10 Most Likable Ghibli Movie Heroes of All Time

Like any good story, the thing that always best sells a Studio Ghibli movie is the characters. Regardless of what the story or plot may be, they only ever work as well as they do because of the cast supporting them, and in Studio Ghibli’s hands, that’s almost always carried out to tremendous effect to create some of the most likable characters in all of anime.

Studio Ghibli is great at making films with likable characters, and that’s especially true of their protagonists. Aside from a few of their weaker films, Studio Ghibli’s heroes are always written in ways to make their actions and personalities incredibly endearing to the audience, and in many cases, they end up being the best part of their respective films.

A few Studio Ghibli protagonists do the best job of getting this across, and sure enough, their films are among the best the company has ever released.

10
Ponyo’s Titular Hero Perfectly Embodies Childish Innocence

Protagonist of 2008’s Ponyo; Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

The titular protagonist of 2008’s Ponyo is a goldfish-like creature who sneaks away from her father one day to see the outside world. In doing so, Ponyo falls in love with a young boy named Sosuke and begins transforming into a human to be with him, although there are major consequences for the world at large for her decision to do so.

Ponyo is a film focused far more on the characters than on telling a serious story, and its success at doing so is thanks in large part to Ponyo, herself. Ponyo’s unbridled energy and heartwarming relationship with Sosuke always do wonders to sell the childish nature of her character, and unlike other child characters, there’s never a hint of obnoxiousness to her, so her childishness never becomes annoying in the slightest. From start to finish, Ponyo is always a goofy and innocent child, and that’s exactly the kind of hero a film like Ponyo needed.

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9
Kiki’s Delivery Service’s Hero Has A Surprisingly Mature Arc

Protagonist of 1989’s Kiki’s Delivery Service; Film directed by Hayao Miyazaki

1989’s Kiki’s Delivery Service opens with Kiki coming of age as a witch and setting out to hone her skills on her own for a year. Kiki ends up in the seaside town of Koriko and renting a room from the local baker, Osono, and she decides to carry out her training by starting a delivery service, and her actions through the service and with the townsfolk make her learn far more about herself than she ever would have thought.

Much like Ponyo, Kiki’s Delivery Service is a film that makes up for its relative lack of story with an incredibly engaging lead. Not only does the film excellently sell Kiki as a kindhearted girl trying to make her way in the world, but Kiki’s arc of dealing with creative burnout is handled surprisingly maturely for an otherwise goofy and lighthearted story, and it gives Kiki a surprising amount of depth. Kiki’s Delivery Service is easily one of Studio Ghibli’s most iconic films, and Kiki’s character arc and character, as a whole, played a big part in making that happen.

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8
The Wind Rises Makes A Tragic Genius Out Of Jiro Horikoshi

Protagonist of 2013’s The Wind Rises; Film directed by Hayao Miyazaki

2013’s The Wind Rises is a fictionalized account of the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the man who designed the Mitsubishi A5M and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter planes. While both planes were famously used by Japan during World War II, Jiro’s arc is less about his involvement with the war and his pure passion for building airplanes, something that ends up complemented by his tragic romance with his sickly wife, Nahoko.

The Wind Rises is one of Studio Ghibli’s more down-to-earth films, but that doesn’t stop Jiro from being any less of an engaging hero. The pure passion Jiro has for building airplanes is perfectly balanced out by the tragedy of his relationship with Nahoko, resulting in a character who’s engaging and easy to root for because of how much their energy is contrasted with the life they live. The Wind Rises was a film Hayao Miyazaki once intended on retiring with, and the passion he put into it is especially evident in the excellent handling of Jiro’s character.

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7
Porco Rosso’s Titular Hero Is One Of Studio Ghibli’s Most Underrated Heroes

Protagonist of 1992’s Porco Rosso; Film directed by Hayao Miyazaki

1992’s Porco Rosso stars the titular Porco Rosso, an ace fighter pilot and bounty hunter mysteriously cursed to have a pig’s head. Despite his affliction, Porco is seen as a hero loved by all except the pirates he hunts and the fascists he refuses to work for, yet the tragic past that gave him his signature look keeps him from getting too close to anyone, no matter how much they might love him.

Porco Rosso has one of the most absurdist ideas for a protagonist, yet it somehow works to great effect. Porco Rosso, being a dashing gentleman with a pig’s head, is always played completely straight, so despite the absurdity of the premise, there’s always a genuine sincerity in both his character and the story, as a whole, all of which is balanced out by the more serious character moments he has in the film. Porco Rosso is one of Studio Ghibli’s more underrated films, but its protagonist is easily one of the best to ever come out of the company.

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6
Nausicaa Is Still A Great Studio Ghibli Protagonist After 40 Years

Protagonist of 1984’s Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind; Film directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Nausicaa is the titular protagonist of 1984’s Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and the princess of the Valley of the Wind, a kingdom created 1000 years after the world was destroyed by ecocide. One day, the kingdom of Tolmekia invades the Valley of the Wind as part of their plans to destroy the Ohm, giant insects that roam the lands and attack people, and it becomes up to Nausicaa to protect both her people and the balance of nature as a whole.

Despite being the first Studio Ghibli film, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind still holds up plenty, and that’s especially true of its titular protagonist. Nausicaa’s idealism is perfectly balanced with her willingness to fight for what she believes in, and even without the angle of a prophecy, it’s easy to see why so many characters would respect why and how she’s always able to come out on top in the end. Nausicaa essentially laid the groundwork for Studio Ghibli’s penchant for strong female protagonists, but even after 40 years, she’s still one of their best.

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5
Princess Mononoke Has A Great Action Hero In Ashitaka

Protagonist of 1997’s Princess Mononoke; Film directed by Hayao Miyazaki

In 1997’s Princess Mononoke, Ashitaka, the last Emishi prince, is cursed after killing a demon and sets off on a pilgrimage to find a cure for his condition. Ashitaka eventually comes across the industrial community of Iron Town and ends up involved in the conflict between them and the forest spirits they’ve encroached upon, and his involvement ends up being the key to ending the conflict between the two sides.

Princess Mononoke is Studio Ghibli’s most action-oriented film, and Ashitaka does a great job of selling that. Not only is Ashitaka always at the center of incredible action both before and after being cursed, but Ashitaka’s willpower and idealism perfectly characterize him as a heroic and engaging character, the exact kind of hero an action-packed film like Princess Mononoke warrants. The film is often regarded as one of the best Studio Ghibli films, if not the best, and Ashitaka’s character is a big part of why that is.

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4
Chihiro’s Arc In Spirited Away Is Brilliant In Its Simplicity

Protagonist of 2001’s Spirited Away; Film directed by Hayao Miyazaki

2001’s Spirited Away stars Chihiro Ogino, a timid young girl who, along with her parents, ends up trapped in the spirit realm, with Chiriro’s parents even being turned into pigs. Chihiro is forced to take a job at a bathhouse under the witch Yubaba to survive, even losing her name in the process and having to go by Sen, and she’s going to have to grow up fast if she wants to save her parents and go home.

Chihiro’s arc in Spirited Away is a very simple one, but it’s nonetheless incredibly effective. Spirited Away never fails to sell Chihiro as a girl forced to grow up fast amid tragic circumstances, and not only does that make her greatly sympathetic, it makes it all the more rewarding when she finally comes into her own and gets her happy ending. The execution of Chihiro’s arc is among the strongest of any Studio Ghibli hero, and it’s no wonder why she and Spirited Away, as a whole, are still held in such high regard over 20 years later.

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3
Kaguya Is A Perfect Interpretation Of The Classic Fairy Tale

Protagonist of 2013’s The Tale of the Princess Kaguya; Film directed by Isao Takahata

2013’s The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is an adaptation of the classic Japanese fairy tale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Just like the original fairy tale, the film centers around Kaguya, a beautiful and mystical girl from the moon, although the film’s version of Kaguya is given a different character arc that sees her react far more strongly to the circumstances she’s repeatedly forced into.

While the original Kaguya was fairly simplistic, the Kaguya in The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is anything but. The film’s version of Kaguya is a very rounded character whose desire to simply live a good life is greatly contrasted by the impossible expectations people put on her, and seeing her slowly break down and ultimately fail to get a happy ending adds a beautiful tragedy to her story, as well. Kaguya is easily the most tragic of any Studio Ghibli protagonist, and the sympathy she earns from that easily makes her one of their most endearing ones yet.

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2
When Marnie Was There’s Anna Has An Incredible Arc About Self-Worth

Protagonist of 2014’s When Marnie Was There; Film directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi

2014’s When Marnie Was There stars Anna Sasaki, an antisocial and sullen girl who spends the summer with her relatives in the countryside in the hopes that the environment will help with her asthma. There, Anna strikes up a friendship with the mysterious and enchanting Marnie, and as Marnie helps Anna open up for the first time, it’s slowly revealed why she was so closed off in the first place.

While there are a lot of fantastical elements to When Marnie Was There, Anna’s character works because of how grounded in reality she is. Anna’s social anxiety and depression are depicted in a pleasingly realistic fashion to give her incredible depth, and when paired with the heartwarming nature of her relationship with Marnie and the growth that facilitates it, resulting in a very mature character arc about self-worth that makes Anna likable and understandable from start to finish. Anna’s arc is very atypical for a Studio Ghibli hero, and it’s what makes her such a great character.

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1
Whisper Of The Heart’s Shizuku Has Studio Ghibli’s Most Mature Character Arc

Protagonist of 1995’s Whisper of the Heart; Film directed by Yoshifumi Kondo

In 1995’s Whisper of the Heart, Shizuku Tsukishima lives her life never thinking about love or what she wants to do with her life, but that changes when she meets Seiji Amasawa, an aspiring luthier whom she discovers to have a lot in common with. As much as Shizuku admires Seiji’s passion, it makes her feel like she needs something to be just as passionate about to justify being with him, so Shizuku decides to try and become a novelist to complement Seiji.

Whisper of the Heart is one of Studio Ghibli’s most underrated films, and Shizuku’s character is similarly underrated. Shizuku’s romance with Seiji and the determination with which she writes her novel both serve to make her incredibly endearing, and the latter is sold especially well by how she fails to write a good book but is still richer from the experience and gains a better understanding of herself. There’s never been a Studio Ghibli character with a more mature and relatable arc than Whisper of the Heart’s Shizuku, and that makes her Studio Ghibli’s most likable hero of all time.

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