Hayao Miyazaki’s first feature as director, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, is released in Japan. It established many of his signature strengths—fast-paced action, clear visual storytelling, and a sympathetic hero—even within an existing franchise. The film later became a key reference point for his later original works.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is released in Japan, featuring a strong young heroine and a central conflict between human industry and the natural world. Although it predates Studio Ghibli’s founding, it is widely treated as part of the creative foundation for Miyazaki’s later films. The film also begins Miyazaki’s long collaboration with composer Joe Hisaishi.
Castle in the Sky is released as the first feature made by Studio Ghibli. The movie expands Miyazaki’s adventure storytelling into a larger-scale fantasy world, mixing airships, lost technology, and political conflict. It helped define what a “Ghibli film” could look and feel like in the studio’s early years.
My Neighbor Totoro opens in Japan, presenting a quieter story centered on childhood, family stress, and friendly forest spirits. Its gentle tone contrasted with many contemporary animated films and broadened expectations for what animation could do. Over time, Totoro became one of Studio Ghibli’s most recognizable symbols.
Kiki’s Delivery Service is released in Japan and becomes Studio Ghibli’s first major initial box-office success. The film focuses on a young witch learning independence, work skills, and confidence, tying everyday life to fantasy. Its success strengthened the studio’s ability to finance and sustain future productions.
Porco Rosso premieres in Japan, set in an interwar Mediterranean shaped by air pirates, nationalism, and personal regret. The film highlights Miyazaki’s long-running interest in aircraft while also criticizing rising fascism through character choices and dialogue. It marked a mature shift toward more historically grounded settings within fantasy storytelling.
Princess Mononoke releases in Japan and breaks box-office records, with intense public attention around its opening. The story places industrial growth and environmental survival in direct conflict, refusing simple “good vs. evil” answers. Its scale and success helped push Japanese animated features into a more prominent international conversation.
Spirited Away opens in Japan and becomes a record-setting hit, later recognized as Japan’s highest-grossing film for many years. The film follows a child navigating a spirit-world bathhouse, using folklore-style creatures to explore identity and resilience. Its global reception made Miyazaki one of the best-known animation directors worldwide.
Howl’s Moving Castle is released in Japan after premiering at the Venice International Film Festival. It combines romance and fantasy with a clear anti-war perspective, reflecting Miyazaki’s public concerns about militarism. The film’s success reinforced Studio Ghibli’s position as a major international animation studio.
Ponyo debuts in Japan, telling a story about a goldfish-like child who wants to become human. The film returns to a simpler, younger point of view while still addressing nature and human responsibility through its sea and storm imagery. It became Miyazaki’s last feature before a long pause in directing.
The Wind Rises opens in Japan as a historical drama about aircraft designer Jiro Horikoshi, mixing biography with reflection on ambition and war. Soon afterward, Miyazaki publicly announced he would retire from making feature-length films, framing it as a serious decision after decades of work. The pairing of a grounded historical film and the retirement statement marked a major turning point in how audiences viewed the “end” of his filmography.
After a decade without a new feature, Miyazaki returns with The Boy and the Heron, released theatrically in Japan. The launch was notable for minimal pre-release marketing, keeping story and cast details largely hidden before opening. The film’s release closed the 1979–2023 arc of his feature directing career to date, showing his continued willingness to take creative risks late in life.
Hayao Miyazaki's filmography (1979–2023)