Studio Ghibliboasts a resume of animated features that can rival any in the history of the medium. Their contributions to the worlds of animation and storytelling add up to over 40 hours of viewing time over 23 feature films. Considering the incredible rewatch value many of them offer, that’s enough to keep mostfans occupied for a lifetime.
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However, there are some fans out there who can’t seem to get enough of Miyazaki and company’s combination of unforgettable characters, breathtaking imagery, thought-provoking themes, and dazzling overall artistry. To scratch that Ghibli itch, it can sometimes take searching outside the confines of the studio’s filmography and into other works in other mediums that share a bit of the same storytelling magic. Fortunately, there are plenty of them out there.
8Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Windthe film is not technically a Studio Ghibli production, but it is counted among them regardless. Any fan of the movie, or of Ghibli’s other more official films that are carried by a strong female protagonist and contain themes of conflict and humanity’s relationship with nature, should not miss out on the manga that that started it all.
TheNausicaa of the Valley of the Windmanga is Miyazaki’s grandest pen-and-ink creation, and it is considered by some to be his greatest work. It was serialized between 1982 and 1994, predating Studio Ghibli by three years and ending months before it released its seventh film. The story is a massive epic thatextends well beyond the events of the film adaptationand is just absolutely gorgeous to look at. It’s a must for any fan of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.
7Shuna’s Journey
Straddling the line between manga and illustrated storybook,Shuna’s Journeyoffers a unique storytelling experience that any Studio Ghibli fan is bound to appreciate. In fact, it may as well be the lost screenplay of an unmade Ghibli film: it was written and drawn by Miyazaki and it features imagery, ideas, and a storytelling style that are all hallmarks of the legendary creator’s animated work.
Although its 1983 publishing date makes it older than Studio Ghibli itself,Shuna’s Journeydid notofficially make it to American shores until late 2022, which means some fans had never even heard of it until recently. Anyone looking for a folktale-flavored adventure with notes ofNausicaaand some absolutely incredible watercolor artwork should take a look at this amazing book.
6Wandering Island
Strong female protagonist? Check. Old school aircraft drawn with dazzling detail? Check. A mysterious location spoken of in local legend? Check. Delivery service? Check.Wandering Islandby Kenji Tsuruta has a countless number of likenesses to the films of Studio Ghibli, as well as plenty of its own unique charm that makes it a great read regardless of whether you’ve seenCastle in the Skyor not.
There is a bit of a caveat, though: the story has been on standby since the release of volume two in 2017, and it’s unclear when Tsuruta will be releasing the next installment. More impatient fans may want to skip over this selection, but they will no doubt be missing out.
5Wolf Children
While some Studio Ghibli films tell fantastical stories that are full of action and excitement and are absolutely brimming with imagination, there are others that offer a much more slice of life approach to storytelling. Movies likeMy Neighbor TotoroandKiki’s Delivery Service, for example, have their share of mystery, excitement, and imagination, but they are far more grounded in the everyday experiences of their characters than anything else.
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The manga adaptation ofMamoru Hosoda’s 2012 filmWolf Childrenoffers a similar kind of slice of life story that’s touched by the fantastic. In it, a single mother takes her two wolf/human hybrid children out to the country to start their lives anew. It’s peaceful and pretty, but it’s also got plenty of emotional impact that doesn’t require gigantic stakes to achieve.
4Barefoot Gen
Grave of the Firefliesmay bethe most harrowing, heartbreaking animated taleever told, so fans bold enough to look for something that can top it may wind up disappointed, but theBarefoot Genmanga does offer readers a similarly eye-opening look into the horrors of war.
This story of a young boy who survives the atomic bombing of Hiroshima is based on creator Keiji Nakazawa’s real experiences during World War II. No, it’s nothing like most Studio Ghibli movies, but for fans who placeGrave of the Firefliesamong their favorites, this manga should resonate heavily.
3Mushishi
One of the most consistent themes of Studio Ghibli films is the relationship between humanity and the natural world. Few manga explore that theme as effectively asMushishi, and perhaps no other manga does it in a way that’s as reminiscent of films likePrincess MononokeorSpirited Away.
This serene andmysterious seinen story, which is in an episodic format, follows a man named Ginko as he travels through an imagined era between Edo and Meiji period Japan learning about the mysterious lifeforms known as Mushi and helping those who are negatively affected by them. No, it’s not as epic or action-driven asMononokeor as grand and whimsical as theOscar-nominatedSpirited Away, but all three contain a sense of awe and wonder, and a reverence for the mystical powers of nature.
2Flying Witch
Flying Witchis a gently paced coming-of-age story about a young girl who leaves home with her adorable black cat in order to learn how to become a witch. Studio Ghibli fans might be familiar with this basic premise as it is indiscernible from that ofKiki’s Delivery Service. Sure, the settings are somewhat different and the respective casts of characters are colorful in their own unique ways, but the basic elements of both stories are essentially identical.
Of all the Ghibli-esque manga, this one may be the most on the nose, butFlying Witchstill manages to be a lovely tale of its own that can be the perfect selection for any fan who just can’t get enough Miyazaki.
1A Letter To Momo
For a story with the same mixture of stranger-in-a-strange-land journey and serene slice of life offered bySpirited Away, there aren’t many better options than the manga adaptation of Hiroyuki Okiura’s filmA Letter to Momo. This story of a grieving young girl’s attempts to acclimate to both a new reality and new surroundings that are filled with odd creatures and strange spirits is quite similar to that of Chihiro’s, but not so much that it feels plagiarized.
A Letter to Momostrikes a careful balance between lighthearted and dramatic, and it does a great job of making sure the more fantastical elements of the story manage to keep their feet planted firmly on the ground. Both the film and manga are worthwhile for fans of Studio Ghibli.
