Ever thought about what other fairy tales are hidden behind the most popular Studio Ghibli productions? While recognizable hits including ‘Spirited Away’, or ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ have won the world over, the vastly unknown masterpieces of Studio Ghibli have equally captivating stories that are untold.
Studio Ghibli since 1985 has delivered work of high quality, linear animated films which are poetic and philosophical plays. Not surprisingly, their portfolio is vast and encompasses impressive movies that other more widely known directors have left in the shade.
5 Underappreciated Studio Ghibli Movies to See
Whisper of the Heart (1995)
This is a coming-of-age drama of Shizuku, a girl named who is a bookworm who soon finds her talent in creativity. Directed by Yoshifumi Kondō, the film offers a beautifully realistic portrayal of teenage dreams and self-discovery as per ScreenRant.
Porco Rosso (1992)
In this movie, Hayao Miyazaki presents a historical fiction with a political statement in the cockpit but has a pig fighter pilot. The pragmatic consciousness of action and comedy and political subtexts prove Miyazaki’s basic skills enhanced through the analysis of his works in the book “Miyazaki’s Worlds” by Helen McCarthy.
Only Yesterday (1991)
Takaiwa Isao’s uniquely realistic drama shows the maturation process of a 27- year-old lady. Unusually for Ghibli, it focuses on adult experiences, offering deep emotional insights into Japanese societal dynamics, as analyzed in the Journal of Contemporary Japanese Cinema.
Castle in the Sky (1986)
The first full-length film starts the steampunk that would transform Japanese pop culture to a new level. Scholars from the Tokyo University of the Arts have noted that some features of this film include features of a new style of narrating with interest in bizarre aesthetics that resets the basic patterns for successful animation that follow.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Isao Takahata’s breathtaking adaptation of a classic Japanese folktale stands out for its unique visual style. Blending calligraphic outlines with watercolour techniques, the film offers a poignant narrative about a mystical girl’s struggle between societal expectations and personal freedom, as highlighted in the animation critique “Animated Worlds”.
It is not that these films are centered on fresh plots but they still emanate special features of redefining conventional animation plot structures. These movies are examples of individual movie director’s autorality which differ from mainstream animation.
Audiences with a desire for more layers and shades of grey and great, great stories will be changed by these films. These movies show the direction Studio Ghibli chose to follow instead of sticking to the typical and also show that, sometimes, masterpieces aren’t necessarily acknowledged by the mainstream audience.
