Studio Ghibli guide
Studio Ghibli Characters: 40 Names and Fan Favourites
From a giant forest spirit to a fire demon who cooks breakfast, Studio Ghibli characters are some of the most loved in animation. This guide lists 40 Studio Ghibli characters by film, with who they are and why fans love them.
By James Henry · Last updated: October 19, 2026
Spirited Away (2001)
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Chihiro (Sen) | A 10-year-old girl who must work in a spirit bathhouse to save her parents |
| Haku | A mysterious boy who helps Chihiro; he can turn into a white dragon |
| No-Face (Kaonashi) | A silent, masked spirit who copies the greed around him |
| Yubaba | The witch who runs the bathhouse and takes people’s names |
| Zeniba | Yubaba’s gentler twin sister |
| Kamaji | The six-armed boiler man |
| Lin | A bathhouse worker who looks out for Chihiro |
| Boh | Yubaba’s giant baby |
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Totoro | A huge, sleepy forest spirit and Ghibli’s mascot |
| Satsuki | The responsible older sister |
| Mei | The curious little sister who finds Totoro first |
| Catbus | A grinning cat that is also a bus |
Fun fact: Satsuki’s name comes from an old word for May, and “Mei” sounds like May in English.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Kiki | A 13-year-old witch who starts a flying delivery service |
| Jiji | Kiki’s sarcastic black cat |
| Tombo | A boy obsessed with flying machines |
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Howl | A vain, talented wizard with a hidden heart |
| Sophie | A young hatter cursed to look old |
| Calcifer | The fire demon who powers the castle |
| Witch of the Waste | The witch who curses Sophie |
| Markl | Howl’s young apprentice |
Princess Mononoke (1997)
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| San | A girl raised by wolves who fights for the forest |
| Ashitaka | A cursed prince looking for peace |
| Lady Eboshi | Leader of Irontown; protective of her people, at war with the forest |
| Moro | The giant wolf god who raised San |
| Kodama | Small white tree spirits with rattling heads |
Types of Studio Ghibli characters
Studio Ghibli characters often fit a few recognisable types:
| Type | Examples | What makes them special |
|---|---|---|
| Brave young heroines | Chihiro, Kiki, San, Nausicaä | grow through courage and kindness |
| Magical creatures | Totoro, the Catbus, Calcifer | mysterious, funny and protective |
| Wise elders | Grandma in Totoro, Zeniba | guide heroes with quiet wisdom |
| Complex “villains” | Lady Eboshi, Yubaba | rarely purely evil |
| Loyal companions | Jiji, Haku, Ashitaka | stand by the hero |
What makes Studio Ghibli characters memorable
- They are not perfect. Heroes make mistakes and learn from them.
- Villains have reasons. Many antagonists believe they are doing the right thing.
- Small moments matter. Eating, cleaning and resting show who characters really are.
- Nature has a voice. Spirits and creatures often represent the natural world.
Studio Ghibli characters for cosplay
| Character | Difficulty | Key pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Kiki | easy | dark dress, red bow, broom |
| No-Face | easy | black cloak and white mask |
| Chihiro | easy | striped shirt and pink shorts |
| Howl | medium | blond wig, jacket, earrings |
| San | hard | mask, fur cape, red face paint |
Why explore Studio Ghibli characters?
Studio Ghibli characters are loved because they feel human, even when they are spirits or witches. Our guide to Studio Ghibli characters explains who they are, which film they come from and what makes them special, so you can find your favourite and discover new Ghibli films.
More Ghibli characters
| Character | Film |
|---|---|
| Sheeta and Pazu | Castle in the Sky (1986) |
| Colonel Muska | Castle in the Sky (villain) |
| Nausicaä | Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) |
| Ponyo, Sōsuke and Fujimoto | Ponyo (2008) |
| Porco Rosso | Porco Rosso (1992), a pilot cursed with a pig’s face |
| Shizuku and Seiji | Whisper of the Heart (1995) |
| The Baron | Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns |
| Arrietty | Arrietty (2010), a tiny “borrower” |
| Mahito and the Grey Heron | The Boy and the Heron (2023) |
| Soot sprites (susuwatari) | My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away |
Studio Ghibli girl characters
Ghibli is famous for its heroines: Nausicaä, Sheeta, Kiki, San, Chihiro, Sophie, Arrietty and Shizuku. Most are brave, kind and capable without being superheroes. They solve problems by working hard and caring about others.
Studio Ghibli girl names and their meanings
Some Ghibli names have lovely meanings: Chihiro (千尋) can mean “a thousand fathoms”, and Shizuku (雫) means “droplet”. Looking for more? See our Japanese names for girls.
Studio Ghibli villains
Ghibli rarely has pure villains. Colonel Muska (Castle in the Sky) is one of the few truly evil characters. Others, like Yubaba, the Witch of the Waste and Lady Eboshi, are complicated: selfish, scary or at war with the hero, but human too.
More Studio Ghibli guides
Studio Ghibli Characters FAQ
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