Studio Ghibli Movies in Order: Every Film From Totoro to The Boy and the Heron

Here are the Studio Ghibli movies in order of release, running from Castle in the Sky (1986) to The Boy and the Heron (2023). Ghibli films are standalone with no shared universe, so release order is the cleanest way through the catalogue. If you would rather ease in, start with the most beloved classics and branch out from there.

What is the correct Studio Ghibli movies in order list?

Studio Ghibli was founded in June 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. Its first theatrical release under the Ghibli banner was Castle in the Sky in 1986. Because each film tells a self-contained story, there is no plot-based watch order to follow – you can pick any title and understand it completely. The list below is the full theatrical filmography in release order, which doubles as the studio’s chronology.

One note before the table. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) is often bundled with Ghibli films and is included in the studio’s home-video collections, but it was produced by Topcraft a year before Ghibli existed. Purists call it a pre-Ghibli film; most fans simply treat it as the spiritual first entry. We list it separately so the record stays accurate.

Studio Ghibli movies in order (release order table)

Do you have to watch Studio Ghibli movies in order?

No. Unlike a shonen series with a strict continuity, Ghibli films share themes and a visual sensibility rather than characters or a timeline. You will not be lost jumping in anywhere. Release order is useful mainly for two reasons: it lets you watch the studio’s craft evolve from cel animation to digital ink-and-paint to full CG, and it separates the Miyazaki-directed films from those led by Takahata and the next generation. If you are a completionist, chronological release order is the satisfying way to go. If you just want great films, order matters far less than picking the right entry point.

Which Studio Ghibli movie should you watch first?

For most newcomers, the ideal starting trio is My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away. Totoro is the gentlest possible introduction, warm and almost plotless in the best way. Kiki adds a light coming-of-age arc. Spirited Away, the Oscar winner, is the studio at full imaginative power and the film most people mean when they say “a Ghibli movie.” From there, Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke show the studio’s more ambitious, adult range.

If you prefer grounded, emotional drama over fantasy, Isao Takahata’s films are the other half of Ghibli’s soul. Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most powerful war films ever made in any medium, animated or not – just know going in that it is genuinely heavy. Only Yesterday and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya show his range, from quiet nostalgia to breathtaking hand-painted experimentation.

How many Studio Ghibli movies are there?

Counting only films released under the Studio Ghibli name, there are 23 theatrical and made-for-TV features from Castle in the Sky (1986) through The Boy and the Heron (2023). Add Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and the informal total most fans quote is 24. The studio has also made short films, TV work and the CG feature Earwig and the Witch, but the 23 (or 24) figure covers the features you will find in every collection.

How has Studio Ghibli changed over the decades?

Watching in release order reveals a clear evolution. The early films, from Castle in the Sky through Kiki’s Delivery Service, are hand-drawn adventure and coming-of-age stories with a bright, accessible charm. The 1990s brought more ambition and more range – the eco-epic scale of Princess Mononoke sat alongside Takahata’s quiet, adult dramas like Only Yesterday. The 2000s were the studio’s global breakthrough, with Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle turning Ghibli into a household name worldwide. The 2010s saw the studio begin passing the torch, with films from Goro Miyazaki and Hiromasa Yonebayashi, and Takahata’s final, breathtakingly experimental The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Earwig and the Witch (2020) marked a technical leap to full CG that divided fans, before The Boy and the Heron returned to lavish hand-drawn animation. Seen back to back, the filmography is really the story of two masters and the artists they trained. It is also a rare chance to watch a single studio hold onto hand-drawn animation as the rest of the industry moved to computers, which is a large part of why these films still feel timeless rather than dated.

Which Studio Ghibli movies are best for kids?

Ghibli is famously family-friendly, but not every film is aimed at young children. The safest, gentlest picks are My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Ponyo and The Secret World of Arrietty – all warm, low-peril and enchanting for small viewers. Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle are wonderful for older children but have genuinely scary moments and darker themes. On the other end, Grave of the Fireflies is emotionally devastating and Princess Mononoke has real violence, so both are better saved for teens and adults. When in doubt, start young viewers with Totoro and work up as they grow – the studio has a film for every age, which is a big part of why its appeal spans generations.

A quick beginner path versus the completionist path

If you want structure without watching all 23 back to back, here is a simple two-track approach:

• Beginner path (5 films): Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke. This covers the crowd-pleasers and the studio’s peak fantasy work.
• Takahata track (3 films): Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. The emotional, human-scale counterweight to Miyazaki’s fantasy.
• Completionist path: Follow the release-order table top to bottom, Nausicaa included, and finish with The Boy and the Heron – a fitting capstone that plays like Miyazaki reflecting on his whole career.

However you approach it, the beauty of Ghibli is that there is no wrong door. For more on watch orders across anime, browse our anime section, and if you want a series with a stricter chronology next, our Demon Slayer watch order lays out every season and film. You can always head back to WorldGeek for the rest of our guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the first Studio Ghibli movie?

Castle in the Sky (1986) was the first film released under the Studio Ghibli name. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) came earlier and is often grouped with Ghibli, but it was produced by Topcraft before the studio was founded in 1985.

What is the newest Studio Ghibli movie?

As of 2026, the most recent Studio Ghibli feature is The Boy and the Heron (2023), directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, making Miyazaki a two-time winner after Spirited Away.

Is Grave of the Fireflies a Studio Ghibli movie?

Yes. Grave of the Fireflies (1988), directed by Isao Takahata, is a Studio Ghibli film. It was released in a double bill with My Neighbor Totoro, which is why the two share the same year.

Do Studio Ghibli movies connect to each other?

No. Each film is a standalone story with its own characters and world. The Cat Returns is the closest thing to a spin-off, loosely tied to Whisper of the Heart, but you can watch every Ghibli film in any order without missing context.

Which Studio Ghibli movies won Oscars?

Two Ghibli films have won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature: Spirited Away (2001) and The Boy and the Heron (2023). Several others, including Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises and When Marnie Was There, have been nominated.

Where should a complete beginner start?

Start with My Neighbor Totoro for its gentle charm, then Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away. That trio captures the range of the studio – cozy, coming-of-age, and full-blown fantasy – before you commit to the whole filmography.