Favorite Ghibli Film, and Why?
For me it would be Princess Mononoke, which is also one of my favorite films, period. I really appreciate the maturity and nuance it brings to it's environmental themes, which have been done in many other films, but not as well.
Porco every time for me, feels like a mini holiday every time I watch it, but Totoro would be a close second.
Very hard to pick one but The Wind Rises has a special place in my heart (tbf most Ghibli movies do). First of all, I watched it when I was very young and forgot about it so it was like rediscovering something I've almost forgotten. Second, I'm in and engineering program and know a bit about planes and such so I could relate to the MC. Third, I love the more adult feel of it and the Shakespearian romance. Lastly, it does all the usual Ghibli stuff great like animation, ost and wholesomeness.
The Wind Rises is so beautiful, and so sad. It's like the essence of bittersweetness in movie form.
Princess Mononoke is my favorite for sure. I love the character design, the setting, the environmental storytelling. And wulfy
Besides that though…I really really liked Spirited Away. So rich and nuanced. I liked the twists and turns the film took
Princess Mononoke is a beautiful film. It's one of the Ghibli films that's transcended being dismissed by friends and family that don't like animated media, let alone anime. Good choice!
Mine is Porco Rosso. The setting and characters (like all Ghibli movies lol) make me feel so comfortable. It's fun and exciting, with a lot of small, genuine moments. Plus, the airplanes and idea of sky pirates is rad.
There's a game being worked on called The Brew Barons that's pretty much "Porco Rosso: The Game", and I'm friggin stoked for it.
Spirited away, just because I saw it as a child and it got me hooked on Miyasaki for life. It remains one of the most fun ones for me. It has the right balance between reality and fantasy, between fun and action/danger.
It also has that feeling of looking at a strange world as an outsider that I love, which is the reason I liked the first harry potter film/book for example. The wonder of a new, strange world with new rules that we do not comprehend.
Kiki's delivery service because I like the atmosphere and natural aesthetic.
Kiki is the probably the best children's movie I've ever seen. Not saying it's not suitable for adults but it's one that I can imagine watching with my kids over and over again.