All Of Animator And Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki's Movies In Order

Hayao Miyazaki’s latest title in his filmography, The Boy and the Heron, premiered in 2024 and won the prestigious Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Upon its initial release in Japan and subsequent global rollout, the film received overwhelmingly positive reviews upon both debuts and earned over $160 million at the worldwide box office. It’s not surprising that the anime movie fared well, given Miyazaki’s illustrious career.

Use our guide to learn more about Miyazaki’s revered filmography and find out where you can watch all of his movies in release date order by decade on popular services like HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, and more!

1970s

In the 1970s, Miyazaki’s career in animation gained traction, leading to his feature film directorial debut, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. The Castle of Cagliostro is the second film adaptation of the Lupin III manga and sees petty thief Lupin III (Yasuo Yamada) travel to the country of Cagliostro, where he meets a runaway princess and attempts to foil Count Cagliostro’s (Tarō Ishida) forgery scheme.

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is an excellent introduction to Miyazaki’s earlier work and a special treat for Lupin III fans. The film does justice to the manga while also standing well on its own for studying a more mature and less antagonistic Lupin. It’s a must-see for fans of Lupin III: The First (2019), as well as fans of swashbuckling, action-packed anime like Trigun Stampede (2023) and Outlaw Star (1998).

• Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)

1980s

With the exception of Kiki’s Delivery Service, all of Miyazaki’s 1980s movies were his original stories or based on his manga, giving viewers more profound insight into his imagination. Castle in the Sky and Kiki’s Delivery Service most closely parallel Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro with fantastical stories of pirates and witches. However, their protagonists are innocent children and orphans rather than gentlemen thieves. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and My Neighbor Totoro delve more into magical territory, with the former set in a post-apocalyptic world with mutant insects and the latter a beautiful tale about children and friendly spirits.

These 1980s movies capture the innocence and wonder of childhood, as well as Miyazaki’s signature style of rich, detailed animation and immersive worldbuilding. Films like My Neighbor Totoro boast such a distinct style that the only comparable films are other Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli works like Whisper of the Heart (1995) and Ponyo (2008). Meanwhile, viewers who love post-apocalyptic worlds like that of The Last of Us (2023) or Scavengers Reign (2023) will love Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
• Castle in the Sky (1986)
• My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
• Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

1990s

The 1990s offer the most diverse range of Miyazaki movies, in which there is something for everyone. Porco Rosso is one of his more adult films, delving into war with a strong anti-fascist message and complex characters. It parallels Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro as both share complex and flawed characters, while it mirrors the blend of imagination and social/political commentary in Pom Poko (1994). 

In the vein of My Neighbor Totoro, Whisper of the Heart perfectly and beautifully captures childhood through a magical lens as it probes the innermost dreams and desires of adolescence. It’s the perfect comfort animation for viewers seeking something relatable, funny, and sweet. Princess Mononoke goes back to Miyazaki’s more fantastical works and will appeal to fans of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro because of its depiction of a decaying world and morally ambiguous characters.

• Porco Rosso (1992)
• Whisper of the Heart (1995)
• Princess Mononoke (1997)

2000s

The 2000s saw the release of Miyazaki’s most critically acclaimed work, Spirited Away, which became the first hand-drawn animated film and non-English-language film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Spirited Away is similar to My Neighbor Totoro and Whisper of the Heart in that few films so perfectly capture the childhood experience. However, it also stands apart with its deep dive into Japanese folklore. Its real draw is that it boasts near-universal appeal, offering viewers of any age nostalgia and comfort with its beauty and imagination. 

Viewers who enjoy Spirited Away will also love Ponyo, another heartfelt film that captures the magic of childhood with its story of a boy and a fish’s bond. Both Ponyo and Howl’s Moving Castle, though, lean more into the fairy tale realm, making them more appealing to fans of Marcel the Shell With the Shoes On (2022), Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017), and Song of the Sea (2014). 

• Spirited Away (2001)
• Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
• Ponyo (2008)

2010s

The 2010s offer a lovely trio of Miyazaki films that center on love and nostalgia. Viewers seeking a little more realism than Miyazaki’s fantasy films may especially enjoy From Up on Poppy Hill and The Wind Rises. From Up on Poppy Hill tackles post-World War II Japan and the Anpo Movement and will especially appeal to adults with its historical, nostalgic setting and rare simplicity that captures the beauty in everyday life. Meanwhile, The Wind Rises is a heartfelt and partially true historical drama and love story, also rife with political and social undertones that will appeal to fans of Porco Rosso, Grave of the Fireflies (2005), and other more mature anime with historical settings.

Viewers looking for more of Miyazaki’s family-friendly, fairy tale-esque films will find it in The Secret World of Arrietty, an enchanting and visually beautiful story about a family of tiny people.

• The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
• From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
• The Wind Rises (2013)

2020s

Miyazaki intended The Wind Rises to be his final film, but in 2023, he returned with The Boy and the Heron. The Boy and the Heron returns to Miyazaki’s magical, nostalgia-fueled works with its tale of a boy’s journey to find the mother he believed had died. Like The Wind Rises and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, The Boy and the Heron has that underlying touch of sadness to it that makes it all the more sweet.

It is more likely to appeal to an older audience with its mature and complex story about learning to confront one’s past. However, the imaginative and breathtaking animation will also appeal to younger audiences. Fans of other beautiful and powerful coming-of-age stories like Spirited Away and Suzume (2022) will love The Boy and the Heron.