The Best Couples Throughout Every Studio Ghibli Movie

Studio Ghibli movies are beloved for many things: the moving music, the jaw-dropping animation, the emotional storyline, and equally heart-wrenching voice acting. There are honestly too many great aspects of these movies to list. If you haven’t seen a Ghibli movie yet, we highly recommend you watch them.

Another fan-favorite aspect of Ghibli movies are the beautiful romantic stories that blossom between the characters. Hayao Miyazaki continuously knocks it out of the park with every movie he comes out with. Whether it’s a will-they-won’t-they situation or a friends-to-lovers slow burn, Studio Ghibli movies have plenty of wonderful couples to show that love truly is real.

8

Ashitaka And San

Princess Mononoke

Set in the 14th century, the balance between humans, animals, and gods has slowly deteriorated. The protagonist, a young man named Ashitaka, is infected by an animal attack and is exiled from his village to find a cure from the deer-like god, Shishigami. As he makes his way to Iron Town, he’s forced to see the horrors that humans are causing to the earth, bringing the wrath of the wolf god Moro and his human companion, San, who absolutely hates humans.

The two come into contact multiple times and practically take turns saving each other’s lives, which ultimately leads to San realizing that, with the help of Ashitaka, the two can restore the balance. The two have undeniable chemistry and even though San tries to kill Ashitaka multiple times, he still fights for her and the things she cares about. In the end, they choose to live in their own realms. Ashitaka is healed and finds a new home, and San stays close to him in the forest, showing that they still have love for each other.

7

Kiki And Tombo

Kiki’s Delivery Service

One of the best things about Studio Ghibli films is how they showcase young love. One of those relationships is between Kiki and Tombo. In accordance with her witch training, a young Kiki moves to a seaside town with her talking cat, Jiji, to spend a year alone. After learning to control her broomstick, she sets up a flying courier service, quickly becoming a fixture in the community. However, she begins to doubt herself and quickly realizes she has lost her powers, forcing her to overcome her self-doubt in order to get her powers back.

The two become obliviously flustered around one another, but eventually, they work their way up to being close friends and even go on an unofficial date. While their relationship isn’t exactly the budding romance we’re used to, it’s still just as cute with their friendship. And honestly, that’s what a great relationship needs: a strong foundation.

6

Ponyo And Sosuke

Ponyo

Similarly to Kiki and Tombo’s dynamic, Ponyo and Sosuke showcase the strong foundation that a good friendship can have for a budding relationship. The Little Mermaid-esque story follows a goldfish princess’ forbidden journey to the surface, who encounters a little boy named Sosuke. After giving her the name Ponyo, she slowly starts to become more human-like the longer she stays on the surface, and the two must fight against her father in order to stay on the surface.

Their friendship and love defies the odds. Sosuke accepts Ponyo for all she is and the little goldfish is so determined to stay with him, it’s adorable. In the end, Ponyo is able to stay on land with Sosuke, and we imagine that they grow even closer, and so does their relationship.

5

Sheeta And Pazu

Castle In The Sky

Another underrated gem in Ghibli’s catalog, Castle In The Sky, is the first film to debut under the production company. A young orphan named Sheeta is kidnapped by the evil Colonel Muska, who is trying to find the mystical floating city of Laputa. Sheeta holds the key to the city via a magic crystal around her neck, which luckily helps her escape from the Colonel and cross paths with a boy named Pazu. The pair join forces to find the city, all while being pursued by both Muska and a gang of pirates, who lust for the city’s rumored treasures.

The relationship is the typical dynamic we’re used to with Ghibli movies: a boy meets a mysterious girl and falls in love. But in this film, the two have an immediate connection and often save each other from doom multiple times. While they don’t outrightly get together, there’s no denying that there are some feelings shared between the two.

4

Taeko And Toshio

Only Yesterday

An unmarried career woman, Taeko Okajima, escapes the city of Tokyo to visit her family in rural Yamagata during the annual safflower harvest. On the train, Taeko daydreams about her younger self and reflects on the person she is now. As her vacation progresses, she ponders if this is the life her younger self would’ve wanted and in the process, meets a young man named Toshio.

Toshio helps her work through the harsh memories and the reality of the situation, helping her come to terms with the fact that she is indeed happier in the country—and with Toshio. In the end, Taeko accepts a marriage proposal from Toshio and decides to stay on the farm with him. It’s an unexpected romance that just shows love truly works in mysterious ways and when we least expect it.

3

Jiro And Nahoko

The Wind Rises

Studio Ghibli is known for pulling on our heartstrings, and in The Wind Rises, you’re going to want to keep a box of tissues on hand. The movie follows the fictional story of Jiro Horikoshi, a Japanese fighter jet pilot in World War II. The central plot focuses on his journey through life, highlighting the relationship that develops between him and a girl named Naoko. The two fall in love and get married, getting the happy ending they deserve—only to discover that Naoko has tuberculosis.

Despite the diagnosis, the two remain together as long as they can. Naoko continues to support her husband and encourages him to live on long after she has left him. It’s a heartbreaking ending that shows that love can transcend life and into the afterlife.

2

Chihiro And Haku

Spirited Away

One of the most popular Ghibli movies on this list, Spirited Away, follows ten-year-old Chihiro who is forced into the spirit world to save her parents, who have been turned into pigs. On her journey, she’s forced to work in a bathhouse that caters to these spirits and has her name stripped from her by the evil Yubaba. Along the way, she meets a boy named Haku who just so happens to be the spirit of the river Chihiro fell into when she was younger.

Like other couples, Chihiro and Haku continue to save each other from the different challenges they come across. In the end, the two are forced to go their separate ways, but Haku vows to find her again in the future. Although they’re not together right now, it just shows how close their connection is, and we’re hopeful the two will find themselves together again.

1

Howl And Sophie

Howl’s Moving Castle

Howl’s Moving Castle definitely has one of the best couples from Studio Ghibli. Sophie, a no-nonsense hatmaker, crosses paths with the infamous wizard Howl Jenkins-Pendragon, which angers the evil Witch of the Waste. After turning Sophie into an old hag, Sophie enlists Howl to help her change back, all set on the backdrop of a magical war.

While Sophie might’ve been the one enlisting Howl’s help, it was the wizard who needed her more than she needed him. The two undergo a major change in the end, but Sophie helps him realize his humanity again. Ultimately, the two end up together and begin a relationship, staying together in the wizard’s moving castle.