Everyone loves the work of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Don't even try to deny your massive love for these amazing animated works. I am seriously adamant in my dislike for most anime outside of Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z, but I still have a major soft spot for Studio Ghibli.
I would go so far as to claim that, if you didn’t immediately fall in love with the adorable furball Totoro in My Neighbor Totoro, something might be wrong. If you don't sympathize with the plights of Chihiro Ogino in Spirited Away, then I might be inclined to believe that you and I will never truly be friends.
Well, maybe that’s a bit too much, but you will be hard-pressed to find someone who couldn’t find a single thing to like about these timeless classics. That being said, while the Ghibli films may be cinematic masterpieces, they certainly have their weirder moments. In fact, some films like Princess Mononoke and Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind can be downright odd, and I’d probably think twice before showing them to just about anyone.
Now, if you’re a grown-up, being afraid of weird sequences in movies is not a reason to dismiss yourself from the wonderful works of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. I realize that I’m insisting on this point, but, in my opinion, some of their stuff is to animated theater what Citizen Kane is to live-action cinema—albeit with more than a few moments that really aren’t for just anyone.
30 Catch A Ride
The Catbus in My Neighbor Totoro has always bothered me a little. Sure, I understand that it’s supposed to be a fairly adorable take on public transportation, but, jeez, this thing is weird. I’m not really sure why Japan seems to be so obsessed with cats, but they show up in a lot of their media.
Japanese cat culture goes way, way beyond a few cute videos on YouTube, too.
Perhaps most troubling, however, is that the Catbus may actually be a nekomata—a type of giant cat being that is said to hang out in the Japanese mountainside. These things are also known to attack people, which doesn’t really bode well for the passengers of this feline freighter. At the end of the day, though, I may be looking into this a little too intently, drumming up connections that don’t actually exist.
Who knows?
29 A Very Special Neighbor
Miyazaki’s cute and cuddly Alice in Wonderland parable is an unmitigated masterclass in animation and storytelling, as are most of his films. While in-line with Miyazaki's tamer Kiki’s Delivery Service in terms of its child-friendly qualities, My Neighbor Totoro does occasionally offer a peek beyond the normality.
While never outrightly weird like Princess Mononoke, there’re definitely some weird goings-on in this 1988 classic.
The noteworthy scene likely comes when a little girl is thought to be missing, and in an attempt to recover her, a shoe is found by a pond. Her rescuing party fears that the young girl may have met her untimely demise in the nearby water, but the shoe is later declared to be someone else's—a major relief to in-universe characters and audience members alike.
28 Spirited Into Swine
I’ve gushed over it plenty already, but Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away might be one of my favorite films of all time. It’s funny, inspiring, it captivates the imagination while still invoking a sense of intensity.
I imagine that this film is to me what The Neverending Story must have been to kids growing up in the 1980s.
That said, it’s filled with ghoulish scenes that have doubtlessly popped up in the dreams of younger viewers. In the film’s first few minutes, we’re forced to watch as Chihiro’s parents are transformed into pigs after chowing down on some food that wasn’t meant for them. What would I have done, at the age of ten, if my parents were bewitched and left me alone in a strange place?
I wouldn't have been super happy about it, that's for sure.
27 Such A Big Baby
Yubaba’s baby is named Boh, and he is actually a giant human baby. Now, I really don’t want to think of the implications surrounding Yubaba’s offspring, but I really do have to question who the father might be.
It's quite possible that dramatically oversized proportions simply run in the family.
Fun fact: in the English dub of the movie, he’s voiced by Tara Strong, who is famous for her portrayal of Timmy Turner in Nickelodeon’s hit show The Fairly OddParents. It’s so bizarre to hear such a familiar, friendly voice coming from such an otherworldly character. It would be like if Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, suddenly lent his talents to a character in Rick and Morty.
Oh, wait.
26 Revenge Of The Wolf
Princess Mononoke seems to just become more convoluted each time I watch it. On the surface, it’s about a power struggle between men who live in villages and the woodland spirits who dwell in the forest. A closer look reveals an intricately woven tale relaying the dangers preying on purity and innocence, which usually come with rampant industrialization.
That may sound somewhat romantic, but it’s almost more over-the-top than heartfelt.
In a battle between the humans from Iron Town and the spirits of the forest, Moro the wolf deity is dispatched. Her head is said to grant immortality, so it’s something of a prized possession. Yet, when the human combatants find it, it reawakens and causes trouble.
No, that’s alright, I wasn’t planning on sleeping tonight anyway.
25 Childhood Themes
I’ve already touched on this, but I think one of the weirdest parts of Ghibli’s Spirited Away lies in what isn’t explicitly seen or stated. Chihiro has been inadvertently left by her parents and lost, at a very young age, in a foreign world. Solitude by itself can be extremely hard, but it gets even more complex from there.
Not only has she lost her way in a strange place, but the sorceress Yubaba literally takes her identity away and puts her to work. In return, the newly-branded Sen is given a slim chance at rescuing her parents from their fate. The fear of losing one’s identity and leaving your old life behind is pretty intense, and, when you include super strong river spirits and masked ghosts, it makes for a pretty memorable experience.
24 We've Opened A Can Of Worms!
Perhaps this is cheating, as Miyazaki himself has declared that his 1999 film Princess Mononoke isn’t intended for young audiences. Still, the opening scene was enough to put me off watching the rest of the movie for many years. I was blown away by 2001’s Spirited Away when I first saw it on Cartoon Network, a long time ago.
However, I just couldn’t handle watching Princess Mononoke until just recently.
To begin with, the introductory scene depicting the defeat of Nago, a giant, mean boar covered in black worms, was nothing short of memorable. Not only does he chase the hero down in red-eyed spider form, but, when he’s attacked, we literally get a close up of the vanquished demon.
No, thank you! Not recommended for the faint of heart.
23 The TatariGami
The TatariGami are those black snake things that plague some of the creatures seen in Princess Mononoke, and yes, I am aware that I’ve already included a bunch of stuff from this movie—it’s just so jam-packed with creepy creatures! These little worm things are supposed to be a manifestation of dislike, or some kind of metaphor for the consuming nature of these intense feelings.
Though some are instantly overcome by this infestation when affected by it, others, like the movie’s protagonist aren’t quite as burdened. The main driving force of the film is that Ashitaka has been cursed by these things, and he needs to seek a cure from the forest spirit. This also demonstrates that the TatariGami feed off the the particularly hateful.
Interesting, to say the least.
22 Lovely Grandmother
So, sure, there’s plenty of weird stuff in Spirited Away, but one of the strangest is the design of the main villain, Yubaba. She’s like a thousand year-old witch thing with proportions that could make any artist cringe, and she also has the power to transform into a massive crow-like creature.
Spirited Away is kind of a weird movie all around, honestly.
That said, she can also breathe fire when she’s really upset, and it’s basically all the more reason to never go near her, unless you absolutely have to. I’m not going to pretend that I understand the anatomy of this fantastical humanoid beast hybrid, but I do know that I won’t be applying to work in her magical bath house any time in the near future.
21 The Green Heads
Could someone please explain what the Kashira are supposed to be? As far as I know, they are a set of three green humanoid heads that roll around in Yubaba’s office. I’m not sure if they are intended to be her henchmen, or perhaps she keeps them as an extremely unique set of pets?
As far as I can tell, the Kashira can take some orders, but they don’t seem to be too intelligent.
They’re weird enough on their own, but they take it a step further when Yubaba’s sister transforms them into a duplicate of Boh, Yubaba’s giant baby. I recognize that there are tons, and I mean tons, of crazy beasts in this movie, but most of them aren’t all that difficult to understand. These things, however, just give me the creeps.
Can’t you keep a couple of dogs or something, Yubaba?
20 Turnip-Head
Some people thing this sentient scarecrow is cute, but I just don’t see it. Turnip-head from Howl’s Moving Castle is just the stuff of nightmares. I’m not exactly sure what he is, but the fact that he is an inanimate object is odd.
Turnip-Head's perma-grin and tattered clothes really complete the picture.
And, yes, I am aware that he was a good guy the whole time, and he’s later revealed to be a prince who was forced to take that form due to a curse, but that makes him all the weirder.
Are there other people out there who have been transmogrified into voiceless, hollow effigies? Do I have to be careful while walking down a garden path for fear of accidentally stepping on an animated stone?
19 Ashitaka's Curse
As I’ve mentioned earlier, the hero of Princess Mononoke was able to stave off immediate danger at the hands of the TatariGami. Though he isn’t consumed by them, Ashitaka is burdened by a curse that will slowly claim him if he doesn’t find a cure.
Sure, the curse does also grant him inhuman strength, but it also throws him right in the center of a conflict between humanity and the spirit realm.
This conflict brings Ashitaka face to face with plenty of rather powerful enemies.
Few, if any, have it as rough as poor Ashitaka does. While I appreciate the storytelling of Princess Mononoke, those of weak constitution may want to give this one a pass.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic film, but so much of what goes on in it is just… intense.
18 A Kind Of Mermaid?
I realize that I am a part of a minority when I say that I don’t really find Studio Ghibli's Ponyo to be all that cute. The little magical female fish can be appealing, but she spends so much of the movie as a bizarre human/fish hybrid.
Ponyo is more so unnerving than she is adorable, throughout the whole film.
And, I may be grasping at straws here, but I would like my mer-people to be clearly anatomically defined: the top half should be human, and the bottom half should be fish.
Could you imagine what kind of issue we’d be subjected to if Ponyo were a horse instead of a fish? Or, rather, she may have ended up in a weird interim like the centaurs from the Fallout series, and I really, really don’t want to think about that.
17 The Witch’s Helpers
Much like Yubaba’s green-headed creatures seen in Spirited Away, I’d really like some answers concerning what exactly the Witch of the Waste’s henchmen are supposed to be. They appear to be humanoid, and she keeps them dressed pretty well, but, with concealed faces and oily black bodies, they are beyond weird.
The Witch doesn’t get too much sympathy, anyway, but I’d like to believe that her appeal would increase if she simply ditched these creatures.
Their gangly limbs and distorted appearances make me question what I’m looking at, and they’re much more intense than the subtly creepy Turnip-head. They may be meant to convey something bad, but, Miyazaki, could you please lighten up?
You’re making it hard to get all the way through your movies.
16 The Kodamas
More like Princess Mono(NO)ke, am I right? These little forest entities aren’t exactly the most frightening thing in a film full of wild boars and ravenous wolf deities, but they still set me on edge a bit. They are harmless little white wisps that seem to be sporting masks, but their eyes and mouths appear to be hollow.
They honestly come across as more ghostly than engaging. And they are also meant to signify the health of the forest, and as the health of the surrounding woodlands begins to fail, so does theirs.
It can be gut-wrenching, and I’m really confused as to how I can possibly feel empathy for little creatures that I find to be so weird. These films are notable for taking their viewers on a rollercoaster of emotions, and, while that’s a hallmark of good cinema, it can sometimes be difficult to enjoy.
15 Well Done!
Few things in Spirited Away weirded me more than the River Spirit. Originally thought to be some kind of stink spirit, this muck-covered creature originally appeared in Yubaba’s bathhouse so caked in gunk that he looked like a walking pile of mud.
His true form, however, is actually much more memorable, if you can imagine that.
I don’t claim to know exactly what a river spirit is supposed to look like, but, when Sen and her coworkers managed to dislodge all of the junk from his system, he seems to have a very zombie-like appearance.
He only utters two short words before his bombastic exit: “Well done.” But his gravelly tone and sunken features really make him a stand-out character in a film already filled to the brim with anomalies.
14 Howl’s Bird Form
One of the weirdest things about Howl’s Moving Castle, in my opinion, was Howl himself. While I never quite understood the politics behind his transformations, he would often disguise himself as a large bird to manipulate two warring factions.
The plot is already quite complicated, but a major sticking point of the film hinges on the fact that his magic is slowly leading him toward his downfall. Every time he changes into his bird form, he finds it harder to change back.
Have your parents ever told you that “if you keep making that face, it’ll get stuck like that?” Well, this is kind of like that, but a couple levels deeper into a Lovecraftian problem. For a film that started out about a cute woman running a simple hat shop, we sure see a lot of crazy stuff.
13 Shoujou
Compared to the giant boars and the ravenous beast, you’d think there couldn’t be anything more bizarre in Princess Mononoke. That’s not the case though, as I think the red-eyed, shadowy apes might just take the cake.
That may sound strange given their competition, but these guys probably left the greatest impression on me as a kid.
Not only do they have spooky red eyes, but, if memory serves, they actually want to attack one of the characters, as they believe consuming them will improve their intellect. I’d argue that that’s not how that works, but, in the world of Mononoke, who can really say for sure? Though seemingly just another chaotic element in a sea of utter madness, these monkeys really did have me sleeping with the lights on when I was younger.
12 Basically Godzilla
Alright, I’ll admit it—I’ve never actually seen Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind in full, but only in bits and pieces. However, I do know that The Giant Warrior is a surprisingly devastating amalgam of nuclear physics and gelatinous sludge. Not only is it weird, but, later in the movie, it actually starts disintegrating.
There were not many more ways it could make itself that much more abrasive to the eye.
He can also fire lasers from his mouth, which pack about the same amount of punch as an arsenal, so that’s always a nice bonus. This thing does at least appear to be working with the good guys, so that’s good to know, but win or lose, someone will have a ton of cleaning up to do after this beast leaves the scene.
11 Fireflies
Switching gears from the wildly memorable to the deeply emotional, Ghibli's Grave of the Fireflies might actually be the most heartfelt film I’ve ever seen. Though, that isn’t really saying much, as I typically don’t seek out media that’ll tug at the heart strings—mine are probably a bit too frail for that.
This cinematic triumph deals with the struggle of the Japanese populace during the closing days of the Second World War. There’s absolutely no room for optimism or childhood wonder, and the characters have to come to terms with their new world exactly as it is.
In a world where conflict abounds, it can be difficult to find the beauty in anything, but that’s sort of what the movie is about—well, to me, anyway. I don’t actually have a degree in film appreciation, in case you couldn't tell.