# The 10 Best Studio Ghibli Movies

> ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, asked 5 times each, rank Spirited Away as the #1 of the best Studio Ghibli movies, followed by Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro. Spirited Away (2001). ChatGPT and Claude put it first; the combined vote across all 15 answers made it #1.

Source: https://clankerlists.com/lists/best-studio-ghibli-movies · Collected 2026-11-01 · Movies

| Rank | Pick | ChatGPT | Claude | Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Spirited Away](https://clankerlists.com/items/spirited-away) (2001) | #1 | #1 | — |
| 2 | [Princess Mononoke](https://clankerlists.com/items/princess-mononoke) (1997) | #2 | #3 | — |
| 3 | [My Neighbor Totoro](https://clankerlists.com/items/my-neighbor-totoro) (1988) | #3 | #2 | — |
| 4 | [Grave of the Fireflies](https://clankerlists.com/items/grave-of-the-fireflies) (1988) | #4 | #4 | — |
| 5 | [Howl's Moving Castle](https://clankerlists.com/items/howl-s-moving-castle-film) (2004) | #5 | #5 | — |
| 6 | [Kiki's Delivery Service](https://clankerlists.com/items/kiki-s-delivery-service) (1989) | #6 | #6 | — |
| 7 | [Castle in the Sky](https://clankerlists.com/items/castle-in-the-sky) (1986) | #9 | #7 | — |
| 8 | [The Tale of the Princess Kaguya](https://clankerlists.com/items/the-tale-of-the-princess-kaguya-film) (2013) | #7 | — | — |
| 9 | [Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind](https://clankerlists.com/items/nausica-of-the-valley-of-the-wind-film) (1984) | — | #8 | — |
| 10 | [The Wind Rises](https://clankerlists.com/items/the-wind-rises) (2013) | #10 | #9 | — |

## 1. Spirited Away

Miyazaki's bathhouse fantasy about a girl who must work to free her parents is the studio's Oscar-winning masterpiece. Endlessly inventive, strange and moving, it was ChatGPT's and Claude's #1 every time.

## 2. Princess Mononoke

Miyazaki's epic of gods, iron-forging humans and a dying forest is darker and bigger than anything else in the catalog. Its moral complexity and ferocious action make it Ghibli's grown-up landmark.

## 3. My Neighbor Totoro

Two sisters, a giant furry forest spirit and a Catbus: pure, gentle wonder. Totoro is Ghibli's mascot and the film that proves a story needs no villain to enchant generations.

## 4. Grave of the Fireflies

Isao Takahata's devastating story of two siblings surviving the final months of World War II is among the most powerful anti-war films ever made, animated or otherwise. Unforgettable, and rarely rewatched.

## 5. Howl's Moving Castle

A young hatmaker cursed into old age finds refuge in a wizard's walking castle. Dreamy, romantic and visually lush, it's Ghibli at its most whimsical, with a swirl of anti-war themes beneath.

## 6. Kiki's Delivery Service

A young witch moves to a seaside city and starts a delivery business. Cozy, funny and honest about burnout and self-doubt, it's the comfort-watch of the catalog and a perennial favorite.

## 7. Castle in the Sky

Floating islands, sky pirates and a glowing crystal: the adventure that launched Ghibli's golden era. Its airships and robots influenced a generation of animators and still feel fresh.

## 8. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Takahata's hand-painted, watercolor-like retelling of a Japanese folktale is breathtaking to look at and quietly heartbreaking. ChatGPT rated it highly, while Claude and Gemini never named it.

## 9. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Miyazaki's post-apocalyptic eco-fable about a princess who befriends giant insects came before Ghibli itself existed. Claude listed it every time. ChatGPT never did, though its influence is hard to overstate.

## 10. The Wind Rises

Miyazaki's wistful, fictionalized biography of aircraft designer Jiro Horikoshi is a mature, melancholy film about dreams and their cost. It's a graceful late-career note that just claims the last spot.

## Lone wolves

- The Tale of the Princess Kaguya: only ChatGPT
- Only Yesterday: only ChatGPT
- Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: only Claude

## Questions

**What Studio Ghibli movie should I watch right now?**

Start with Spirited Away (2001). Already seen it? Try Princess Mononoke or, for something less obvious, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (only Claude picked it).

**According to AI, what is #1 of the best Studio Ghibli movies?**

Spirited Away (2001). ChatGPT and Claude put it first; the combined vote across all 15 answers made it #1.

**Do ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini agree on the best Studio Ghibli movies?**

Partly. 0 of the 10 picks made all 3 AIs' lists. The biggest split was Spirited Away: ChatGPT #1, Claude #1, Gemini didn't list it.

**Which best Studio Ghibli movies did only one AI pick?**

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (only ChatGPT); Only Yesterday (only ChatGPT); Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (only Claude).

**How was this ranking of the best Studio Ghibli movies made?**

We asked ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini "What are the 10 best Studio Ghibli movies? Rank them from 1 to 10, best first." 5 times each, every time in a fresh chat, in 2026-11. A #1 earns 10 points and a #10 earns 1; each AI's points are averaged over its runs and each AI gets an equal say.