planes and wants to be a pilot. He’s short-sighted, though, so he switches focus and becomes one of the best airplane designers in the world. The film got an Oscar nomination for the best-animated feature film.
5 Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989): 83
Just like The Wind Rises, this film also got the must-see stamp from Metacritic. Kiki is a thirteen-year-old girl who needs to go through a ritual to become a witch. She sets up her own delivery service. Since she can fly, it gives her a clear advantage over her competitors. But even then, things won’t be easy for her. The audience might find it interesting that Kiki was inspired by a real person, the film’s producer’s daughter.
4 Ponyo (2008): 86
Most of Hayao Miyazaki’s films happen in the air, this one is close to water instead. The story draws inspiration from the famous fairytale The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen.
Ponyo is a young goldfish who’s determined to become human. But if she wants to achieve that, she’ll have to go on a great adventure. Funnily enough, this is only Hayao Miyazaki’s film where no-one is flying.
3 Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind (1984): 86
Nausicaä and the Valley of the Wind is one of Hayao Miyazaki’s oldest – and best – movies. Despite that, it continues to capture the audience to this day. A bit similar to Princess Mononoke, this film tells the story of a brave princess who tries to stop two nations from destroying themselves and their planet. The film is based on Hayao Miyazaki’s manga and it used 263 colors in total!
2 My Neighbor Totoro (1988): 86
Plenty of people may have dreamed of having a neighbor like Totoro. But only the main characters of this film managed it. Two young sisters move to a new home and they discover a cute forest spirit Totoro lives nearby. They befriend him and experience a lot of adventures. The film draws inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki’s life more than any other of his movies. What many fans might not know that Totoro has an asteroid named after him – that’s how popular he became.
1 Spirited Away (2001): 96
Even though it came out almost 20 years ago, Spirited Away remains Hayao Miyazaki’s most popular movie. A young girl Chihiro enters a brand new, dangerous world. She has to find her parents and break the curse that befell them. The film is beautiful and frightening, sometimes at the same time. It won an Oscar for the best-animated film, and according to the critics, it’s weird and wonderful.
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