Studio Ghibli movies stream on Netflix in India. Since 2020, Netflix has held streaming rights to the Ghibli catalogue in every country it operates in except the United States, which covers favourites like Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke. Grave of the Fireflies was added in 2024, and The Boy and the Heron is also on the service.
Studio Ghibli was founded in Tokyo on 15 June 1985 by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata with producer Toshio Suzuki. Its hand-drawn films have won two Academy Awards and, in 2024, the studio received an honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes, the first production company to be given the award. Here is what to watch first and where.
- How the Netflix deal works
- 1. Spirited Away (2001)
- 2. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
- 3. Princess Mononoke (1997)
- 4. Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
- 5. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
- 6. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
- 7. Castle in the Sky (1986)
- 8. Ponyo (2008)
- 9. The Wind Rises (2013)
- 10. The Boy and the Heron (2023)
- Quick guide for first-time viewers
- Other Ghibli films on Netflix
- Frequently asked questions
How the Netflix deal works
Netflix announced the deal in January 2020 and added 21 films in three batches between February and April that year. The United States was left out because HBO Max had already bought those rights. Japan and China are also outside the arrangement.
Also read7 Movies by Karan Johar to Watch: Every Film He Has Directed
Grave of the Fireflies, which had separate rights, began streaming on Netflix outside Japan on 16 September 2024. Netflix catalogues can change, so check the app if a title does not appear. Most films offer the original Japanese audio with English subtitles and an English dub.
1. Spirited Away (2001)
Miyazaki’s best-known film follows ten-year-old Chihiro, who gets trapped in a spirit world and must work in a bathhouse to save her parents. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and remains the best starting point for new viewers.
2. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Two sisters move to the countryside and meet Totoro, a large, gentle forest spirit. There is no villain and very little conflict, which makes it ideal for young children. Totoro later became the studio’s logo.
3. Princess Mononoke (1997)
Set in medieval Japan, this is a story about a war between forest gods and a mining town. It is darker and more violent than most Ghibli films, so it suits teenagers and adults better than small children.
4. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Young hat-maker Sophie is turned into an old woman by a curse and takes shelter in the walking castle of the wizard Howl. Loosely based on a novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones, it mixes romance, comedy and an anti-war message.
5. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
A thirteen-year-old witch moves to a seaside town and starts a delivery service on her broom. It is a simple story about growing up and losing confidence, and it remains a favourite with students living away from home.
6. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Directed by Isao Takahata, this film follows two siblings trying to survive in Japan near the end of the Second World War. It is one of the most powerful war films ever made, animated or not. Watch it when you are ready for a sad story.
It was originally released as a double bill with My Neighbor Totoro in Japan in 1988, which is why the two very different films share a release year.
7. Castle in the Sky (1986)
The studio’s first feature is an adventure about a girl with a magic crystal and a boy who helps her search for a floating city. It has airships, pirates and chase scenes, and works well for children who like action.
Many of the ideas seen in later Ghibli films, such as flying machines and a deep respect for nature, first appear here. The score is by Joe Hisaishi, who has composed music for most of Miyazaki’s films.
8. Ponyo (2008)
A goldfish princess wants to become human after meeting a five-year-old boy. Ponyo was drawn in a soft, crayon-like style and is one of the gentlest films in the catalogue, ideal for very young viewers.
9. The Wind Rises (2013)
This is a fictionalised life story of Jiro Horikoshi, the engineer who designed Japanese fighter planes before the Second World War. It is a quieter, adult film about ambition and its cost.
10. The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Miyazaki’s most recent feature follows a boy who loses his mother during the war and enters a strange world guided by a talking grey heron. It won the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2024, the studio’s second Oscar. It streams on Netflix in territories outside the US and Japan.
Quick guide for first-time viewers
| Film | Year | Director | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirited Away | 2001 | Hayao Miyazaki | Everyone |
| My Neighbor Totoro | 1988 | Hayao Miyazaki | Young children |
| Princess Mononoke | 1997 | Hayao Miyazaki | Teens and adults |
| Grave of the Fireflies | 1988 | Isao Takahata | Adults |
| Ponyo | 2008 | Hayao Miyazaki | Very young children |
| The Boy and the Heron | 2023 | Hayao Miyazaki | Adults and older teens |
Other Ghibli films on Netflix
Once you finish the main list, try Whisper of the Heart (1995), Only Yesterday (1991), Porco Rosso (1992), The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) and When Marnie Was There (2014). Netflix also carries Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), which was made just before the studio was formally set up and is usually counted as part of the Ghibli library.
Studio Ghibli has not announced a new feature film so far in 2026. In July 2026, Ghibli Park in Japan said it would show a new short, A Night in the Valley of Witches, co-directed by Goro Miyazaki, but only at the park. For more film guides, see our entertainment section, and for planning a trip to Japan, our travel section.
Frequently asked questions
Are Studio Ghibli movies on Netflix India?
Yes. Netflix has streamed the Ghibli catalogue in India since 2020. Grave of the Fireflies and The Boy and the Heron were added later.
Which Studio Ghibli movie should I watch first?
Spirited Away is the usual starting point. For small children, My Neighbor Totoro or Ponyo is a better first pick.
Can I watch Ghibli films in English?
Most titles on Netflix offer an English dub along with the original Japanese audio and subtitles.
How many Oscars has Studio Ghibli won?
Two, both for Best Animated Feature: Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron.
Sources: Wikipedia: Studio Ghibli, Wikipedia: The Boy and the Heron, Wikipedia: Grave of the Fireflies.
