Where To Watch Every Studio Ghibli Movie In Order

Studio Ghibli is a renowned Japanese animation film studio founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki. With anime classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, the studio has become synonymous with high-quality animated films known for their breathtaking visuals, captivating storytelling, and profound themes. Hayao Miyazaki is often regarded as the creative genius behind the studio’s rise, having animated and directed most of its highest-rated movies.

Before Studio Ghibli was formally established, Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed the 1984 sci-fi film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. The movie’s titular heroine is a teenage princess who gets involved in a conflict between a kingdom and a forest of mutant insects. The environmentalist drama wasn’t produced by Studio Ghibli but is often included in Ghibli’s DVD and streaming collections.

Studio Ghibli's first official feature film was Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986), directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It established the studio's reputation for creating imaginative worlds filled with wonder and adventure. This was followed by Grave of the Fireflies (1988), directed by Isao Takahata, a poignant and tragic tale set during World War II.

In 1988, Miyazaki directed My Neighbor Totoro, a heartwarming story about two young sisters who encounter friendly forest spirits. This film, along with subsequent classics like the coming-of-age fantasy Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) and the wartime comedy Porco Rosso (1992), solidified Miyazaki's status as a master storyteller.

The 1990s saw the release of more iconic Ghibli films, including the epic Princess Mononoke (1997), directed by Miyazaki, which explored themes of environmentalism and the clash between nature and civilization.

Spirited Away (2001), yet again directed by Miyazaki, captured a young girl’s journey in an empty amusement park ruled by supernatural beings. Spirited Away became a worldwide phenomenon and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It remains one of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time.

Other notable Ghibli films include Howl's Moving Castle (2004) and The Wind Rises (2013) which was teased as Miyazaki's final feature film before his brief retirement. Miyazaki later suggested that 2023’s The Boy and the Heron would be his final film. The emotional fantasy drama revolved around a boy adjusting to a new household and discovering a fantastical world after he meets a talking bird. The film went on to win Studio Ghibli’s second Best Animated Feature Oscar and Miyazaki announced that he will be making yet another film.

Another major director from the Studio Ghibli canon is the late Isao Takahata. Along with the aforementioned Grave of the Fireflies, he also directed equally acclaimed films such as Only Yesterday (1991) and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013). Only Yesterday was a human drama that covered a woman’s journey from a chaotic city to the countryside. His last film, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, was based on a classic 10th century folktale called The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.

Studio Ghibli’s hand-drawn animation, attention to detail, and storytelling that resonates across cultures have made their films timeless classics cherished by audiences of all ages. Though Miyazaki officially retired several times, Studio Ghibli's legacy continues with ongoing projects and a new generation of filmmakers inspired by their work.

If you plan on watching all the Studio Ghibli movies, we have got you covered with a streaming guide that shows you how and where to watch each of these movies online in India!