Tales from Earthsea ゲド战记 (Gedo Senki)

Alternative Name: 地海战记 (De Hǎi Zhàn Jì)

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Dragons, Magic

Description: 

Something bizarre has come over the land. The kingdom is deteriorating. People are beginning to act strange... What's even more strange is that people are beginning to see dragons, which shouldn't enter the world of humans. Due to all these bizarre events, Ged, a wandering wizard, is investigating the cause. During his journey, he meets Prince Arren, a young distraught teenage boy. While Arren may look like a shy young teen, he has a severe dark side, which grants him strength, hatred, ruthlessness and has no mercy, especially when it comes to protecting Teru. For the witch Kumo this is a perfect opportunity. She can use the boy's "fears" against the very one who would help him, Ged.

Original Run: July 29, 2006

Studio: Studio Ghibli

The Wind Rises 风立ちぬ (Kaze Tachinu)

Alternative Name: 起风了 (Qǐ Fēng Le)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Historical, World War II

Description: 

Inspired by the aesthetics of design and the freedom of flying, Jiro Horikoshi pursues a life dedicated to the creation of a beautiful aircraft. He labors from his childhood, filled with dreams of engineering, to adulthood as he creates an elegant, flightworthy plane—the Mitsubishi A6M Zero—that eventually is used for something quite different than he expected: war.

Original Run: July 20, 2013

Studio: Studio Ghibli

From Up on Poppy Hill コクリコ坂から (Kokuriko-Zaka Kara)

Alternative Name: 来自虞美人之坡 (Lái Zì Yú Měi Rén Zhī Pō)

Genre: Romance, Slice of Life, School, Historical

Description: 

Umi Matsuzaka, the eldest sibling in a close-knit family of five, raises a pair of signal flags everyday at her seaside house in Yokohama Bay without fail in anticipation of the return of her father, who went missing in action during the Korean War. In school, Umi finds herself involved in a student movement seeking to prevent the demolition of an old club house. In the process, she falls in love with the newspaper club member Shun Kazama, only to find out that they might be related by blood.

Original Run: July 17, 2011

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea 崖の上のポニョ (Gake no Ue no Ponyo)

Alternative Name: 崖上的波妞 (Yá Shàng De Bō Niū)

Genre: Adventure, Magic, Romance, Fantasy, Transformation

Description: 

A young boy, Sōsuke, befriends a strange looking goldfish whom he names Ponyo. Unbeknownst to Sōsuke, Ponyo is a magic fish who has decided that she wants to live with Sōsuke and the other humans. Unfortunately, Ponyo's decision to give up her underwater life creates a crack in an ancient magic spell, and places the world in danger. Together, Sōsuke and Ponyo must set things right.

Original Run: July 19, 2008

Studio: Studio Ghibli

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya かぐや姬の物语 (Kaguya-hime no Monogatari)

Alternative Name: 辉夜姬物语 (Huī Yè Jī Wù Yǔ)

Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Drama, Supernatural, Folklore/Mythology,

               Tragedy,

Description: 

In an idyllic rural setting an old bamboo cutter and his wife raise a tiny girl found nestled within a glowing bamboo stalk along with a fortune in gold. As she approaches adulthood the bamboo cutter uses the fortune to purchase a villa in the capital, buy himself a title and employ tutors to transform the country girl—now given the name Kaguya—into a refined woman. News of her beauty brings powerful and wealthy suitors who compete for her hand in marriage, culminating in a proposal from the emperor. All the while Kaguya wishes that she and her family could return to their former life and to be reunited with her sweetheart, Sutemaru. Sooner or later, though, her true origins will make their own claim upon her.

Original Run: November 23, 2013

Studio: Studio Ghibli

The Borrower Arrietty 借りぐらしのアリエッティ (Karigurashi no Arrietty)

Alternative Name: 借东西的小人阿莉埃蒂 (Jiè Dōng Xī De Xiǎo Rén Ā Lì Āi Dì)

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Folklore/Mythology, Spirits

Description: 

Sho moves into his great aunt's house and soon discovers the presence of tiny people, the Borrowers, living there. A 14-year-old Borrower named Arrietty strives to prove herself by helping her father gather materials that her family needs from Sho's new home. However, Arrietty and Sho meet, breaking the rule that humans must not know about the Borrowers' existence. As Sho and Arrietty's relationship develops, human interference endangers the Borrowers' lives. Arrietty and Sho work together to try and protect the Borrowers' way of life.

Original Run: July 17, 2010

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Only Yesterday おもひでぽろぽろ (Omoide Poroporo)

Alternative Name: 岁月的童话 (Suì Yuè De Tóng Huà)

Genre: Romance, Slice of Life, Drama, Agricultural

Description: 

Taeko Okajima is a typical "office lady" in a big company in a big city. When she takes a sabbatical to the countryside in Yamagata Prefecture, the hometown of her brother-in-law, the journey recalled her memory of her 5th grade year. During her stay in Yamagata, she works hard and happily as a farmer and is surrounded by friendly relatives and villagers, bringing up more memories. Their hospitality makes her to reconsider her choice of life.

Original Run: July 20, 1991

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind 风の谷のナウシカ (Kaze no Tani no Naushika)

Alternative Name: 风之谷 (Fēng Zhī Gǔ)

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic

Description: 

In the post-apocalyptic future, large parts of the world have been swallowed up by forests of poisonous fungi. The remaining humans live near the fungus and its monstrous insectoid inhabitants, trying to prevent its spread. One of the human kingdoms, the peaceful Valley of Wind, loves its gentle Princess Nausicaä and her father the king, but their peace is about to be broken, as they are swallowed up in the machinations of their larger, warmongering neighbours. However, Nausicaä has hidden potential, and may yet change the fate of the world.

Original Run: March 11, 1984

Studio: Topcraft

The Cat Returns 猫の恩返し (Neko no Ongaeshi)

Alternative Name: 猫的报恩 (Māo De Bào Ēn)

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Alternative Version, Catgirl, 

               Transformation

Description: 

Haru-chan, a normal girl in a normal town, saves a strange cat carrying a present from being overrun by a truck. In return she's going to receive lots of favors, including marriage to the crown prince of Cat Kingdom. As she finds that a bit too much, she gets into contact with the Cat Business Office. Together with CBO's owner, the Baron, she enters the Cat Kingdom to try and prevent her marriage.

Original Run: July 20, 2002

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Grave of the Fireflies 火垂るの墓 (Hotaru no Haka)

Alternative Name: 萤火虫之墓 (Yíng Huǒ Chóng Zhī Mù)

Genre: Drama, Historical, Tragedy, War, World War II

Description: 

On the final days of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his four-year-old sister Setsuko are orphaned after their mother is killed during an air raid by American forces in Kobe, Japan. After having a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and their emergency funds and rations depleted, Seita and Setsuko must struggle to survive their hardships as well as those of their country, which is on the losing end of the war.

Original Run: April 16, 1988

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Whisper of the Heart 耳をすませば (Mimi wo Sumaseba)

Alternative Name: 侧耳倾听 (Cè Ěr Qīng Tīng)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Fantasy, Slice of Life, Adventure,

               Alternative Version

Description: 

Shizuku Tsukishima, a young girl in junior high, loves to read. Yet, every time she opens a library book, it seems the same name appears on the cards: "Seiji Amasawa". As Shizuku learns who this person is, she also begins to learn about herself and her goals in life—a discovery that will change her life forever.

Original Run: July 15, 1995

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Howl's Moving Castle ハウルの動く城 (Howl no Ugoku Shiro)

Alternative Name: 霍爾的移動城堡 (Huò Ěr De Yí Dòng Chéng Bǎo)

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Steampunk, 

               Wizards/Witches

Description: 

A plain young hatter named Sophie has her life changed when an evil witch transforms her into an old woman. Unable to face her family in such a condition, Sophie runs away in search of a way to become young again. Along the way, Sophie helps a turnip headed scarecrow, who repays her by leading her to the moving castle owned by the dreaded wizard Howl. There she befriends Howl's apprentice Markl, Howl's fire demon Calcifer, and eventually, Howl himself. Sophie then becomes the castle's cleaning lady in an effort to not only find the solution to her problem but to save Howl from his own terrible secrets as well.

Original Run: November 20, 2004

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Laputa: Castle in the Sky 天空の城ラピュタ (Tenkū no Shiro Rapyuta)

Alternative Name: 天空之城 (Tiān Kōng Zhī Chéng)

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Steampunk

Description: 

A girl named Sheeta falls out of the sky and lands in Pazu's arms. Soon after a gang of air pirates led by Dola, as well as a mysterious man named Muska, are on their tails. The chase leads them to a floating castle that once belonged to an ancient race of people.

Original Run: August 2, 1986

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Princess Mononoke もののけ姬 (Mononoke-hime)

Alternative Name: 幽灵公主 (Yōu Líng Gōng Zhǔ)

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Ghosts/Spirits, Action

Description: 

While fighting to save his village from the attack of a demon-god, Ashitaka comes in contact with it and is inflicted with a deadly curse. In his search for a cure he is forced to leave his village forever and journey to the forest inhabited by animal gods. There he finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and a village led by Lady Eboshi.

Original Run: July 12, 1997

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Kiki's Delivery Service 魔女の宅急便 (Majo no Takkyūbin)

Alternative Name: 魔女宅急便 (Mó Nǚ Zhái Jí Biàn)

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Romance, Witches

Description: 

Thirteen-year-old Kiki leaves home with her talking black cat Jiji to train as a witch. She flies on her broomstick to the port city of Koriko.

In exchange for accommodation, Kiki accepts a job delivering goods by broomstick from Osono, a kindly bakery owner. She meets a variety of people through her work, including an artist, an old woman, and Tombo, a geeky boy obsessed with aviation. At first Kiki is annoyed by Tombo and his extroverted friends, but she warms up to him after they take his flying bicycle for a test run.

In the latter half of the film Kiki becomes depressed. She discovers she can no longer understand Jiji, and has also lost her flying ability, forcing her to suspend her delivery business. Kiki gets a surprise visit from Ursula (the artist), who determines that Kiki's crisis is a form of artist's block. Ursula suggests that if Kiki can find a new purpose, she will be able to reclaim her powers.

While Kiki is visiting a customer, she witnesses an airship with Tombo on board. A strong gust sends the airship out of control into Koriko, and leaves Tombo hanging in mid-air. Kiki regains her flying power and manages to rescue him. She regains her confidence and resumes her delivery service. Kiki's parents receive a letter saying that she and Jiji are happy.

Original Run: July 29, 1989

Studio: Studio Ghibli

Spirited Away 千と千尋の神隠し (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)

Alternative Name:  千与千寻 (Qiān Yǔ Qiān Xún)

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Ghosts/Spirits, Supernatural, 

               Youkai/Monsters, Dragons, Workplace, Isekai, Witches

Description: 

On their way to their new home, a young girl, Chihiro, and her parents stumble into what appears to be an abandoned theme park. But all is not as it seems, as the theme park is a bath-house for the spirits, and not a place where humans are welcome. Chihiro must fend for herself and rescue her parents, as they have been turned to pigs as punishment for eating the food meant for the gods.

Original Run: July 20, 2001

Studio: Studio Ghibli