Studio Ghibli mainly produced films written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. In fact, the founding of Studio Ghibli occurred after the success of Miyazaki's 1984 film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

Hayao Miyazaki

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    In contrast to many Western films, Miyazaki's films almost all have a female main character. When asked about the female character Nausicaä and her role as a woman, Miyazaki stated:

"Many of my movies have strong female leads – brave, self-sufficient girls that don’t think twice about fighting for what they believe in with all their heart. They’ll need a friend, or a supporter, but never a savior. Any woman is just as capable of being a hero as any man."

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Other Notable Films by Miyazaki

My Neighbor Totoro

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This movie is the adventure of two sisters and the keepers of the forest.


Spirited Away

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Trapped in the spirit world, Chihiro must find her way back to reality.


Ponyo

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Ponyo, a creature from the sea, must choose between human friendship or her home in the water.


Howl's Moving Castle

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Sophie meets a wizard in her journey to break a curse.


Princess Mononoke

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A battle between humanity and the forces of nature, and the story of a cursed boy that links the two.

Castle in the Sky

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Sheeta and Pazu must protect the castle in the sky.


Kiki's Delivery Service

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A witch in training starts a new job in a new town, meeting challenges along the way.