What Anime are you Currently Watching?/Anime Recommendations

[strangenova]

Yeah Howls Moving Castle is a really good ghibli film. I enjoyed Pony and The Cat Returns as well.

Didn't studio ghibli do the Castle of cagliostro?

[marurun]

Miyazaki did, but it was pre-Ghibli.

[strangenova]

Ah ok that's it. Thanks, well that one is good too

[Xeogred]

Not one for the kids, but you guys should all watch Mind Game with a group of friends. I saw that one recently and it was... an experience.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I'll probably grab a few at Best Buy where they're like $10 each.

Now that I think of it, the Japanese teacher at my former workplace used to show My Neighbor Totoro to the kids every year. Probably a good place to start.

[marurun]

Myazaki's movies aimed at younger children are excellent at celebrating the curiosity and creativity in children's lives and I think he also manages not to shy away from some of the more serious and scary issues that children sometimes have to deal with. But he does it in a way that I think helps children manage those situations much better. He defuses them by embedding the world with wonder.

Totoro and Spirited Away deal with moving. Totoro deals with sickness and loss. Spirited Away deals with being lost and budding independence. Ponyo addresses issues of acceptance and social change and crisis.

[Exhuminator]

Didn't studio ghibli do the Castle of cagliostro?

As someone else said, no, it was just directed by Miyazaki. However I'd like to add that's my favorite Lupin film. It's so damned fun. My dad doesn't give half a shit about anime, but he watched it with me when I was teenager and even he thought it was good. That says a lot.

My Neighbor Totoro to the kids every year. Probably a good place to start.

I promise you, if you watch that movie with your kids (and plenty of popcorn), it'll be a joyous memory none of you will soon forget. It is a masterpiece. Also catbus.

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I've seen most Ghibli films, so here's my ratings if anybody gives half a damn:

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind = 7/10 (awesome visuals, boring plot)
Castle in the Sky = 6/10 (great concept, but pacing is off to often)
Grave of the Fireflies = 10/10 (this movie will destroy you, watch out)
My Neighbor Totoro = 10/10 (masterpiece, captures the feeling of being a child perfectly)
Kiki's Delivery Service = 8/10 (just a fun feelgood film)
Only Yesterday = Not sure if I've seen this one. Probably did in the '90s. I love the title.
Porco Rosso = 7/10 (if you enjoy aviation and pigs, you'll enjoy it?)
Pom Poko = 6/10 (probably the most Japanese-y Ghibli film)
Whisper of the Heart = 7/10 (good emotional writing, kinda ho-hum artwork)
Princess Mononoke = 9/10 (one of the best environmental advocacy films ever)
My Neighbors the Yamadas = 6/10 (bad animation, good comedy)
Spirited Away = 10/10 (another pure masterpiece, such a wondrous joy to watch)
The Cat Returns = 8/10 (really fun story but kinda low budget)
Howl's Moving Castle = 5/10 (I found it boring, sorry guys)
Tales from Earthsea = 4/10 (nice visuals, terrible representation of the source material)
Ponyo = 7/10 (awesome animation, kinda shallow plot)
Arrietty = 7/10 (really nice backgrounds, story is too guessable)
From Up on Poppy Hill = 7/10 (if you enjoy love stories, you might rate it higher)
The Wind Rises = 8/10 (Japanese nationalism at its finest)
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya = Haven't seen this one yet.
When Marnie Was There = 9/10 (I loved this film, it's so haunting and beautiful, watch it!)
The Red Turtle = 5/10 (too pompous and haughty, bleh)

[Michi]

Ya know, I really like Kiki's Delivery Service. My daughter and I have watched it together many times. I love how sweet and low-key it is. It's so warm and nostalgic.

What are the best Studio Ghibli films? I haven't seen any others! I do enjoy Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, though that apparently predates the studio's founding.

Ah, so many movies to choose from! But not all of them will likely appeal to the young'un. Here are some thoughts:


Watch first:
My Neighbor Totoro
Spirited Away

I'd say, other than Kiki, those would be the most appealing to someone so young (but you'll like them too).

Follow up with:
Porco Rosso - is she still in to Peppa Pig? If so this may appeal to her.
Castle in the Sky - Action story, but nothing too scary, I think.
The Cat Returns - Anthropomorphic and talking cats. Kids dig that.
Ponyo - Basically Ghibli's take on the Litter Mermaid. Cute story, fun visuals. She'll probably dig it.
Howl's Moving Castle - Lots of interesting imagery to keep her little brain occupied.
Arrietty - Very cute. Involves a good amount of interaction between father and daughter characters.


Would hold off on (aka watch these first by yourself):
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - I love this movie, but it's got some violent bits, some of them involving the main heroine, so I'd wait on showing her this one for a couple years.
Whisper of the Heart - Cute story, but a bit slow paced. May not hold her attention. Is a bit of a prequel to The Cat Returns, though.
The Wind Rises - Good film. Nice imagery. She probably won't be able to follow the plot much though, if that even matters.
My Neighbors the Yamadas - Funny. Animation is rough, but I doubt she'll care. (You might, but she won't.)
From Up on Poppy Hill - Primarily a love story. She may dig it, she may not.


Avoid:
Grave of the Fireflies - Excellent film. Depressing as sin. You should watch it, but prepare yourself.
Princess Mononoke - Loads of violence. You're gonna want to watch it yourself first to figure out when she'll be ready to watch it with you.
Only Yesterday - This film is excellent, but it's also a self-discovery type of film. Good for you, but I highly doubt it would hold her interest.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya - Beautiful, but another one that I'm not thinking would hold her interest.


Not sure:
Pom Poko - Haven't seen this one in ages. Remember thinking it was okay. Does show racoon junk. Use thine own judgment.
The Red Turtle - Haven't seen it. Have not heard very good things. Doesn't mean she can't watch it, though.
Tales from Earthsea - Haven't seen it. Haven't read the source material.
When Marnie Was There - Haven't watched it yet.

[strangenova]

All this Ghibli talk is fun. I haven't watched a Ghibli film in a long time. My son's at the age where he might like to watch these too.

[Fragems]

Started Watching Re:Creators which started airing a while ago. Binged the 7 episodes that have aired so far and I kind of have mixed feelings it's a cool concept with decent animation but the pacing is kind of crap and they lay the philosophy on a little thick at times.



Basically the setup is the writers and animators of the world have actually been creating parallel worlds through their stories and characters from popular manga and anime begin getting sucked into reality through some paranormal event. From there conflict builds as two factions of "creations" begin to form as the characters come to terms with the fact that their realities some of which were filled with war and suffering were created as a form of entertainment.

There isn't really a good trailer out there for this show just a 15 second tv spot that is pure action while the show is really is somewhat slow paced.