When it comes to Hayao Miyazaki, most fans immediately think of masterpieces like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, or Princess Mononoke. These films helped establish Studio Ghibli as an icon in the anime industry and captivated millions worldwide.
However, not every film by the Japanese animation maestro has received unanimous praise. Miyazaki’s constant experimentation with storytelling, pacing, themes, and messages has made some of his works the subject of debate for years.
Here are five of the most divisive films in the legendary director’s career.
5. The Wind Rises
The Wind Rises tells the story of Jiro Horikoshi, the engineer behind Japan’s famous Zero fighter plane during World War II. It was Miyazaki’s final film before his first retirement announcement.
The controversy stems from how Miyazaki portrays the main character. While condemning war, the director romanticizes Jiro’s passion for aircraft design with poetic and lyrical imagery.
Some viewers feel the film downplays the responsibility of creating a weapon that caused immense suffering. Others see it as a humanistic perspective on an artist caught in the harsh currents of history, not a glorification of war.
4. Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle is one of Ghibli’s most beloved films, yet it also sparks plenty of debate.
Unlike Diana Wynne Jones’s original novel, Miyazaki significantly altered the plot to emphasize an anti-war message. This shift made many magical rules, character motives, and key plot points feel vague.
Fans argue that this dreamlike quality is part of the film’s charm. Meanwhile, others find the story disjointed, with many plot threads resolved too quickly, making it hard to follow.
3. Ponyo
Ponyo is crafted as a fairy tale for young children, seen through the innocent eyes of a child.
Miyazaki largely skips complex explanations of the magical world to focus on emotion, imagination, and innocence. This simplicity is why many adore the film’s rare purity.
However, this straightforward storytelling leaves some viewers feeling Ponyo lacks the depth found in Miyazaki’s more layered works like Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke. The environmental message is also more subtle compared to his other films.
2. The Castle of Cagliostro
As Miyazaki’s first feature film as director, The Castle of Cagliostro has a very different style from his later works.
Instead of slow, philosophical pacing, the film focuses on chase scenes, action, and adventure true to the Lupin III spirit. This makes some viewers see it more as pure entertainment than a signature Miyazaki work.
Additionally, Miyazaki altered Lupin’s character, making him more honorable and heroic than in the original, which divided fans.
1. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Topping the list is Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, considered the foundation for Studio Ghibli’s creation.
The film transports viewers to a vast post-apocalyptic world exploring themes like the environment, war, politics, pacifism, and humanity’s relationship with nature.
Miyazaki’s ambitious attempt to tell such a grand story within a single film means many characters and conflicts aren’t fully developed. Some praise it as a timeless masterpiece, while others find it dense and challenging to grasp on the first watch.