I’ve been wanting to do that for some time. I’ve been a longtime fan of Studio Ghibli films. I do know that I’ve not watched each single one among them. So, I believed I might problem myself in 2025. I wish to watch each Studio Ghibli Film in chronological order from when it was launched. As soon as I’ve watched 5 or so films, I’m going to jot down up some mini critiques. On the very finish of all of this, I’ll do a full rating of the entire films and say why. I’ve completed the primary 5 films so, listed here are my mini critiques. I used to be truly stunned that I didn’t like all of those films. I figured because it was Studio Ghibli, I might price all of them fairly excessive – even some 10 out of 10 rankings. That was not the case. With the entire 5 Studio Ghibli Motion pictures on this first blogpost, I had not seen any of them so, these critiques are all off of my first viewing of those films.
MY FIRST 5 STUDIO GHIBLI FILMS, MINI REVIEWS AND MY RANKINGS
Synopsis: Taeko Okajima is a 27-year-old, unbiased lady who spent her total life in Tokyo. Seeking to unwind from the frenzy of the large metropolis, she decides to go to her household within the nation to assist out throughout the harvest. On the practice there, Taeko vividly recollects her recollections as a schoolgirl within the preliminary levels of puberty, as if she is on a visit along with her childhood self. A younger farmer named Toshio picks her up on the station, and so they rapidly develop a friendship. Throughout her keep, Taeko types robust bonds with household and pals, studying the contrasts between city and rural life, in addition to the struggles and joys of farming. Nostalgic and bittersweet, Omoide Poroporo takes on Taeko’s journey as an grownup lady coming to phrases along with her childhood goals in comparison with the individual she is right this moment. (From MyAnimelist.web)
My Mini Evaluation: This film was a combined bag for me. It possibly wasn’t made for me both. This film is clearly a Slice of Life story and slice of life tales simply aren’t my factor. I develop bored of them fairly simply as a result of not sufficient goes on in slice of life tales (for probably the most half) for me to remain . The story moved too slowly for me to get pleasure from it. That being stated, I nonetheless discovered some good issues about this film that I preferred. This film is a few lady who’s reminiscing about her childhood as she goes to the countryside to go to household/pals. There may be plenty of nostalgia on this film which causes the viewers to have nostalgia about their very own childhoods. As all the time, the animation stood out on this movie. The movie animated scenes in another way relying on if it was a reminiscence from her childhood or the current day the place she was visiting the countryside. The scenes when she was a toddler have been lighter and nearly appeared unfinished. Possibly portraying a lady who was nonetheless attempting to determine life and wasn’t 100% certain about her future. The animation whereas she was an grownup was crisper and extra outlined. The seamless transitions between the kid and grownup scenes have been nicely finished – appearing like a triggered reminiscence. An attention-grabbing matter that was introduced up within the film was natural farming. It stood out to me as a result of this can be a film from 1992. Watching this film now in 2025 a few matter that was up and coming within the 90s was a little bit of a time warp and 2025 actually provides you a distinct perspective on this film. The very last thing I’ll level out that stood out to me was the music. At one level within the film, the principle lady is picked up by a person when she will get to the countryside. Whereas within the automobile, she factors out the music and the person states that it’s a Hungarian band. The movie proceeded to make use of the music in addition to different music resembling music from Bulgaria. I believed it was attention-grabbing and distinctive to have this jap European music enjoying whereas in distinction to watching the characters farm within the countryside, talking Japanese to one another. That’s the reason the music stood out to me a lot. The music did match the farming aesthetic.
Synopsis: After a curse turned him right into a pig, World Struggle I ace Marco Pagot turns into Porco Rosso, a mysterious bounty hunter who takes down sky pirates within the Adriatic Sea. He whiles away his days on a secluded island, hardly ever leaving apart from to gather bounties or to go to the gorgeous Gina, a songstress and proprietor of the Resort Adriano. At some point, whereas touring to repair his defective engine, Porco Rosso is gunned down by a younger American hotshot named Donald Curtis. Thrilled at the potential for fame, Donald boldly declares that the flying pig is useless. Not desirous to disappoint Gina, Porco Rosso flees to the well-known Piccolo S.P.A. airplane firm and takes out a large mortgage in an effort to restore and enhance his fighter aircraft. There, he’s stunned to seek out that the chief engineer of Piccolo S.P.A. is the 17-year-old Fio Piccolo, who hungers for an opportunity to show herself. With Fio’s enhancements, Porco Rosso prepares to problem Donald formally and regain his honor. (From MyAnimelist.web)
My Mini Evaluation: I didn’t suppose I might love this movie as a lot as I did. I undoubtedly preferred this one higher than Solely Yesterday. I feel I preferred it extra as a result of it addressed heavier subjects resembling demise, warfare and survivor’s guilt. Enjoyable reality, the pig predominant character jogged my memory of the Belgian detective Poirot a bit. I’m not totally certain why. I believed this movie stood out in animation fashion and tone in comparison with among the different Studio Ghibli movies I’ve seen. A number of the Studio Ghibli movies I’ve already seen have some whimsy to them. This one had comedy in it however had a extra severe undertone to it. The comedy jogged my memory a little bit of these older cartoons resembling popeye – possibly it was as a result of there was a personality that jogged my memory of the villain in popeye. It undoubtedly was attention-grabbing watching this movie whereas dwelling within the USA in 2025. This movie is criticizing fascism in Italy after World Struggle I. I liked the feminine empowerment on this movie. The entire feminine characters have been improbable! There have been some nice quotable traces from this film resembling “I might somewhat be a pig than a fascist”. I’m nonetheless uncertain 100% why the principle character was portrayed as a pig, however my principle is due to survivor’s guilt. I additionally felt just like the film might have had a stronger ending. I wished extra of the love story between Porco and Gina to be proven. For some cause, this movie additionally jogged my memory of Casablanca. I used to be impressed by this movie and loved it much more than I assumed I might.
Synopsis: Within the metropolis of Kouchi, highschool scholar Taku Morisaki goes about his work when his pal Yutaka Matsuno calls and asks him to get to their college as quickly as potential. Taku arrives, and Matsuno introduces him to Rikako Muto, an attractive woman from Tokyo who not too long ago transferred to their college. Though Rikako is academically and athletically gifted, her usually disagreeable angle leaves her with nearly no pals outdoors of Matsuno and one other woman from her class. After an opportunity encounter throughout their class journey, Taku out of the blue finds himself extra concerned in Rikako’s private life, a lot to Matsuno’s dismay. Struggling to steadiness his friendship with Matsuno and his personal budding infatuation for Rikako, Taku should come to phrases along with his emotions and perceive how a lady with a troubled previous is having such a large impact on his life. (From MyAnimelist.web)
My Mini Evaluation: It will in all probability be a shorter assessment as a result of I DID NOT LIKE THIS MOVIE! I didn’t like this film for one predominant cause. I didn’t like the feminine lead on this film AT ALL! I believed she took benefit of the male lead all the movie. I believed she tried to govern the entire different characters as nicely. It was revealed she had a tough life, however I actually couldn’t really feel sorry for her. She had no development within the story or little or no development. The slaps and punches on this film made no sense but it surely was satisfying seeing our feminine lead get slapped however simply because I didn’t like her character. There was no communication on this movie. I wished to really see the romance play out on this movie or at the least I wished to see the romance I used to be anticipating play out. I really feel like if there was extra communication and the feminine lead advised the reality, the romance would have occurred. As a result of the feminine lead was manipulative, when on the finish of the movie when the sentiments have been confessed, it made no sense as a result of there was no construct as much as that. I, at the least didn’t see that. I anticipated a cute romance on this shorter movie, a romance combined in with slice of life and it didn’t ship. Because the feminine lead was so horrible, I can not perceive why the male lead was nonetheless on the lookout for her ultimately and nonetheless had emotions for her on the finish of the film. Additionally, as I stated, slice of life shouldn’t be my issues and regardless that this movie was the shortest of all these movies, I felt it dragged because of the slice of life and the truth that I didn’t like the feminine lead on this. The animation was old-fashioned, however I believed it match the story and really feel of the movie. This movie was one other movie of the principle character remembering previous recollections so, the animation fashion match this completely.
Synopsis: With the rising want for Tokyo to broaden as one among Japan’s main cities, inevitable sacrifices have to be made in order that adjustments can happen. One in every of these sacrifices is that the room for nature and wildlife to flourish will lower considerably over time. As this decline continues, many animal communities expertise the brunt of urbanization. One such group generally known as the “Tanuki,” a sort of magical shape-shifting mammal, is caught up in a battle to defend their beloved forest from being absorbed by the looming menace of an increasing Tokyo. As an increasing number of Tanuki discover themselves with nowhere to cover and territorial fights turn into more and more common amongst the completely different factions of the group, the elder Tanuki Oroku decides that one thing have to be finished. For the sake of their residence in addition to the protection of their future generations, the Tanuki unite as one with the hope that collectively they are able to repel mankind’s development tasks and scare them away from the forests utilizing their shapeshifting skills. However as they start their first makes an attempt at sabotage, the Tanuki quickly understand the operation will probably be no simple process. Will they reclaim their forest as a united group, or will they be torn aside by a warfare towards humanity, blinded by anger and ache after witnessing nature’s destruction? (From MyAnimelist.web)
My Mini Evaluation: One other film the place I used to be anticipating a cute film, but it surely ended up having a a lot deeper message and had much more emotion to it. It had a a lot darker message than I assumed it could. When you will have a film with cute animals in it, you instantly suppose that it will likely be a lighter matter and film. The message of this film was an environmental one. It criticized people destroying land and forests to construct cities and kicking animals out of those territories. Apparently, this film relies up an precise Tokyo suburb being constructed. I assumed the animals on this movie simply racoons however upon additional analysis, they’re truly “Tanuki,” a sort of magical shape-shifting mammal. Tanuki is an actual animal in Japan but in addition had some folklore and mythology behind them. The legendary beings might shapeshift into different issues and other people. One a part of this movie I didn’t like, and I didn’t suppose it was wanted, there have been a few occasions within the movie the place the tanuki reworked their genitalia and solely their genitalia. They referenced it and talked about it. Upon additional wanting into Tanuki, my analysis says the tanuki are typically related to fertility and good luck. There statues in Japan are portrayed with massive genitalia typically. So, it is sensible given this new info, however I nonetheless discovered it unusual whereas I watched it. I do not actually suppose these components have been wanted. I believed the animation fashion was basic Studio Ghibli and suited the movie fairly nicely. I did love the extra somber tone of the movie.
Synopsis: Shizuku Tsukishima is an brisk 14-year-old woman who enjoys studying and writing poetry in her free time. Glancing on the checkout playing cards of her books one night, she notices that her library books are continuously checked out by a boy named Seiji Amasawa. Curiosity strikes Shizuku, and he or she decides to seek for the boy who shares her love for literature. Assembly a peculiar cat on the practice, Shizuku follows the animal and is ultimately led to a quaint vintage store, the place she learns a few cat statuette generally known as “The Baron.” Taking an curiosity within the store, she surprisingly finds Seiji, and the 2 rapidly befriend each other. Shizuku learns whereas acquainting herself with Seiji that he has a dream that he want to fulfill, inflicting her dismay as she stays unsure of her future and has but to acknowledge her skills. Nonetheless, as her relationship with Seiji grows, Shizuku turns into decided to work towards a aim. Guided by the whispers of her coronary heart and inspiration from The Baron, she resolves to carve out her personal potential and goals. (From MyAnimelist.web)
My Mini Evaluation: A coming-of-age story that was extra for me and I loved much more. I liked that this movie had extra whimsy to it. It was a narrative of younger love, and it was portrayed like that. It looks like this movie had touches of magic with its story but it surely wasn’t a full-blown fantasy story. It was a few woman who was coping with her first crush and in addition navigating some severe selections (at the least to her). I liked her creativeness. It gave this film some whimsy and shade. Her creativeness was magical and wild. I liked the animation fashion of this and the entire colours. The views of Tokyo from the male lead’s home have been beautiful to have a look at. I believed the lead couple had nice chemistry. I liked that they admired one another. I liked that they supported one another of their selections. They pushed one another to attempt for me. It was inspiring. I liked the themes of this movie: creativity, development, self-discovery and independence. The music was an attention-grabbing alternative. The opening track was “Take Me Residence, Nation Roads,” carried out by Olivia Newton-John. It was VERY surprising. I do not know if I preferred this musical alternative. The ending additionally appeared slightly rushed to me. I wished greater than only a confession (which type of made no sense to me – the leads are in center college).
Since it’s already April, I can already say that I’ll in all probability not get to watching all of those films in 2025, however I’ll work to look at all of them and preserve doing mini critiques till I’ve watched all of them. After all, rating the films when it’s all over. I feel this little undertaking will probably be enjoyable! 😁
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