Ghibli movies are without a doubt the most popular anime movies ever created. These popular and beautiful Ghibli movies have breathtaking and artistic visuals, brilliant characters, and iconic music that all help to create the movies' one-of-a-kind worlds.
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Ghibli's number one director, Hayao Miyazaki, is one of the best anime directors ever, and he is the best-known one of them all. His long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi, a musical genius and film composer, is the musical director behind the film studio's most beloved songs. These songs transcend genres and decades to become some of the most well-known and loved movie soundtracks of all time.
Updated November 29, 2023, by Via Erhard: Studio Ghibli's films aren’t just easy on the eyes, since these beloved stories are also a treat for the ears. Each Ghibli song feels as if each tune has its own personality, bringing scenes to life and giving another layer of emotional depth to the storytelling. There are many reasons why both fans and critics adore these soundtracks. Most importantly, they aren't simple background music but instead, they’re part of the magic. Music lovers can also enjoy all types of tunes while watching their favorite Ghibli films, including soothing lullabies as well as epic anthems. Ghibli composers are great at crafting timeless melodies that stick with viewers long after the credits roll. Ghibli songs are one of the most beautiful and important parts of the captivating Ghibli world.
14 Become the Wind - The Cat Returns
Spotify Stream Count: 15,364
Become the Wind from The Cat Returns? is one of the most magical musical spells from Studio Ghibli. This enchanting song is light and airy, and just sweeps viewers up into the film's whimsical world, much like Haru's wild ride in the story. However, this beautiful song isn't just about feeling free and breezy. Thanks to its thought-provoking lyrics, Ghibli fans can feel uplifted while also reflecting on their emotions on a deeper level.
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Become the Wind captures Ghibli's magic stunningly and helps viewers appreciate and find extraordinary details in everyday things more easily. This fan-favorite classic Ghibli song is one that sticks with the listener and reminds them of the adventure and the magic hidden in the ordinary.
13 Spinning Globe - The Boy and the Heron
Spotify Stream Count: 36,789
The Boy and the Heron was one of the most anticipated new anime to watch in 2023, and Hayao Miyazaki's new creation did not disappoint. Its theme song was created by Kenshi Yonezu and is titled Spinning Globe. Yonezu himself has been a huge Miyazaki fan since he was a kid, and he has been watching the creator's films his entire life.
While Yonezu created the song himself, he did get storyboards and direction from Miyazaki himself to make sure the song was perfect for his new film. Yonezu's Spinning Globe became one of the most modern and emotional Ghibli songs that became an instant favorite of many new and old fans.
12 The Bygone Days - Porco Rosso
Spotify Stream Count: 293,979
The Bygone Days is one of the most fun Studio Ghibli songs that was a perfect fit for Porco Rosso's action-filled and entertaining story. This now iconic classic anime is based in Italy after the first World War and follows the story of a brave bounty hunter who goes after the dangerous air pirates of the Adriatic Sea.
While Porco already has a tough job he also has to deal with his curse that turned him into an anthropomorphic pig. As Ghibli fans go on these unforgettable adventures with Porco Rosso and Fio Piccolo they can also enjoy equally spunky and uplifting music.
11 A Journey - The Wind Rises
Spotify Stream Count: 332,721
While the Wind Rises is one of the most popular international animated movies of the decade. This moving story was inspired by a real-life warplane designer Jiro Horikoshi and the writings of Tatsuo Hori, and it's about how war destroys dreams and love.
Jiro's struggle with his dream and newfound love as they both get overshadowed by World War II is one of Ghibli's most realistic and meaningful movies. The film's melancholic tone and atmosphere were perfectly matched by the equally calm yet rousing melodies that accompany it till the end.
10 Legend Of Wind - Nausicaa Of The Valley Of Wind
Spotify Stream Count: 445,701
Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind is one of the most important Ghibli movies with an impactful message that has become more relevant than ever. The film has a weird and wonderful dystopian world as well as a brave young princess who wants to help her people win a war in a more peaceful way.
Just like the movie, its soundtrack is magical, charming, and deep, and while it has its sad moments, it's still soothing to the soul like most Ghibli melodies.
9 On A Clear Day - Kiki’s Delivery Service
Spotify Stream Count: 2,675,691
Kiki's Delivery Service is one of the most charming coming-of-age Ghibli movies with one of the best anime cats and is set in a magical world where humans and witches live together. The story follows the adventures of a young witch named Kiki, who tries to earn a living and build a life for herself in a new town.
While Kiki is a witch and has a magical flying broom, she still has to deal with the same difficulties as an average teenager. The movie's sweeping and uplifting music is filled with wonder and wistful dreams.
8 The Girl Who Fell From The Sky - Castle In The Sky
Spotify Stream Count: 6,650,705
Castle in the Sky is a beautiful story of a young girl named Sheeta, who has a mysterious magical crystal and has to escape foreign agents, and pirates with the help of her new friend Pazu to find Laputa, a legendary floating castle.
Similar to many other Ghibli movies, humans are greedy and keep using the kind robots of Laputa for destruction to achieve their own selfish goals. Similar to the movie's story, its music is majestic and grand while evoking strong emotions and flying its listeners straight to Laputa.
7 The Legend Of Ashitaka Theme - Princess Mononoke
Spotify Stream Count: 9,015,656
Hayao Miyazaki was always great at creating brilliant feminist characters and meaningful fantasy stories that stood the test of time. More than that, Princess Mononoke is another Ghibli classic with a meaningful environmental message that rings truer than ever.
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The story is set in a world where the harmony between humans, nature, and gods begins to fall apart because of the greedy humans who consume all of nature's resources and mercilessly kill its creatures. Joe Hisaishi's majestic music further intensifies the viewer's adventure throughout the story.
6 Summer of Farewells - From Up on Poppy Hill
Spotify Stream Count: 9,588,658
Fans of slice-of-life anime stories especially love Ghibli's charming From Up on Poppy Hill. Summer of Farewells is a song that perfectly captures the essence of nostalgia while transporting viewers back in time. Its evocative melody carries a sense of longing and hope that most fans can easily relate to while also perfectly complementing the film's post-war setting and the young characters' journey toward building a future.
Summer of Farewells is a song that has the ability to evoke a sense of yearning and optimism in the listener, which makes it a special addition to the Ghibli soundscape.
5 Arrietty’s Song - The Secret World Of Arrietty
Spotify Stream Count: 10,153,853
Arrietty’s Song is one of the most charming Studio Ghibli songs that perfectly fit The Secret World of Arrietty's magic-filled fairy tale story. This Ghibli classic is one of the most beloved movies by the famed director Hiromasa Yonebayashi. This time Ghibli chose to work with the talented French composer Cecile Corbel who managed to create some of the most unforgettable musical moments in Ghibli's history.
The Secret World of Arrietty's story follows the tiny Clock family and their adventurous teenage daughter Arrietty. The family's life changed forever after Arrietty was accidentally discovered by a human boy. Shawn and Arrietty soon developed a strong but secret friendship despite all her parents' warnings. It's one of the most emotional and thought-provoking Studio Ghibli movies that deals with illness and familial dysfunction.
4 Two People - Grave Of The Fireflies
Unavailable On Spotify — Heart-Wrenchingly Emotional Song That Reflects The Characters
Grave of the Fireflies
- Release Date
- April 16, 1988
- Director
- Isao Takahata
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
Two People is one of the most heartbreaking Studio Ghibli songs of all time that matches Grave of the Fireflies' deeply emotional story. This classic Ghibli movie is the most beloved movie of Isao Takahata who quickly became one of the most popular anime directors of all time. Grave of the Fireflies is one of the saddest anime movies ever created with a thought-provoking story and lovable characters.
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The movie's end title by Michio Mamiya is one of the best Studio Ghibli songs ever created. While it's a seemingly simple song it manages to evoke just as much if not even more emotions as any of Ghibli Sutido's more grand songs. Grave of the Fireflies' story follows two young orphans, a teen boy Seita and his little sister Setsuko's heartbreaking journey as the two fight for their survival in rural Japan after the devastating World War 2.
3 Path Of Wind - My Neighbor Totoro
Spotify Stream Count: 13,425,662
Totoro is Ghibli's most recognizable creation that transcended anime and became one of movie history's most beloved magical creatures. My Neighbor Totoro is set in rural Japan and is about two young girls' everyday life and their friendships with spirits who became their friends and often help them out in difficult situations.
It's a magical story about the beauty of childhood and the hardships of growing up. My Neighbor Totoro has valuable life lessons not just for younger audiences but for adults too. While, in the end, it's an uplifting and joyful movie, it's not without dark moments, and the accompanying music always perfectly conveys the shifting emotions and narrative developments of the story.
2 One Summer’s Day - Spirited Away
Spotify Stream Count: 56,285,435
Spirited Away (2001)
- Release Date
- July 20, 2001
- Director
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
Spirited Away is Ghibli Studios' most critically acclaimed movie and its most well-known one. Its magical story is filled with exciting characters and magical creatures, including one of the strongest evil witches in anime history, and is set in a stunning fantasy world. The story follows Chihiro and her journey through a spirit realm where she must fend for herself after her parents' transformation.
While things get difficult for Chihiro fairly quickly, she always chooses to fight, so she can get back to the human realm and save her parents. The story is filled with emotional elements and deals with various themes like greed, identity, and most importantly loss of the past. Joe Hisaishi's calm yet rhapsodic melodies perfectly capture the movie's many messages.
1 Merry Go Round Of Life - Howl's Moving Castle
Spotify Stream Count: 76,528,269
Howl's Moving Castle is one of Ghibli's most beloved feel-good movies with meaningful themes, lovable and relatable characters, and, thanks to Sophie, one of the most iconic anime hats ever. The story follows Sophie, who gets cursed by a powerful witch and is forced to leave her home. Her journey takes her to Howl's moving castle, where she becomes a self-appointed cleaning lady.
Sophie soon realizes that nothing is what it seems, and that Howl is not the dangerous selfish wizard he wants to show to the world. Together they have to find their true selves and help each other realize their full potential. Just like the story, its soundtrack is filled with life's wonder as well as all its misery.
