Studio Ghibli made some of the medium’s most exquisite animated movies ever produced. Hayo Miyazaki’s works are filled with lovable characters, poignant stories, and stunning artwork. But surprisingly, the movies are also renowned for their cuisine and mouthwatering food, as almost all of the cuisine from Studio Ghibli movies appears to be opulent.
Many of the characters’ tables are filled with delicious meals, including sizzling meats, mouthwatering sweets, and everything in between. Many of these beautiful foods are easy to prepare, which will surprise anyone wishing to try them. A lot of them are simple to obtain, train, and consume!
Cuisine in anime frequently has an impossibly appealing appearance, but Studio Ghibli food has an incredibly enticing quality. Food in Studio Ghibli films serves various functions, including establishing the scene, fostering a sense of community, and revealing character traits.
Therefore, it is not surprising that many fans of Ghibli have attempted to recreate the dishes from the film; these recipes can be found on numerous blogs.
20. Spirited Away- Squishy Steamed Red Bean Buns
Those soft red bean buns from Spirited Away are yet another calming treat. Although creating these from scratch can be time consuming, the reward is holding your squishy masterpieces in your hands.
You can create these sweets yourself by following this recipe from Uncultured Palate, which will lead you through every step. This anime food indeed looks delicious!
19. When Marnie Was There- Boatside cookies
In When Marnie Was There, meals serve as a means of bridging the gaps between two individuals, be they emotional or (spoiler alert) metaphysical, like in the case of Marnie and Anna.
Unbeknownst to us at the time, this scene between Marnie and Anna on their rowboat, where Marnie offers Anna a plate of thumbprint cookies.
It is actually between a grandmother and her granddaughter, with the grandmother feeding her once more (harkening back to memories of Anna doesn’t even realize she has). Anime films indeed have a way with them.
18. Kiki’s Delivery Service- The Comforting Okayu
It’s simple to make the soothing Okayu pot Ashitaka, and the monk ate in Princess Mononoke at home. This hearty rice porridge is a portion of typical comfort food in Asia, and it only needs a few simple ingredients to taste delicious (and oh so comforting). Here is a fantastic recipe that you can use to make this delicious Studio Ghibli dinner!
17. Spirited Away– The restaurant stall buffet
This one is arguably the most famous of all the Ghibli lunches because it introduces the story. When they take a wrong turn, Chihiro and her family accidentally enter a mysterious realm filled with ghosts and delectable feasts.
Sadly, her parents overindulge in an empty food stall, turning them into actual pigs due to their bizarre circumstances. Who can blame them, though? Even the steam is enough to make you hungry.
16. Howl’s Moving Castle- Bacon And Eggs
Fried breakfast foods are the epitome of comfort, and Howl’s Moving Castle‘s bacon and sunny-side-up eggs are a satisfying way to start the day. This straightforward dish, prepared by two of the film’s most endearing characters, Sophie and Howl over Calcifer’s controlled flame, is infused with enchantment.
Use thick-cut bacon to achieve the same look as in the film; aside from that, only eggs are required for a full dinner. Although it is not necessary, freshly sliced bread is also provided on the side of the film.
15. Castle In The Sky- Vegetable Soup
Many cultures make vegetable soups, but the nimono from Castle in the Sky has a particularly alluring quality.
Nimono is a hearty and reassuring stew made with dashi broth and winter vegetables that is ideal for a chilly night. This soup can be made in various ways using whatever items are on hand, just like bento boxes. In the movie, Sheeta makes a sizable vat of the soup in a brief respite from the action.
14. Spirited Away- Konpeitō
Both My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away feature some of the best soot sprites, a cast of non-human Studio Ghibli characters. In the latter, where they work in Yubaba’s bathhouse’s boiler room and get paid in Konpeito, their characteristics come through more.
Konpeito is a crunchy candy cluster in the shape of stars from Portugal but is very popular in Japan. It is simple to understand why the delightful morsels excite the soot sprites, as they are primarily made from a mixture of sugar and water.
13. My Neighbor Totoro- Bento Boxes
As seen in the film, when Satsuki prepares one for her younger sister Mei, bento boxes are frequently designed as lunches for loved ones. They can be as straightforward or intricate as the individual desires and have a wide range of forms, dimensions, tastes, and themes.
The bento ingredients in My Neighbor Totoro include edamame, rice, Japanese plum, and shishamo (a small Japanese river fish). Although some components can be hard to find outside of Japan, many specialty grocery stores will have what you need.
12. Kiki’s Delivery Service- Herring And Pumpkin Pie
The herring and pumpkin pie that Kiki carries for a customer who is baking it as a birthday present for her granddaughter is the most enticing delivery she makes in Kiki’s Delivery Service.
But when the gift is delivered, the young granddaughter acts ungratefully toward it, which is an incredibly distressing scene given the time and work Kiki put into ensuring it arrived on time. However, the moment highlights Kiki’s character in contrast to the girl to whom she delivers the pie.
11. Whisper Of The Heart- Nabeyaki Udon
Even though the main character Shizuku spends most of the Whisper of the Heart honing her writing talents, she occasionally takes a break, as evidenced by the time she spends with Shir and their shared meal of Nabeyaki Udon.
Nabeyaki Udon is a soup meal typically served in a unique clay pot and includes thick Udon noodles, veggies, eggs, and occasionally seafood like shrimp. The dish Shizuku and Shir consume appears to be entirely vegetable-based, but it shines because of the vibrant vegetables.
10. The Wind Rises- Siberia
Studio Ghibli movies had such influence that they were able to start a legitimate culinary craze. Due to their appearance in The Wind Rises, Siberia—triangular cakes layered atop a sweet bean jelly—have become once again fashionable.
Grab one immediately before it loses its trendy status because you can now find them in bakeries all around Japan.
9. Spirited Away- Onigiri
It’s not surprising that Chihiro first refuses to eat the onigiri that Haku delivers her in Spirited Away, given that consuming food in the spirit world is what turned her parents into pigs.
They are occasionally also wrapped with the nori seaweed used to make sushi. Their simplicity starkly contrasts with the massive feast that kidnapped Chihiro’s parents. And rice has honestly never looked prettier.
8. From Up On Poppy Hill- Aji Fry
Although there are many fried foods in Japanese cuisine, Umi’s creation in From Up on Poppy Hill is aji fry, which is breaded and deep-fried mackerel. Including seafood in Umi’s dishes makes sense, given the seaside setting of the movie and how significant the sea is to the plot.
These visual signals are crucial to the tale being presented in From Up On Poppy Hill because it is one of the Studio Ghibli films adapted from a manga. They also give an additional, unsaid element to the story. If you are a Ghibli fan, you need to try this!
7. Grave Of The Fireflies- Sakuma Drops
Grave of the Fireflies is arguably Miyazaki’s most heartbreaking film. If there is one image from the movie that best expresses its message, it is Setsuko’s Sakuma Drops, which are equally effective when utilized on happy and sad occasions.
Despite having a straightforward appearance, this tin of hard candy is a popular treat in Japan. Since they have been around since 1903, Sakuma Drops or other fruit-flavored hard candies are simple to get in stores or to order online.
6. Spirited Away- Sponge Cake
The sponge cake from Spirited Away has less specific origins, although many of the meals in Studio Ghibli are explicitly adapted from Japanese cuisine.
When Chihiro and No-Face pay a visit to Zeniba, she serves them this cake along with a variety of other sweets. This flawless-looking sponge cake appears to be the perfect accompaniment to a cup of coffee or tea or for satisfying the hunger of No-Face, one of the best spirits from Spirited Away.
5. Porco Rosso- Spaghetti
Porco Rosso, a Ghibli film set in and around Italy, features its protagonist enjoying a hearty serving of spaghetti bolognese after fending off pirates. In its most basic form, spaghetti bolognese is just pasta served with a meat sauce that can be made at home with a minimal number of components. Porco Rosso distinguishes itself from previous Ghibli tales by using food to support the setting of the film.
4. Ponyo- Sandwiches
Ponyo steals a portion of Sosuke’s sandwich, which has ham, lettuce, and cheese. This action sparks Ponyo’s passion for ham in all its forms and serves as the inspiration for one of the best phrases she says in the film. Even a meal as straightforward as a sandwich might help the title character in Ponyo feel more connected to Sosuke and the outside world.
3. Kiki’s Delivery Service- Pancakes
The pancakes in Kiki’s Delivery Service look delectable and straightforward. Kiki offers hers with butter on top, some sausage, and a few cherry tomatoes.
2. Ponyo- Ramen
Although ramen frequently appears in Japanese movies and television shows, it’s relatively easy to make the dish from Ponyo. Despite having basic ingredients, the recipe has a comfort food flavor that everyone will like. Food scenes in this animation will surely make your mouth water.
1. Kiki’s Delivery Service- Chocolate Cake
This happens after all of her hard work delivering the herring pie. This scene serves as strong motivation for Kiki by demonstrating that her efforts have not gone unappreciated. This Ghibli movie probably has the most mouthwatering food.
