Studio Ghibli is one of the most well-loved and critically acclaimed animation studios of all time. Co-founded by legendary director Hayao Miyazaki, Ghibli has been the studio behind some of the most loved animated movies of all time, including My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke.
While Ghibli movies aren’t necessarily known for their villains, the antagonists in Ghibli movies are sometimes one of the best elements of the movie, with the villains often being morally grey and layered characters, rather than mere evil archetypes.
Donald Curtis
Porco Rosso tells the story of an ex-World War 1 fighter pilot who works as a bounty hunter over the Adriatic Sea. Originally known as Marco Pagot, a curse transformed him into a human-pig and the fighter pilot now goes by the name Porco Rosso (Red Pig).
The film is set against the backdrop of rising fascism in Italy and, while this is one of the most compelling themes of the film, the primary antagonist is Donald Curtis, who acts as the main foil to Porco Rosso.
Kushana
Kushana is the primary antagonist of Nausicaä Valley of the Wind, she is an imperial princess of Torumekia and she intends to destroy the Sea of Corruption in an act of revenge against the Ohmu.
Much like Lady Eboshi, however, Kushana isn’t evil for the sake of being evil. Her motivations are understandable and she is also reasonable, which makes for a far more compelling and interesting character.
Madame Suliman
Howl’s Moving Castle is one of the most loved Ghibli movies, with the film featuring some of the most iconic Ghibli characters, such as Sophie, Howl, and the fire demon, Calcifer. Initially, the film sets up the Witch of the Waste as the main villain, but this changes midway through the film.
The film’s events are set against the backdrop of a conflict between two states, though this war eventually takes center stage when it is revealed that Madame Suliman is behind the war, stoking the fires of battle.
U.S. Bombers
Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most heartbreaking and gut-wrenching movies of all time. The film tells the tragic story of two children trying to survive in the city of Kobe during World War 2.
While the movie isn’t focussed on villains per se, the film’s plot is kicked into motion after the firebombing of Kobe by U.S. bombers. This film highlights the human cost of war, a cost that is often hidden behind statistics and numbers.
Haru
Adapted from the classic children’s story The Borrowers, The Secret World of Arrietty is an underrated Ghibli movie. The film tells the story of a young Borrower who forms a friendship with a human boy.
While the film is sweet, one character is particularly bitter. Haru, the housemaid, tries to find the Borrowers and kill them. She is quite despicable in her actions as she knows that Borrowers are sentient, yet insists on trying to kill them anyway.
The Cat King
The Cat Returns is a fairly underrated movie in the Studio Ghibli back catalog. The film follows Haru as she saves a Cat Prince and ends up being taken to the Cat Kingdom in order to be married to the prince.
However, naturally, Haru isn’t too keen on marrying a cat and declines. The Cat King, however, doesn’t accept her refusal and (creepily) tries to then marry Haru himself.
Yubaba
Spirited Away is one of the greatest animated movies of all time. The film received the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards and was voted the second-best film of the 21st Century (so far) by the New York Times.
The film is full of compelling and layered characters, with one of the most notable being the Bathhouse owner, and primary antagonist, Yubaba. While she is the primary antagonist, there are more layers to her character that make her more understandable.
Colonel Muska
One of the most loved and acclaimed Ghibli movies is Laputa: Castle in the Sky. The film follows a young boy and girl as they try and find a legendary ‘castle in the sky,’ while also trying to keep a magic crystal away from some government agents.
Colonel Muska wishes to take control of the castle in the sky in order to bend the Earth to his will. In many ways, Muska is the closest thing to a Bond villain that Studio Ghibli has created.
Witch Of The Waste
While the Witch of the Waste wasn’t the main villain of Howl’s Moving Castle, she was certainly one of the primary antagonists. At the beginning of the film, it was the Witch of the Waste who cursed Sophie, turning her into an old woman.
However, during the remainder of the film, the Witch of the Waste becomes more of a tragic and sympathetic figure, allowing Madam Suliman to take center stage as a villain.
Lady Eboshi
Lady Eboshi may be one of the most underrated Ghibli villains. Appearing in Princess Mononoke, Lady Eboshi is the leader of Iron Town, a human settlement that has been mining ore and battling with the forest.
However, despite the fact that Eboshi killed the forest spirit and tried to kill San, she is a morally grey and compelling character. Everything she does is for the betterment of Iron Town and she also helped to save the lepers.