Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Genres: Adventure, Sci-Fi

Year: 1984

Duration: 117 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By: Isao Takahata

Warrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.

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Main Characters

Nausicaä

The Princess of the Valley of Wind. She is clever, resourceful, and a skilled swordswoman. She is a windrider, who can read and utilize the wind well, and flies a "Mehve," a glider with an engine. She has an empathetic ability and can even communicate with insects from the Sea of Corruption.

Asbel

Rastel's twin brother. He is the sole survivor of Pejite, and deeply hates Kushana and Torumekians. He is a very good pilot, mechanic, and swordsman.

Kushana

Princess of Torumekia, youngest daughter of the Vai Emperor.

Lord Yupa

Nausicaä's teacher and legendary swordsman. He's been traveling the world in search of the secret of the Sea of Corruption.

Castle in the Sky

Genres: Adventure, Family

Year: 1986

Duration: 125 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By:Isao Takahata, Yasuyoshi Tokuma

A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.

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Main Characters

Pazu

Pazu is a young boy whose goal was to fly in the sky to search for LAPUTA. He is an engineer's apprentice. Pazu keeps pet doves in his tower and can play the trumpet.

Sheeta

Her parents died and left a magical stone (a volucite crystal) which she could never lend or show anyone. Chased by the pirates, she fell from the airship she was in and was saved by the floating powers of the stone and a boy named Pazu. She must escape from the pirates and find the land in the sky, Laputa.

Grave of the Fireflies

Genres: Drama, War

Year: 1988

Duration: 89 min

Directed By: Isao Takahata

Produced By:Ryoichi Sato, Toru Hara

A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

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Main Characters

Setsuko

A 4-year-old girl. Setsuko completely adores her older brother Seita. She is innocent and cheerful, and at times naïve to the terrors of war around her.

Seita

A 14-year-old boy. Seita is responsible, mature, and tough. Since his dad is away fighting in the war, he is responsible for all the jobs his father would normally take, including caring for his younger sister, Setsuko. Seita's main fault is his pride, which can cause him to make wrong decisions.

My Neighbor Totoro

Genres: Comedy, Family

Year: 1988

Duration: 86 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By:Toru Hara, Ned Lott

When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.

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Main Characters

Mei

Mei is Satsuki's younger sister; she is 4 years old. She is the first character that meets and befriends Totoro.

Satsuki

A 10-year-old girl. Satsuki is Mei's older sister. Satsuki is the traditional name of the fifth month of the Japanese calendar, the equivalent of the English May.

Totoro

One of three Totoros (Gods of the forest).

Kiki's Delivery Service

Genres: Family, Fantasy

Year: 1989

Duration: 103 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By:Hayao Miyazaki, Jane Schonberger

A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.

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Main Characters

Kiki

A 13-year-old apprentice witch, leaving her home village to spend a year on her own. She has no visible magical abilities other than communicating with her cat and broom-flying (at which she is still a novice). She is excitable, innocent, and by turns eager and shy.

Jiji

Jiji is Kiki's sharp-tongued, sarcastic, and sometimes humorously pessimistic feline companion. He is constantly offering well-intended advice (and admonishments) that might make him seem overcritical of Kiki.

Only Yesterday

Genres: Drama, Romance

Year: 1991

Duration: 118 min

Directed By: Isao Takahata

Produced By: Tôru Hara, Ritsuo Isobe, Hayao Miyazaki, Hideo Ogata, Yoshio Sasaki, Shigeharu Shiba, Toshio Suzuki, Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Geoffrey Wexler, Tatsumi Yamashita

Having lived her whole life in the city, 27-year-old Taeko decides to visit her relatives in the countryside. As she travels, memories of her youth resurface, and after meeting young farmer Toshio, she wonders if she's been true to the dreams of her childhood self.

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Main Characters

Taeko Okajima

Taeko Okajima lives in Tokyo and works in a big company. She then decides to take a break and go to Yamagata Prefecture, where her brother-in-law lives. On her way there, she sees memories of her as 5th grader. While in Yamagata, she works hard and while there, she starts re-considering her life's choices.

Toshio

An organic farmer and a friend of Taeko Okajima who often drives her around. He also helps her come to terms with some stories about her classmates including a bully who apparently liked ten year old Taeko.

Porco Rosso

Genres: Action, Adventure, Award Winning, Comedy, Drama, Romancey

Year: 1992

Duration: 93 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By: Rick Dempsey, Ned Lott, Hideo Ogata, Yoshio Sasaki, Toshio Suzuki, Sokai Tokuma, Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Matsuo Toshimitsu, Tatsumi Yamashita

A world-weary flying ace-turned-bounty-hunter, whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell. When he infuriates a band of sky pirates with his heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a hotshot American rival, to get rid of him. But with the help of the teenage girl Fio, an aspiring airplane designer, and a sultry lounge singer named Gina, Porco takes to the skies for what may be his final high-flying showdown.

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Main Characters

Porco "Kurenai no Buta, Marco Pagot" Rosso

Born Marco Pagot, Porco was an ace fighter pilot for the Italian Air Force in World War I. A curse has since given him the appearance of a pig, leading to the nickname Porco Rosso (Italian for "Red Pig"). He now operates as a bounty hunter in the Adriatic Sea, fighting air pirates in his distinctive red sea plane.

Fio Piccolo

Fio lived in America, but went to Milan to help out her grandfather Piccolo. Her grandfather is the owner of Piccolo S.P.A., where they build seaplanes. Fio is very talented and skilled for her age, and most importantly, passionate about her work.

Donald Curtis

Donald Curtis, a confident ¼ Italian ¾ American pilot, is recruited in the Flying Pirates Alliance to take out their enemy Porco Rosso. His goal in life is to become a Hollywood star and become the President of the United States.

Ocean Waves

Genres: Drama, Romance

Year: 1993

Duration: 72 min

Directed By: Tomomi Mochizuki

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki, Nozomu Takahashi

As a young man returns home after his first year away at college he recalls his senior year of high school and the iron-willed, big city girl that turned his world upside down.

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Main Characters

Taku Morisaki

Taku, needing money for the school's trip to Hawaii, took his restaurant busboy job to offset the expense, at the cost of falling grades and his teachers' disapproval. He voiced his disapproval of canceling the school trip in front of the whole school. Is there when Rikako plans to go to Tokyo, lends her money for the tickets (although he didn't know of her plans).

Rikako Muto

Rikako Muto is a teenage girl who has just moved with her mother from Tokyo to Kochi. She is introduced to her school through the class president, Yutaka Matsuno, who hence introduces her to his best friend, Taku Morisaki. Yutaka (who instantly fell for Rikako) talks to Rikako about all things of life, including his best friend

Yutaka Matsuno

Taku's friend and rival for Rikako's affections. Yutaka and Taku became friends when they jointly campaigned against the cancellation of their junior high school trip due to the school's low test scores. They are not in the same class but despite that they always stay good friends.

Pom Poko

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Year: 1994

Duration: 119 min

Directed By: Isao Takahata

Produced By: Ritsuo Isobe, Seiichiro Ujiie, Toshio Suzuki, Yasuyoshi Tokuma

The tanuki (raccoon dogs) of Tama Hills find their fun-loving community under attack when their quiet woodlands are threatened by encroaching developers looking to create still more houses and shopping malls. Desperate to survive, the tanuki band together and learn the ancient art of transformation, shape-shifting into a comical variety of humans and spirits as they undertake a last-ditch plan to scare away the humans and save their home...

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Main Characters

Shoukichi

Shōkichi (正吉), also known as Shōkichi of the Shadow Forest (影森の正吉, Kagemori no Shōkichi), is one of the main protagonists in Pom Poko. His older self is narrating the film.

Okiyo

Okiyo (おキヨ) or Kiyo (キヨ), also known as Kiyo of the Breaking Up Temple (縁切り寺のキヨ, Enkiridera no Kiyo), is the deuteragonist in Pom Poko. She is the wife of Shoukichi.

Whisper of the Heart

Genres: Drama, Romance

Year: 1995

Duration: 111 min

Directed By: Yoshifumi Kondô

Produced By: Rick Dempsey, Ned Lott, Hayao Miyazaki, Takashi Shoji, Toshio Suzuki, Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Seiichirô Ujiie

A chance encounter with a mysterious cat sends Shizuku, a quiet schoolgirl, on a quest for her true talent. Together with Seiji, a boy determined to follow his dreams, and enchanted by The Baron, a magical cat figurine who helps her listen to the whispers of her heart, Shizuku embarks on a life-changing adventure that takes her beyond the boundaries of her imagination. This beautiful tale based on a screenplay from Hayao Miyazaki will delight and amaze audiences of all ages!

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Main Characters

Shizuku Tsukishima

Shizuku is a junior high student living in the Tokyo Suburb of Tama New Town. She loves to write, or at least has the potential for she writes the translation of the song "Country Road" from English to Japanese for graduation (she also creates her own version for Tokyo, which shows that potential as well).

Seiji Amasawa

A boy who first appeared reading a book that Shizuku had left behind. In the book, Shizuku left her song lyrics inside, and Seiji read them. He, in reality, like them, but when Shizuku returned to retrieve her book, he called the lyrics corny, which caused her to call him a jerk. He's frequently seen riding his bicycle during the movie.

Princess Momonoke

Genres: Action, Adventure, Award Winning, Fantasy

Year: 1997

Duration: 133 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

On a journey to find the cure for a Tatarigami's curse, Ashitaka finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and Tatara, a mining colony. In this quest he also meets San, the Mononoke Hime.

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Main Characters

San

San is known as Princess Mononoke, the 17-year-old girl, princess of spirits and beasts. When San was a baby, her parents, along with some other travelers, were attacked by the wolf goddess Moro.

Ashitaka

A prince of the Emishi tribe, Ashitaka is cursed in combat with a demonic boar. His only hope for a cure is to return to the forested land from which the boar-god originally came and discover what rage infected it.

My Neighbors The Yamadas

Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life

Year: 1999

Duration: 104 min

Directed By: Isao Takahata

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

Join the hilarious adventures of the quirky Yamada family in this wonderfully offbeat celebration of the little and sometimes bigger victories of life. Presented in a series of brilliant comic vignettes, Takashi Yamada and his wacky wife Matsuko navigate their way through the ups and downs of work, marriage, and family life with a sharp-tongued grandmother, a teenage son who wishes he had cooler parents, and a young daughter with an unusually loud voice.

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Main Characters

Noboru Yamada

Noboru Yamada (山田昇, Yamada Noboru) is the protagonist from My Neighbors the Yamadas. He is the son of Takashi Yamada and Matsuko Yamada and the big brother of Nonoko Yamada.

Takashi Yamada

Takashi Yamada (山田隆司, Yamada Takashi) is the husband of Matsuko Yamada and the father of Noboru Yamada and Nonoko Yamada in My Neighbors the Yamadas.

Nonoko Yamada

Nonoko Yamada (山田のの子, Yamada Nonoko) is the seven-year-old sister of Noboru Yamada in My Neighbors the Yamadas.

Shige Yamano

Shige Yamano (山野しげ, Yamano Shige) is the grandmother of Noboru and Nonoko Yamada and mother of Matsuko Yamada. She appears in My Neighbors the Yamadas.

Matsuko Yamada

Matsuko Yamada (山田まつ子, Yamada Matsuko) is the wife of Takashi Yamada and the mother of Noboru Yamada and Nonoko Yamada in the film My Neighbors the Yamadas.

Spirited Away

Genres: Adventure, Family

Year: 2001

Duration: 125 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, a world where humans are changed into beasts.

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Main Characters

Chihiro Ogino

Chihiro is a young and ordinary girl who finds herself in a surreal and mysterious world. Throughout her journey, she transforms from a fearful child into a brave young girl.

Haku

Haku is Chihiro's first friend in the strange world. He studies with the sorceress Yubaba and has magical powers. It's said he lost his way home as well as his name in the world of spirits.

The Cat Returns

Genres: Adventure, Comedy

Year: 2002

Duration: 75 min

Directed By: Hiroyuki Morita

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

After helping a cat, a seventeen-year-old girl finds herself involuntarily engaged to a cat Prince in a magical world where her only hope of freedom lies with a dapper cat statuette come to life.

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Main Characters

Haru

Haru is a kind-hearted, ordinary high school girl who unexpectedly finds herself involved in the whimsical and magical world of the Cat Kingdom. She's courageous, compassionate, and quick-witted, making her an endearing and relatable protagonist.

Baron

Baron is a dapper and sophisticated cat figurine brought to life in the Cat Kingdom. He exudes an air of charm and elegance, serving as Haru's guide and mentor in this enchanting realm, where he showcases his wisdom, resourcefulness, and a touch of feline charisma.

Howl's Moving Castle

Genres: Adventure, Family

Year: 2004

Duration: 119 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.

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Main Characters

Howl

Howl is a mysterious, reclusive wizard who is known for being very flamboyant and wicked. His notorious moving castle has recently been spotted near Market Chipping and rumors have begun to spread that he is searching for beautiful young women whose hearts he may steal. He comes from Wales, a country unknown to most in the book, where his family still remain unaware of his activities in Sophie's world or of its existence.

Sophie

Sophie is the eldest of three sisters and lives a boring life as a hat-maker. She has already determined that her life is everything but exciting, that nothing will ever happen to her, and that she might as well give up any thoughts on adventure or excitement in her life. She hides away in her parent's hat-shop and when she for once sneaks out, she visits her younger sister, who works at a bakery. On the way she meets a mystery man. This encounter changes her life forever.

Tales From Earthsea

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy

Year: 2006

Duration: 115 min

Directed By: Goro Miyazaki

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

In a mythical land, a man and a young boy investigate a series of unusual occurrences.

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Main Characters

Arren

The Prince of Enlad and heir to the principality of Morred. Having lived a carefree early life, he is an exile, pursued by a Shadow. He meets the Archmage Ged in his Journeys.

Therru

A mysterious girl with a fire-scarred face. Subjected to abuse and deserted by her parents, Therru lives with Tenar, her sole confidante.

Ponyo

Genres: Adventure, Comedy

Year: 2008

Duration: 101 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

A five-year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a young goldfish princess who longs to become a human after falling in love with him.

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Main Characters

Ponyo

A goldfish princess who wants to become human after meeting the young boy Sousuke.

Sousuke

Sousuke lives with his mother, Risa. While playing at the shore, he rescues Ponyo. Their friendship begins from there.

The Secret World of Arrietty

Genres: Adventure, Drama

Year: 2010

Duration: 94 min

Directed By: Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

The Clock family are four-inch-tall people who live anonymously in another family's residence, borrowing simple items to make their home. Life changes for the Clocks when their teenage daughter Arrietty is discovered.

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Main Characters

Arrietty

A 14-year old borrower who lives with her parents under the floorboards of Shō's house.

Shou

Shou is a young boy who befriends Arrietty. In the beginning of the film he moves in with his great aunt because he suffers from a heart condition and needs lots of rest and quiet.

From Up on Poppy Hill

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Year: 2011

Duration: 91 min

Directed By: Gorô Miyazaki

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

A group of Yokohama teens look to save their school's clubhouse from the wrecking ball in preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

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Main Characters

Umi Matsuzaki

Matsuzaki Umi is a high school girl who takes care of her brother and sister and manages a western-style lodge next to the sea.

Shun Kazama

A 17-year-old high school boy who is a member of the school newspaper.

The Wind Rises

Genres: Biography, Drama

Year: 2013

Duration: 126 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

A look at the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the man who designed Japanese fighter planes during World War II.

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Main Characters

Jirou Horikoshi

Jirou Horikoshi has been dreaming of flying since he was a young boy living in rural Japan. While his acute myopia prevents him from becoming a pilot, he continues to chase his dreams by aspiring to become an aeronautics engineer. He borrows an English aviation magazine and reads it thoroughly using an English dictionary, then dreams of meeting Caproni, a famed Italian aeronautic engineer who proceed to inspire him to realise his dreams by creating beautiful aircraft despite the possibility that they'll be used as tools of war and destruction.

Naoko Satomi

Jirou is at university to study engineering. On traveling back to Tokyo from a holiday, he meets a young girl named Naoko, who is traveling with her maid. At this time, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 hits, which stops the train and causes Naoko's maid to break her leg. Jirou delivers Naoko and her maid to Naoko's family, then walks away without giving his name.

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

Genres: Drama, Family

Year: 2013

Duration: 137 min

Directed By: Isao Takahata

Produced By: Kôji Hoshino

Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her, but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime.

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Main Characters

Kaguya-hime

Kaguya is the main protagonist in the Studio Ghibli film, The Tale of Princess Kaguya. She has been given the title "Princess" after her adoptive father, Miyatsuku, found golden nuggets as a sign from the gods telling him that Kaguya has to live a noble life and therefore bought the title.

Me no Warawa

The handmaiden of princess Kaguya.

When Marnie Was There

Genres: Drama, Family

Year: 2014

Duration: 103 min

Directed By: Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

Due to 12-year-old Anna's asthma, she's sent to stay with relatives of her guardian in the Japanese countryside. She likes to be alone, sketching. She befriends Marnie. Who is the mysterious, blonde Marnie?

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Main Characters

Anna Sasaki

Anna is a foster child living in Sapporo. She has asthma, and as a treatment, her doctor suggests she spend some time in an environment with cleaner air. She then spends her summer in a coastal town where she develops a friendship with Marnie.

Marnie

Marnie is the daughter of wealthy parents. She lives in the Marsh House. Her parents often leave her with just a nanny and two maids to watch over her. The nanny and maids often mistreat her. She often sneaks away from the Marsh House to be free of them. She develops a friendship with Anna during these times away from the House.

Earwig and the Witch

Genres: Adventure, Drama

Year: 2020

Duration: 82 min

Directed By: Goro Miyazaki

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

An orphan girl, Earwig, is adopted by a witch and comes home to a spooky house filled with mystery and magic.

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Main Characters

Aya

Aya is the main protagonist of "Earwig and the Witch." She is a young and spirited orphan girl with long black hair and a confident personality. Aya is known for her intelligence and resourcefulness. She is initially living in an orphanage but finds herself adopted by a mysterious witch named Bella Yaga. Throughout the film, Aya uses her wits and charm to adapt to her new life as a witch's apprentice, even though she initially resists it.

Mandrake

Mandrake is a tall and imposing figure with a stern and somewhat intimidating demeanor. Mandrake is a powerful and talented witch who, along with Bella Yaga, takes Aya under his wing. He is known for his knowledge of magic and has a complex personality that evolves as the story unfolds. Mandrake's character plays a significant role in the development of the plot and Aya's journey.

The Boy and the Heron

Genres: Adventure, Drama

Year: 2023

Duration: 124 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By: Toshio Suzuki

Through encounters with his friends and uncle, follows a teenage boy's psychological development. He enters a magical world with a talking grey heron after finding an abandoned tower in his new town.

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Main Characters

Maki

N/A

Himi

N/A

Studio Ghibli

1980

NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND

CASTLE IN THE SKY

GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO

KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE

1990

ONLY YESTERDAY

PORCO ROSSO

OCEAN WAVES

POM POKO

WHISPER OF THE HEART

PRINCESS MOMONOKE

MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS

2000

SPIRITED AWAY

THE CAT RETURNS

HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE

TALES OF EARTH SEA

PONYO

2010

THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETY

FROM UP ON POPPY HILL

THE WIND RISES

THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA

WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE

2020

EARWIG AND THE WITCH

THE BOY AND THE HERON

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Genres: Adventure, Sci-Fi

Year: 1984

Duration: 117 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By: Isao Takahata

Warrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.

Main Characters

Nausicaä

Asbel

Kushana

Lord Yupa

Castle in the Sky

Genres: Adventure, Family

Year: 1986

Duration: 125 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By:Isao Takahata, Yasuyoshi Tokuma

A young boy and a girl with a magic crystal must race against pirates and foreign agents in a search for a legendary floating castle.

Main Characters

Pazu

Sheeta

Grave of the Fireflies

Genres: Drama, War

Year: 1988

Duration: 89 min

Directed By: Isao Takahata

Produced By:Ryoichi Sato, Toru Hara

A young boy and his little sister struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.

Main Characters

Setsuko

Seita

My Neighbor Totoro

Genres: Comedy, Family

Year: 1988

Duration: 86 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By:Toru Hara, Ned Lott

When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.

Main Characters

Mei

Satsuki

Totoro

Kiki's Delivery Service

Genres: Family, Fantasy

Year: 1989

Duration: 103 min

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Produced By:Hayao Miyazaki, Jane Schonberger

A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.