Top 10 Celeb Performances in Ghibli Movies

Script written by Nick Spake

Top 10 Celebrity Performances in Ghibli Movies

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at actors who loaned their voices to the English dubs of Studio Ghibli films.

#10: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

“The Wind Rises” (2013)

“The Wind Rises” stands out as one of the few Hayao Miyazaki movies to center on a real-life figure: Jiro Horikoshi, who designed many Japanese fighter planes during World War II. Although Horikoshi’s aircraft cost numerous lives, the film is more about Horikoshi’s passion for engineering. Joseph Gordon-Levitt conveys that passion, balancing it with naive optimism. Horikoshi is so focused on building beautiful planes that he fails to see their destructive potential. Gordon-Levitt finds the humanity in a controversial dreamer who only sought to create. It’s how those creations were used by others that made Horikoshi such a complex figure. Bringing an everyman quality to his performance, Gordon-Levitt is surprisingly relatable as a man who’d change history in ways he didn’t imagine.

#9: Robert Pattinson

“The Boy and the Heron” (2023)

Coming a long way since “Twilight,” Robert Pattinson has proven himself to be one of the most versatile actors. He added voice acting to his résumé with “The Boy and the Heron,” turning in one of his most surprising performances. Pattinson voices the Grey Heron who flies into Mahito Maki’s life. You’d never guess in a million years that it’s Pattinson behind the microphone, putting on a gravelly voice that blends spectacularly with the heron’s unnerving design.Pattinson adds to the ambiguity, hitting a note that’s creepy yet enticing. Time will only tell if this ends up being Miyazaki’s last film, but it’s hopefully just the beginning of Pattinson’s voiceover career.

#8: Tim Curry

“The Cat Returns” (2002)

You simply cannot go wrong with Tim Curry. Even so, the casting of him as the pompous feline is pitch perfect - one look at the character and you knew there was only one man for the job. The Cat King is all about the lavish lifestyle and is as laid back as they come, hilariously dropping the word ‘babe’ in sentences here and there. It’s a different take on the character than the original Japanese voiceover, but that really works in its favor as it gives you more reasons to check out this dub. Best of all, Tim Curry had a brilliant time playing the character as is evidenced by the behind the scenes footage!

#7: Minnie Driver

“Princess Mononoke” (1997)

The bonds between humanity and nature are at the core of “Princess Mononoke.” Attempting to build a bridge between worlds, Prince Ashitaka forms an unlikely connection with San, a woman raised by wolves. As strong as Billy Crudup and Claire Danes are in their respective roles, Minnie Driver delivers the English dub’s fiercest performance as Lady Eboshi. Although Eboshi wages war against the forest, the film doesn’t turn her into a one-dimensional antagonist. Driver unearths the nuances of a born leader who’s ready to defend her town at any cost. Even if you don’t agree with Eboshi’s methods, Driver supplies the character with such a commanding spirit that anyone would be compelled to follow her into battle. While headstrong, Eboshi isn’t without room for growth.

#6: Dakota & Elle Fanning

“My Neighbor Totoro” (1988)

The success of “My Neighbor Totoro” largely depends on the believable relationship between sisters Satsuki and Mei. What better way to achieve that authenticity than by casting two real-life sisters in the roles? Although dubbing a voice comes with certain limitations, Dakota and Elle Fanning inject a natural spontaneity that captures childhood at its most playful. As Satsuki and Mei run through the forest, you can almost imagine the Fanning sisters bouncing around the recording booth. At the same time, there’s a sophistication to their delivery, making it all the more apparent that these young girls would have prominent futures in Hollywood. The Fannings provide the narrative with a grounded center, turning the magical world of Totoro into a slice of everyday life.

#5: Cloris Leachman

“Castle in the Sky” (1986)

When we first meet air pirate Dola and her gang, it appears that they’ll be the villains of this story. (xref) That distinction actually goes to government agent Muska, voiced by a deliciously two-faced Mark Hamill. Dola, meanwhile, emerges as an ally, taking Pazu and Sheeta under her wing in a race to the eponymous Castle in the Sky. Cloris Leachman shines in the role, portraying Dola as a cunning captain who runs a tight ship. Yet, she’s also a lively adventurer and a maternal figure who hides her warmth behind a gruff attitude. Leachman captures every facet without ever skipping a beat. By the film’s end, you’ll want to join Dola’s gang with Leachman’s performance proving too infectious to resist.

#4: Daveigh Chase

“Spirited Away” (2001)

Around the same time that she played Lilo, Daveigh Chase lent her voice to another animated icon. (xref) The English dub of “Spirited Away” couldn’t be more perfectly cast with Jason Marsden as the enigmatic Haku and Suzanne Pleshette in a dual role as polar opposite twin sisters. The dub would’ve fallen flat without the right voice for Chihiro, however. Like she did with Lilo, Chase manages to be loud and whiny while also being relatable and endearing. We don’t just see Chihiro mature into a braver, more confident person. We hear it in Chase’s performance. As much as Chihiro changes throughout the film, Chase is consistently believable as an ordinary girl flung into an extraordinary world, preparing her for a new chapter in life.

#3: Michael Keaton

“Porco Rosso” (1992)

Playing a man dressed as a bat without coming off as ridiculous is harder than it sounds. Michael Keaton famously pulled it off, though, making him an appropriate choice to voice a flying ace turned into a humanoid pig. Although it might sound like a silly premise, Porco Rosso is one of Ghibli’s most layered protagonists. Keaton compared the character to Humphrey Bogart, supplying Porco with a similar hardboiled, unfazed demeanor. There’s a Rick Blaine quality to Porco, whose past has left him with a cynical outlook. Porco may deny it, but there’s an honorable, even heroic figure behind the pig waiting to break free. (xref) Keaton’s cool delivery also makes him a great foil for the egotistical Curtis, voiced by the always-entertaining Cary Elwes.

#2: Christian Bale

“Howl’s Moving Castle” (2004)

While we could easily point towards Billy Crystal’s brilliant performance as Calcifer, Bale had the opportunity to flex far more range. From his suave, flirty attitude all the way to his hair mishap breakdown, Christian Bale really shows off his voice acting chops in this timeless classic. It’s very difficult to bring a believability to these layers of Howl’s personality as you have to portray the show off but also the fragile recluse behind the facade. But he totally nailed it. There’s a pretty good reason why so many dub watchers have a massive crush on Howl, and that’s all thanks to this Welshman.

#1: Kirsten Dunst

“Kiki’s Delivery Service” (1989)

Ghibli’s English dubs continually hit the jackpot with child actors. When this film came to the States, you couldn’t have asked for a better up-and-comer to voice Kiki than Kirsten Dunst. She may be a witch, but Kiki stands out as one of the most identifiable and empathetic characters in any medium. Dunst overflows with friendly optimism while still finding the insecurity every young person experiences on the road to finding themself. (xref) She has a natural rapport with the late Phil Hartman, who delivered one of his final performances as the wisecracking black cat Jiji. Celebrity voice talent often offers a gateway for Westerners who are just discovering Japanese animation. After hearing Dunst’s performance as Kiki, you’ll be compelled to watch the entire Ghibli library.