No director in anime history has earned the critical acclaim and international respect of Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki. The director has created so many masterpieces that it can be difficult for fans to pick out a favorite, especially when opening the selection past Miyazaki and to the entire Ghibli filmography. Though that pick is tough for me too, there's a quote from Miyazaki that I can't stop thinking about, and it's made The Boy and the Heronmy favorite Ghibli film of all time. 344k3x

Hayao Miyazaki is best known for whimsical fantasies like My Neighbor Totoro and sweeping epics like Princess Mononoke, but tucked away in his decades-spanning career is a rare and overlooked treasure called On Your Mark. Released in 1995, this six-minute music video for Japanese pop duo Chage & Aska is one of the few, and arguably the only, sci-fi works Miyazaki has ever directed. With high-concept imagery, haunting post-apocalyptic visuals, and his signature hand-drawn artistry, it offers a tantalizing glimpse of what a Miyazaki-led science fiction film could have been.

Studio Ghibli’s masterpiece, Spirited Away, is by far one of the most representative and beloved anime films of all time. The story of Chihiro as she traverses a fantastical and dangerous new world is one that has inspired countless fans over the years. Its impact is such that even celebrities have felt a connection with Hayao Miyazaki’s movie.

Studio Ghibli is well known for producing high-quality animated films that can be appreciated by audiences of all ages. For Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki, however, only one of these films really challenged him to reveal what he felt was most important, and that was The Boy and the Heron.

Studio Ghibli's films, particularly those directed by Hayao Miyazaki, are known for their strong female characters, and Miyazaki has often been praised as a feminist and er of women for his portrayals of his heroines. However, Miyazaki recently revealed that the truth is he doesn't quite understand women.

Studio Ghibli is arguably the most recognizable name in anime. For decades, the titan of the industry has crafted and released films enjoyed by audiences of all ages, from coming-of-age stories to fantasy tales and even slow-burn dramas about mundane everyday living. Ghibli has painted the pictures of countless childhoods for people around the world, and, in turn, has gained itself a reputation as one of the most important animation studios on the planet.

Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki is a director of legendary proportions, a man whose name is known by families around the globe. The man himself often comes off as grumpy in interviews, but one quote from a new book reveals just how personal he makes his films.

For decades, Grave of the Fireflies has stood as one of Studio Ghibli’s most haunting and revered works. Directed by the late Isao Takahata, the 1988 film is a poignant portrayal of wartime survival and the human cost of conflict, based on Akiyuki Nosaka’s semi-autobiographical novel. Despite its critical acclaim and influence, it has long remained the only Ghibli feature not available to stream in Japan, until now.

When Studio Ghibli adapted Howl's Moving Castlefrom Diana Wynne Jones' whimsical novel, it proved just how magical the fusion between literature and animation could be. Ghibli took the book's rich inner world and gave it vivid life, adding its own signature charm and environmental themes. Since then, the studio has continued to dabble in adaptations, from The Secret World of Arrietty (inspired by The Borrowers) to When Marnie Was There. These literary-inspired films reflect the studio's lasting love for powerful storytelling across mediums.

Fans of Studio Ghibli may be surprised to learn that famed anime director Hayao Miyazaki faced a difficult decision when it came time to direct his final film. He had two competing ideas, and one of them was a sequel to one of Ghibli's best-known films ever: My Neighbor Totoro.