A Letter to Momo (2011) - ★★★★½

Director: Hiroyuki Okiura
Writer: Hiroyuki Okiura

A Letter to Momo is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. Anyone who has lost someone close to them should see this film. “We’re not alone.” I adore this story, and everything it represents. Its message shows that there's more to this world than meets the eye... and it couldn't have been delivered in a more unique and visually beautiful way. It has the spiritual and sentimental elements of Studio Ghibli films, but the style and realism of Satoshi Kon's works. Hiroyuki Okiura apparently spent seven years producing and making this film, which we can see in each meticulous, wonderful scene. I was mostly intrigued at the start, entertained through the middle, and quietly emotional at the end. This film really takes you on a journey through the usage of real and supernatural relationships.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) - ★★★★½

Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writers: Yasutaka Tsutsui (novel), Satoko Okudera (screenplay)

Yet again, the great country of Japan has produced a near-perfect animated film. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a visually stunning, surprisingly emotional masterpiece. Its unique visual style separates it from other great animated films, plus the story and characters are beautifully developed. It piqued my imagination and made me wonder if there is more to this world than meets the eye. Without a doubt, the story is what makes this such a masterful film. Its other attributes are the cherry on the cake. The style lies somewhere between sci-fi and drama, with a twist of romance towards the end. At times the film had me feeling terribly emotional because there's so much happiness and innocence in the story, but also searing moments of tragedy and heartbreak. This is easily one of the greatest animated films ever made.

Top 30 | Greatest Animated Movies of All Time

These are the top 30 animated movies I've ever seen.

Top 10 | Studio Ghibli Movie's

Studio Ghibli brings dreams to life. The films of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata are among the greatest ever made. These are my personal Top 10 Favorite films by the renowned animation company. I haven't seen every Studio Ghibli film, but I know that the ones I've chosen are all worthy of a place on this list.

10. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

Hayao Miyazaki

Kiki's Delivery Service is such a fun, light-hearted, magical adventure. It's more of a children's movie, but I really connected to the story and the characters. 

9. Ponyo (2008)

Hayao Miyazaki

Ahh Ponyo. This is definitely one of the most beautiful animated movies of all time. It's sooo cute and tons of fun.

8. Porco Rosso (1992) 

Hayao Miyazaki

Porco Rosso blew me away! He's laid-back, sassy, funny, and a tough son of a gun! His escapades with Fio had so much spark, I just wanted to see more!

7. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Hayao Miyazaki

Nausicaa is one of the strongest female characters in the history of film. It's such a great story, and breathtakingly beautiful. Plus, you can't get much cuter than those giant Ohmu insects!

6. Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)

Hayao Miyazaki

Laputa was one of the first Ghibli films I had ever seen, and it was my favorite for a long time. Every time I look up at the sky, I can't help but wonder if there's a beautiful floating island just waiting to be discovered ;)

5. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Hayao Miyazaki

TOTORO, TO-TO-RO! I love this movie so much. I'd call it a perfect film. It's one of the greatest children's movies of all time, and by far one of the most magical films I've ever seen. Every time I walk in my backyard, I can't help but feel happy at the thought of a little Totoro watching me. 

4. Princess Mononoke (1997)

Hayao Miyazaki

Princess Mononoke is a masterpiece. Words cannot describe how amazing this film is. It delivers such an important message in the most powerful, mesmerising way possible. I adore the score, the animation, the story... everything about it!

3. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Hayao Miyazaki

I saw Howl's Moving Castle in my Japanese class when I was in 5th Grade. I never forgot it, and never will forget it. It's the most magical of all the Ghibli films, and my second favorite of all time. My heart flutters when I think of Howl and Sophie, and the lovable fire-demon, Calcifur! 

2. Spirited Away (2001)

Hayao Miyazaki

If someone said to me that Spirited Away was the greatest movie of all time, I'd completely understand. It's perfect. Just perfect! It takes my breath away every single time, and there's always something new to discover with each frame. It's the most visually beautiful animated movie of all time, that's for sure. 

1. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Isao Takahata

Grave of the Fireflies is the most powerful, devastating film I've ever seen. You know how powerful it is? Well I just started crying whilst flipping through the photos of this film. To me, it trumps almost every other film in the world today. My heart rips to pieces every time I watch this movie, but it's so masterful that I can't help but watch it over and over. Setsuko... ahh I need to learn to stop crying about it! 

Well that is my Top 10 Studio Ghibli Movies. What would your list include? 

If you liked this list, check out my list for

Top 30 Greatest Animated Movies

Perfect Blue (1997) - ★★★½

Director: Satoshi Kon
Writers: Sadayuki Murai (Screenplay), Yoshikazu Takeuchi (Novel)

Perfect Blue is one of the creepiest animated movies I've ever seen. It's pretty run-of-the-mill stuff for the most part. Well, up until the end anyway. This isn't a movie I'll ever want to watch again, but I respect the cool twists and beautiful animation. At times it was boring, and other times it was very thrilling. The deal-breaker for me was the amazing psychological twist at the end, which left me shocked and pleasantly surprised at how exciting it all was. It's rude, it's disturbing, and it's nightmarish... but it's also very interesting.

Chicken Run (2000) - ★★★★½

Director: Peter Lord, Nick Park
Writers: Peter Lord, Nick Park (Story), Karey Kirkpatrick (Screenplay)
Voices: Julia Sawatha, Mel Gibson, Miranda Richardson, Tony Haygarth, Lynn Ferguson, Benjamin Whitrow

Have you ever wondered what The Great Escape would be like if the humans were replaced by chickens? Well look no further than Chicken Run! It's a hilarious, beautiful, and a downright entertaining movie from the team that brought you Wallace and Gromit. I was obsessed with this movie as a child! I must've seen it dozens of times in the space of one year. Last night I watched it for the first time in years, and my feelings haven't changed. It's one of the best animated movies I've ever seen.

WALL.E (2008) - ★★★★★

Director: Andrew Stanton
Writers: Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon
Voices: Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver

Not only is WALL.E one of the greatest animated movies I've ever seen, it's also one of the greatest movies ever made. I can't believe it took me 5 years to finally see this movie! I don't think I've ever loved a character as much as WALL.E, or a romance as cute as the one he had with EVE. The story is like a classic silent-movie romance mixed with the setting from 2001: A Space Odyssey. There is heaps of original content too, and tons of fun in every scene. I ended up growing so attached to the mechanized lovers that they even made me shed a tear of joy. This movie proves that the golden age of Disney is not yet over.

Monsters University (2013) - ★★★½

Director: Dan Scanlon
Writers: Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson, Dan Scanlon
Voices: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Steve Buscemi, Peter Sohn, Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Charlie Day, Bonnie Hunt

Monsters University was exactly as I expected it to be. That is exceptionally ordinary. There are plenty of laughs and some pretty cool things here and there, but there's nothing special about it. What was special in Monsters Inc. was the beautiful relationship these two monsters formed with Boo, a human girl. It's not an unnecessary sequel/prequel, because it does show the origin of certain stories (like why Randall hated Mike and Solley in the first movie). In retrospect, I wish I didn't pay money to see it in cinema. I'd rent it on DVD though!

The Lorax (2012) - ★★

Director: Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda
Writers: Ken Daurio, Cinco Paul (Screenplay), Dr. Seuss (Book)
Voices: Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White, Rob Riggle

The Lorax is one of my favorite children's books of all time by Dr. Seuss. It was beautiful, creative, mystifying, funny, and had a brilliant message at its core. This movie just couldn't capture any of those things perfectly, right down to the animation. I can't help but feel that if this story was left in the hands of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, we'd have a masterpiece on our hands. Instead, we have an almost lifeless 3D modern adaptation that captures neither the heart or the life of Dr. Seuss's vision. It's modern, and at times unfaithful to the book, which is essentially what caused its downfall.

Space Jam (1996) - ★

Director: Joe Pytka

Writers: Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick, Timothy Harris, Herschel Weingrod (Screenplay).

Stars: Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight, Bill Murray, Theresa Randle

Space Jam is infamous for being one of the worst movies of all time. I thought, surely it can't be that bad? Usually with such ridiculous stories I find them to be 'so bad it's funny.' Not this time. Not with this monstrosity! This movie is so bad, that it's just plain terrible. I hate to sound like a wet blanket, but I couldn't even muster a smile throughout the entire movie! My favorite comedic actor of all time, Bill Murray couldn't even save it! I wanted so badly to find Space Jam enjoyable, but the complete lack of creativity and wit was its ultimate downfall. 

(Plus it's pretty apparent that the whole film was just a ruse to take money from silly Basketball fans and children.)

Lady and the Tramp (1955) - ★★★½

Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Voice Actors: Peggy Lee, Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Bill Thompson, Bill Baucorn

Lady and the Tramp surprised me. When I was a child, I despised this movie. I can't exactly say why, but I just never connected to the story or the characters. Probably because I'm a cat person.

Anyway, watching it again I realised that this is one of Disney's better films. The animation looks magnificent for 1955, and many scenes just had me in awe. I think what surprised me the most was that I got a little bit emotional towards the end. It's not one of my favorite Disney films, but I can't deny that's a very good movie.

Pocahontas (1995) - ★★★

Director: Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg
Voice Actors: Irene Bedard, Judy Kuhn, Mel Gibson, David Ogden Stiers, Christian Bale, Billy Connolly, Linda Hunt, Russell Mean

Here's how I think the movie Pocahontas was conceived:

"Hey, let's have a Native American Disney Princess."
"Sounds good, who can we use."
"Pocahontas?"
"I think we've hit the jackpot!"

Yes, Disney has tried to do the impossible by making a children's movie out of America's brutal history with the Native Americans. I didn't find it offensive, but I didn't find it very entertaining either. It's one of the most beautiful animated films I've ever seen, and best of all, it has the most beautiful Disney song of all time. "Colors of the Wind," sung by Judy Kuhn.