10 Underrated Studio Ghibli Masterpieces You Need To Watch

"Ocean Waves Captures the Awkwardness of Growing Up"

Taku's high school life gets turned upside down when a sharp Tokyo transfer student arrives. This realistic drama beautifully captures the messy, uncomfortable reality of teenage adolescence.

"My Neighbors the Yamadas Celebrates a Perfectly Imperfect Family"

Presented in a charming comic-strip style, this heartwarming slice-of-life film follows the hilarious everyday struggles, squabbles, and quiet moments of affection within an ordinary household.

"The Cat Returns Packs an Empowering Story Into a Playful Adventure"

Saving a stray cat pulls high schooler Haru into a fantastical realm where she is forced into a feline royal wedding. It is a delightfully weird, empowering fantasy adventure.

"From Up on Poppy Hill Finds Beauty in Preserving the Past"

Set in 1963 Yokohama, two students unite to save their beloved historical clubhouse from demolition amidst post-war modernization, uncovering deeply touching personal secrets along the way.

"The Secret World of Arrietty Reveals the Wonders and Dangers of Everyday Life"

A tiny Borrowing girl risks her family's hidden existence when she forms a quiet, bittersweet bond with a human boy. The film frames everyday items with breathtaking wonder.

"Porco Rosso Balances Airborne Spectacle With Unexpected Melancholy"

Behind its funny premise of a pig-faced pilot fighting sky pirates lies a poignant, melancholic story about grief and survivor's guilt over the Adriatic Sea.

"When Marnie Was There Is One of Ghibli’s Most Underrated Tearjerkers"

Sent to the countryside, lonely Anna forms a deep connection with an enigmatic girl at a marsh house. This ghostly tale delivers one of Ghibli's most emotionally devastating twists.

"Pom Poko’s Wild Comedy Conceals a Heartbreaking Struggle"

Shape-shifting tanuki use folklore magic and outrageous antics to stop human suburban expansion. Beneath the wild humor lies an urgent, tragic story about environmental destruction.

"Whisper of the Heart Is an Underrated Treasure for Creative Dreamers"

A bookish girl finds creative inspiration and self-doubt after meeting an ambitious young violin maker. It is an uplifting tribute to young artists chasing their passions.

"Only Yesterday Is Ghibli’s Most Underrated Portrait of Growing Up"

A 27-year-old Tokyo office worker confronts forgotten childhood memories during a rural holiday. This reflective masterpiece perfectly captures how our past shapes our adult self.

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