Release OrderRecommended
0 / 24 watchedEvery feature in release order. Any single film works as a start.
1980s
- 1 Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind Pre-Ghibli origin, counted with the canon.
- 2 Castle in the Sky
- 3 Grave of the Fireflies Heaviest film. Plan accordingly.
- 4 My Neighbor Totoro Best first film for most viewers.
- 5 Kiki's Delivery Service
1990s
- 6 Only Yesterday
- 7 Porco Rosso
- 8 Ocean Waves TV film. Shorter and quieter.
- 9 Pom Poko
- 10 Whisper of the Heart
- 11 Princess Mononoke
- 12 My Neighbors the Yamadas Sketch comedy style.
2000s
- 13 Spirited Away Oscar winner. Strong start too.
- 14 The Cat Returns
- 15 Howl's Moving Castle
- 16 Tales from Earthsea
- 17 Ponyo
2010s
- 18 The Secret World of Arrietty
- 19 From Up on Poppy Hill
- 20 The Wind Rises
- 21 The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
- 22 When Marnie Was There
2020s
- 23 Earwig and the Witch CG style break.
- 24 The Boy and the Heron Latest feature.
About Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli films do not share a continuity. Each feature stands alone, from early flights of fancy like Castle in the Sky and Kiki Delivery Service through 1990s work like Only Yesterday and Whisper of the Heart to later peaks like Spirited Away and Howl Moving Castle. Release order shows how directors Miyazaki, Takahata and later hires traded styles over four decades.
New viewers often start with My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away or Kiki since they show the range without demanding prior films. Grave of the Fireflies plays heaviest and fits better second or third. The list below runs in release order because no story order exists across these standalone films.
Good to know
Any order works since the films never cross over, but release order keeps the animation jumps clear and avoids spoiling nothing. Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies opened as a double bill in 1988, so pairing them makes a strong early double feature with very different tones. The Red Turtle is not counted here since Ghibli co-produced rather than made it. The studio remains active after The Boy and the Heron, so treat the list as open.
