For the better part of the past few decades, Studio Ghibli movies written, directed, and animated by the iconic Hayao Miyazaki have taken audiences of all ages on countless epic and transfixing journeys. Whether it’s more recent experiences like The Boy and the Heron or tried and true staples like My Neighbor Totoro, these remarkable films have allowed us to step out of our normal daily routines and enter a fantastical world like no other.
If you have been meaning to check out The Boy and the Heron, which we called one of the best 2023 animated movies, or a handful of other Studio Ghibli classics, you’ve come to the right place. Through our partnership with Crunchyroll, where you can find all kinds of Anime movies and official merch available for purchase at their store, we’ve put together a list of six steelbooks that will look great on your shelf and also allow you to watch those beloved films with unprecedented quality.
Let’s step into the fantastical world of Studio Ghibli…
The Boy And The Heron Steelbook (2023)
One of the best movies of 2023, according to CinemaBlend staff, The Boy and the Heron featured some of Hayao Miyazaki’s best and most personal work in years with its story about love, loss, and rebirth in the face of tragedy. Following the death of his mother, Mahito Maki moves to the countryside where he follows a mysterious gray heron into a portal to a dreamlike world filled with stunning scenery, a kingdom of anthropomorphic birds, and mysterious figures beholding great power.
If you pick up a copy of The Boy and the Heron steelbook, you not only get access to 4K and Blu-ray versions of Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning animated film, but also all kinds of bonus features. With interviews with the likes of composer Joe Hisaishi, multiple featurettes on the making of the movie, and a retrospective of the famed animator’s career, there’s something for longtime Studio Ghibli fans and newcomers alike.
Buy the Boy and the Heron Steelbook at the Crunchyroll Store.
Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind Steelbook (1984)
Though released a little more than a year before Studio Ghibli was officially founded, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is still considered by many to be a part of the same collection as later films like My Neighbor Totoro. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, who based it on his 1982 manga of the same name, the movie follows a teenage princess as she attempts to bring peace to her post-apocalyptic world filled with massive bugs, political division, and ravaged landscapes.
This Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind steelbook comes with both Blu-ray and DVD copies of the landmark film, as well as a collection of bonus features that includes storyboards, interviews, documentaries, and audio commentary from key animator Hideaki Anno and assistant director Kazuyoshi Katayama.
Buy the Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind Steelbook at the Crunchyroll Store.
My Neighbor Totoro Steelbook (1988)
Often regarded as the most popular and recognizable Studio Ghibli film, My Neighbor Totoro has been the entry point for fans of the Japanese animation house for years, and for good reason. Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 animated feature film is a wonder of storytelling, animation, and emotion with its story about two young sisters becoming friends with a mythical creature in the Japanese countryside. With a fantastical world, a highly emotional story, and the iconic studio mascot, there’s a lot to love.
Picking up a copy of this My Neighbor Totoro Blu-ray and DVD steelbook gives you hours upon hours of bonus features, including multiple documentaries about everything from the voice actors to the locations featured in the film, a collection of original trailers, and so much more. Seriously, any fan should have this in their collection.
Buy the Neighbor Totoro Steelbook at the Crunchyroll Store.
Ponyo Steelbook (2008)
A Studio Ghibli movie featuring one of the most unlikely friendships in animation (we’re looking at you, Ponyo and Sosuke), Ponyo tells the story of a goldfish-like creature who dreams of escaping her underwater world to live among the humans up on the shore. This dream becomes a reality when a young human boy saves her from a fisherman’s trap. What follows is an imaginative and transfixing experience.
The Ponyo steelbook comes with both Blu-ray and DVD copies of the 2008 animated feature, as well as a collection of bonus features and an exclusive booklet with various notes written by Studio Ghibli creators.
Buy the Ponyo Steelbook at the Crunchyroll Store.
The Wind Rises Steelbook (2013)
Set in the years between the First and Second World Wars, The Wind Rises is a fictionalized biographical drama about Japanese engineer Jiro Horikoshi and the great strides he made in the field of aviation. Combining historical facts with a dreamt-up yet swirling romance, the movie follows both the personal and professional lives of the central figure in great detail.
In addition to coming with both Blu-ray and DVD copies of the movie, The Wind Rises steelbook is also loaded with special features and supplemental content that will provide greater context and hours of entertainment.
Buy the Wind Rises Steelbook at the Crunchyroll Store.
Princess Mononoke Steelbook (1997)
One of the best ‘90s movies, according to CinemaBlend staff, Princess Mononoke follows a young warrior as he attempts to bring an end to the conflict between the spiritual protectors of a forest and the humans who overindulge on its resources, and in turn meets a princess raised by wolves. Filled with powerful messages and themes found throughout Hayao Miyazaki’s filmography, this groundbreaking film is something to behold.
Like other Studio Ghibli steelbooks available through Crunchyroll, Princess Mononoke comes with Blu-ray and DVD copies of the film, as well as a treasure trove of featurettes, documentaries, and other bonus features.
Buy the Princess Mononoke Steelbook at the Crunchyroll Store.
Honorable Mention: Studio Ghibli 7-Inch Vinyl Box Set
Okay, this last item isn’t a steelbook, but it’s still something Studio Ghibli fans will love. The Studio Ghibli 7-inch vinyl box set comes loaded with the theme songs from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbor Totoro, and Castle in the Sky. Newly remastered and put together in eye-popping covers, this collection would make a perfect gift for people who just can’t get enough of Joe Hisaishi’s brilliant compositions and the various title tracks from those beloved classics.
Buy the Studio Ghibli 7-inch Vinyl Box Set at the Crunchyroll Store.
This is just a small portion of the great Studio Ghibli movies and gifts available through the Crunchyroll store.
