Summary
Studio Ghibliis known for being great at a lot of things: music, art style, plot structure, and emotional one-two punches. But one of the things they’re even better at is their characters, especially their protagonists. Whether they’re the most lovable character or just the most compelling, the main character makes or breaks the story, and yet, Hayao Miyazaki succeeds in making every one of his stories perfect.
There are so many Ghibli films, and despite every retirement announcement, more characters are inevitable. No matter how the story goes, these protagonists handle each and every obstacle thrown their way with determination, bravery, and a healthy dose of spunk.
10Jiro Horikoshi
The Wind Rises
This character soclosely follows a personal passion of Miyazaki’s own, aviation, so it’s no wonder Jiro is such an emotionally compelling character. You feel for him and his guilt, especially if you’re more of a pacifist yourself or an artist of any kind. It puts war in an entirely new perspective, especially when you realize his creations are the planes being used for war, and that wasn’t Jiro’s intention.
Jiro is such a friendly, loving person, andhe’s based on a real aircraft designer by the same namewho also made planes for a war he opposed. It’s a story about love in the middle of difficult times, and Jiro and his love Naoko definitely persevere.
9Princess Kaguya
The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya
This princess is someonestraight out of ancient Japanese myth and folk tale, so it’s hard to believe she’s from a movie made in the early 2010s. She tries to avoid marrying a complete stranger—a mythology protagonist class that most princesses must not have taken—and to do that, she sends each of her suitors out to complete various tasks for her, but none of them succeed. This part is from the myth, but it’s not the only development that makes you root for her.
She’sa sweet character who turns out to actually be from the moon, so it’s no surprise she’s so beautiful and classy. Her story is a tear-jerker when you realizeshe just wants her freedom to join the Moonbut loves the Earth all the same.
8Shizuku Tsukishima
Whisper Of The Heart
Shizuku is one of the most creative protagonists in a Ghibli film,constantly reading and writing her book, Whisper of the Heart. She’s spunky, stands up for herself when she’s annoyed, and she’s a fan of the song “Country Roads,” which is a typical daydreamer song to sing, even incorrectly. Shizuku is a charming girl with a complex personality, and that gets clearer the more books she checks out from the library.
The movie she’s the star of is a well-loved Ghibli fan favorite, and it’s a coming-of-age, emotionally charged experience for Shizuku that has you enthralled the minute you start it. She’s relatable, andher relationship with Seiji is just so wholesome.
7Ponyo And Sosuke
Ponyo
These two balance each other out perfectly.Ponyo’s chaos and spontaneity run circles around Sosuke’s practical and responsible habitsas the one emotionally supporting his mom.Sosuke is the calmer one, too, which makes Ponyo’s adventures in the human world all the more exciting for her as she gets to wander with Sosuke as he tries to find his mom again.
Not only is Sosuke the master of keeping it together, but his mom is just the best at it.Ponyo’s sudden appearance and antics would be a surprise to everyone, but Lisa is level-headed through the entire thing, even leaning into their innocent childhood excitement.
6Sophie Hatter And Howl Jenkins-Pendragon
Howl’s Moving Castle
This romance is one of the cutest in the entire Studio Ghibli filmography.Sophie doesn’t have the highest self-confidence, butto Howl, she is so lovely that she’s worth finding even though he saw her once in his past. Time travel aside, Sophie has one of the best character arcs as she discovers how important she is to Howl’s story and how much she can help those around her.
Similarly,Howl has a transformation of his own when he finally has something to protect: Sophie. The two of them are an unlikely pair, butthere is so much chemistry between themthat you can’t help but love them even from their first meeting.
5Ashitaka And San
Princess Mononoke
Ashitaka is a cursed prince, but he isn’t evil or malicious like you would be led to believe in other stories. Instead,he is cursed as a result of saving his village from a demon, and from then on, he only tries to cure his curse in moral ways.When he meets San, a girl raised by the wolves who loves the forest and its spirits,his response is to help her, not hurt her. The two of them are a powerful duo, especially when it comes to protecting the spirits.
San is known as Princess Mononoke, and despite being rumored to hate humans, she doesn’t mind Ashitaka in the slightest.San’s tough exterior is broken down by Ashitaka’s kindness and compliments, especially when he’s accepted by the Forest Spirit.
4Satsuke And Mei Kusakabe
My Neighbor Totoro
These sisters always have a positive outlook on life, having their adventures with a smile no matter what comes their way. Even when moving to their new home, they make a game out of everything they find, even the house itself. The way the two of them keep an optimistic outlook on everything is an inspiration, even on the cloudiest days. This Ghibli film, in general, is such an uplifting story, since it reminds you to take care of your inner child.
Satsuke is the more responsible sibling, being the oldest, yet Mei keeps it playful and wholesome as the much younger siblingwith an unburdened spirit. She is the one who discovers Totoro and is the one that brings a sense of magic into both of their lives.
3Arrietty
The Secret Life Of Arrietty
This is one of the most wholesome stories out there, especially since there are so few stories like it.Arrietty is the smallest Studio Ghibli main character, providing for her family and adventuring in a world made for much bigger people.She’s brave, an adventurer at heart, and extremely resourceful. Not even a cat or the housekeeper stops her from protecting her parents.
She is a Borrower, someone who takes essentials like food from the world around them in order to survive, yet she is still kind-hearted and even befriends one of the occupants of the house she lives under, Shō.
2Chihiro Ogino
Spirited Away
Chihiro is the definition of spunky and cunning.She goes through major character developmentin this movie, going from a snarky child to a polite, kind-hearted girl through her experiences in the Spirit World. Still, at the beginning of the movie,she shows how intelligent she is when she gets thrown into the midst of an entirely different worldwith only Haku, the river spirit, looking after her.
There’s a lot of praise for this movie and for Chihiro, and for good reason. Even when she’s forced to be known as Sen,she’s persistent and determined to free herself and her parents. Spirited Away even won an Oscar, and Chihiro was a huge part of that achievement.
1Kiki
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Kiki is a self-starter, a determined and skilled young witch who can do anything she puts her mind to.Her delivery service isn’t just her solo entrepreneurial venture; it’s her art. Whenshe loses her ability to fly on a broom, she discovers that her art and her emotions gave her that ability in the first place.She’s young, but that doesn’t mean she’s any less capable of making a life for herself.
Jiji, her cat, is a huge support for Kiki, especially since the two can understand each other. The two of them are creative, quick thinkers who are able to save the day from any crisis they come across, no matter what.
