1. Spirited Away
Best Studio Ghibli Movies, Ranked
Arguably Ghibli at their peak of creative brilliance, Spirited Away nails pretty much everything one could hope for in an anime. Chihiro Ogino, a young girl moving to a new town, finds herself drawn into a world of spirits when her parents eat some suspiciously forgotten food at an abandoned stall and are turned into pigs. Unable to return them to normal until she can pass a test presented by a witch, she sets out to find the skills and confidence in herself needed to overcome the ordeal and return to her normal life.
The movie presents one of the most relatable tales of coming of age in anime, film and most any other medium. Not only that, but it masterfully uses its medium to full effect, with top notch animation and a soundtrack that enhance the experience at every turn. If you only ever watch one Ghibli film, make sure it’s this one.
For more on all things anime, check out some of our list of 10 anime movies you need to watch before you die.
