Miyazaki Ranked: Bottom 5

Hayao Miyazaki is the founder, and most prominent director, of Studio Ghibli (Isao Takahata is also noteworthy, however). His animated movies are rightly heralded as genre breakers; bringing heart, emotion, and great attention to detail to the world. He has probably done more than most to show the rest of the world that anime isn't all giant robots and tentacle rape, and that it can offer a magical fantastic worldscape. As well as perfectly pitched childrens movies, and movies with more adult themes, there are others which appeal directly to everyone; probably the most obvious example of that is the oscar winning Spritied Away. He's now directed ten movies, and this is the countdown from the least impressive. 'Least impressive' is a relative term, as even these 'bottom' five are largely worth your time. The top five will come as soon as I've written it.
 
The format will be: a rough one sentence plot synopsis (which won't give away spoilers), my thoughts and then a rating. I'm aware that the rating should be obvious from how high it is ranked. It should also be noted that I don't look at plot synopses before I write my own, so they're often way off. Please also note that I am a huge fan, and at least 7 of these are great, and at least 4 of those are masterpieces, so please don't write nasty emails calling me mean names like when I said that soccer was boring. 

10. Howl's Moving Castle [2004]

Plot: A girl is changed into an old woman by a spell; as a war breaks out, she teams up with a mercurial wizard in a robotic, mechanical castle which roams the countryside.

How evil does this thing look? [source]

Review: This is pretty unimpressive stuff. the plot is jumbled, there's no real spark or magic, which is weird, as it's about a sorcerer and a girl changed into an old woman by a magic spell. It's also set in a land which is 'European' which is less interesting to me, living in Europe as I do. Overall, it's fine, and the artwork is great, particularly the castle itself, but the whole thing lacks that Miyazaki spark, probably because it's based on someone else work (my guess was 'Dianne Wyn Jones', and wikipedia tells me that it was Diana Wynne Jones, pretty close!) - The result is an unmemorable movie which seems longer than it is, and still has an incredibly rushed, little-too-convenient conclusion.

Rating: 2 1/2

9. Nausicaa In The Valley Of The Wind [1984]

Plot: In an apocalyptic world, the disparate remaining human settlements bicker and war with each other while also fighting giant worms, which may or may not be responsible for ruining the planets eco-system.

Scoff all you want, you'll never be as happy as her. [source]

Review: an early work, and one with much promise, but which kind of peters out and suffers from slow exposition. Still, the underground garden is nicely drawn, and there are several Miyazaki themes already in place: environmental concerns, the corruption of mankind through war, the beauty of nature, and Nausicaa herself, the archetype Miyazaki hero: a young princess floating around on a gldier, doing good, with a cute animal friend.

Rating: 3 1/2
 

8. Lupin III- Castle of Casgliostro [1979]

Plot: We follow the caddish master criminal Lupin, and his crew,  as they seek to overthrow a corroput European Principality, break into its impenetrable castle, save the world economy, save a beautiful princess, and settle some old scores.

Pretty primitive animation, but the story is still fun. Also, what's that fridge doing there? [source]

Review: This is a rough and charming crime caper adventure, and is pretty straightforward in plot and exectution. It's fun, and from what I understand the characters were already iconic in Japan before this was  released. However, it's a little rough around the edges and is notably less well animated than his other movies (because it's the oldest), also, the princess is a little too meek to be a real classic. Still, good fun.

Rating: 3 1/2

7. Laputa: Castle in the Sky [1986]

Plot: A flight obsessed adolescent boy and his friend, a cheery girl battle with a group of corrupt goons, and the military, to find a legendary castle in the sky, run by benevolent giant robots.

A picture of a mate at the Ghibli museum. He's the one who's not the giant robot statue.

Review: Another early, well-realised but slightly unfocused story. It's designed more specifically for children than some of his better works, and it lacks a little because of it. For example, a little too much is dedicated to action scenes, particularly a chase scene at the beginning of the movie which goes on for ages. Still, the robots are cool, and eventually prove themselves as killing machines, the castle in the sky itself is an awesome creation too. Overall, it's nice, but not quite up to that magical, intangible level that his best movies get to. Also, the dubbed version is terrible, watch it with subtitles.

Rating: 3 1/2

6. Kiki's Delivery Service [1989]

Plot: Kiki, a young witch, leaves home to find a new place for herself; she struggles to find her place in society, but comes around after meeting lots of interesting and helpful people along the way.

How cool does that look? Oh to be 8 again... and a girl (?) [source]

Review: Quite a sweet, odd litle tale. The central dilemma of the movie, as their is no real enemy to speak of, is how she will recover her love of life after she loses her mojo. I think the main reason she loses her nerve is because she's cast out of her house into a new city to fend for herself at age 13. It certainly didn't help me. The city she moves to is well-realised city, and there are some fun bits in the movie, as Kiki goes about her business. The cat is also fun too, especially when kidnapped by a collossal dog for the evening, although from what I understand, he's a little annoying in the English version, despite being voiced by a voice hero of mine, Phil Hartman. 

Rating : 4

Click here for the next five. I'd also like to say that I stand by the fact that soccer is boring to watch.