Studio Ghibli films are known for their masterful balance of elements—joy and pain, magic and realism, beauty and terror. This unique blend of tones and genres is a hallmark of the studio’s work, making their filmography one of the most beloved in the pantheon of anime and cinema. While there are plenty of classic Studio Ghibli moments and characters that spark joy, for every enchanting creature or charming character Ghibli presents, audiences should also prepare for a dose of nightmare fuel.

Whether it's the soot sprites with the mysterious No-Face in Away from spirit or the lovely Calcifer and the formidable Desert Witch in Howl's Moving Castle, for every lovable and endearing character that captivates viewers, there is an equally sinister figure lurking to counterbalance the enchantment. With a vast library of rich fantasy worlds and inventive storytelling to its credit, Studio Ghibli boasts a macabre menagerie of haunting creatures and characters that will leave their mark on newcomers and longtime Ghibli fans alike.

10 Mahito's mother is trauma personified

The Boy and the Heron

One of the most terrifying images in the Studio Ghibli canon unfolds in The Boy and the Heron when Mahito's mother begins to melt before his eyes. After being taken to mysterious chambers in another world, Mahito thinks he can finally rescue his mother from the afterlife. To his and the audience's horror, his misguided hopes are met with traumatic images.

Poking her awake, Mahito's mother turns into a nightmarish puddle. The scene is a remarkably intense departure from the studio's usual gentle brand of surrealism, delving The Boy and the Heronthe overarching narrative of a visceral state from which he never returns. Mahito’s witnessing of the transformation is equally visually arresting and emotionally shocking, confronting him with the very thing he has been trying to avoid up until that point: the raw agony of being forced to say goodbye to a loved one.

9 The threat – and appetite – of Hungry No-Face is never-ending

Away from spirit

Away from spiritThe iconic No-Face sequence, in which No-Face's appetite spirals out of control, is one of the most disturbing moments in Studio Ghibli history. The animation vividly captures No-Face's transformation from an elusive cameo in the spirit realm into a grotesque, insatiable monster. It's an unmistakable revisitation of a common visual trope in Away in spirit – a feeling of greed and gluttony feeding the destructive nature of unbridled desires.

Adding an extra layer of threat, the documentary Endless Man: Hayao Miyazaki seems to suggest that Miyazaki may see aspects of himself in No-Face. The filmmaker's reflections on his own creative struggles and the burdens of Studio Ghibli's workflow parallel No-Face's ravenous hunger, implying a deeper, more frightening undercurrent to the sequence. Also noteworthy, it is transposed to the stage with mesmerizing effect in Spirited Away: Live on Stage.

8 The spirit of the forest is sinister and impartial, like nature itself.

Princess Mononoke

Princess MononokeThe enigmatic deity of The Forest Spirit embodies the duality of nature in the real world – capable of both creation and destruction. With its supernatural presence, the Forest Spirit heals and grants life and death with equal indifference.

Its detached and elusive nature makes it a deeply disturbing force, reflecting the unpredictable and unforgiving aspects of Mother Nature, all of which exist outside of human control—a reality that Ashitaka and San must deal with in countless ways throughout the classic film. Much like the rain or the sun itself, the Forest Spirit does not choose sides or show favors; it acts on an ancient impulse, devoid of logic—and that is terrifying.

7 Parakeets leave their mark

The Boy and the Heron

While other entries are a nightmare for exposing dark bellies and displaying horrific images, the infamous bird poop sequence from The Boy and the Heron offers a different tone of nightmare. The sequence, which shows hero Mahito being surrounded by parakeets and subsequently covered in their feces, is more akin to the kind of nightmare of giving a speech in the nude than, say, a Freddy Kreuger-flavored sleep.

Confusing, vivid, and chilling to imagine in real life, the scene and its myriad of potential interpretations work their way into the viewer's mind. It leaves a different kind of mental stain, but a stain nonetheless.

6 Nago curses Ashitaka, nightmares happen

Princess Mononoke

Nago is a boar god, corrupted and transformed into a monstrous and vengeful creature. His rage is emblematic of a central thread in the Princess Mononoke narrative: nature's wrath against the industrialization taking place in the forest. Its tentacles, writhing and slithering malevolently, are grotesque to witness.

Director Hayao Miyazaki makes sure that audiences don’t forget Nago, even after he’s defeated. The deity passes his curse onto Ashitaka, marking him with a lethal affliction that propels the story forward and illustrates the far-reaching consequences of crossing Nago’s path and testing the will of nature.

5 Pig parents are every child's nightmare

Away from spirit

Away from spirit has many horrific moments, placing its protagonist Chihiro in a crucible that tests her innocence. Among the most disturbing scenes in the film – and in Studio Ghibli – is the transformation of Chihiro's parents into gluttonous pigs.

This sudden metamorphosis is a shock to both Chihiro and the audience, plunging each into the unpredictability and unforgiving nature of the spirit realm. As her parents gorge themselves on fairy-touched food (always forbidden), their greed and neglect offer an ominous warning to Chihiro, not only of the terrifying adventure that awaits her in the immediate future, but also in adulthood. It is the worst possible outcome for an imaginative child like Chihiro and Away from spiritis the young target audience.

4 Marnie makes you want to believe – and it’s touching

When Marnie was there

When Marnie was thereThe titular character is one of Studio Ghibli's most nightmare-inducing—not because of an outwardly frightening presence, but because of the deep emotional pain she embodies. Unlike the terrifying spirits or grotesque witches that often populate Ghibli casts, Marnie's impact lies in her heartbreaking nature, not just because of her backstory, but because of what her truth means to When Marnie was therethe main character, Anna, too.

Without spoiling anything, a crushing realization triggers abandonment issues in Anna and amplifies an underlying fear of death that permeates the entire film. Marnie. The fate of Marnie and Anna's unlikely connection leaves a more personal impact on the audience, similar to a struggle after a bad breakup or the loss of a loved one.

3 Yubaba's Giant Baby Beats Spirited Away's Weirdness

Away from spirit

Among Studio Ghibli's many standout disturbing offerings, Boh, Yubaba's Baby Away from spirit, stands out among the most unforgettable. With bulging eyes and a grotesque, oversized form, Boh's appearance not only sends shivers down the audience's spine, but also underscores Chihiro's conflicting sense of innocence and terrifies her even further. Chihiro wants to preserve her childhood, but Boh confronts her with a terrifying example of what it would be like to be spoiled forever.

Embodying a mixture of innocence and malevolence amplifies the sense of dread, Boh dehumanizes Chihiro by attempting to use her as a toy. This is another checkpoint in Chihiro's journey to regain her agency and reality, adding to the disorienting nature of her adventures.

2 The Witch of the Waste's creepy motives, surpassed only by her revelation

In Howl'moving castle, The Witch of the Waste offers a chilling portrait of moral decay. Although she is presented as a cunning femme fatale at the beginning of the film, her relentless pursuit of magical supremacy and insatiable greed cause a frightening devolution.

The Witch of the Waste’s exponentially disturbing transformation reflects the ways in which greed can rot the soul. Like other Ghibli villains—and heroes, for that matter—her transformation serves as a cautionary tale, shedding light on malevolence and its profound impact on the body and spirit.

1 Howl's silent anger and inappropriate transformations provoke discomfort

Howl's Moving Castle

At first glance, Howl exudes charm and charisma, attracting audiences and Howl's Moving Castle protagonist, Sophie, in her orbit. However, behind her charming facade lies a deeply troubled soul, prone to sudden outbursts of manic behavior and unpredictable actions. Her elusive tendencies and penchant for lies are as disturbing as her horrific transformations into birds.

Despite his frightening demeanor, Howl’s demeanor is undeniable—which is what draws both audiences and Sophie to him. The dichotomy raises troubling questions about the nature of attraction and willingness to support such a problematic figure. This juxtaposition demands that people in the world and on screen struggle to love something shrouded in mystery, provoking an introspection that may be too heavy to consider.