9. The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
Miyazaki’s first film, The Castle of Cagliostro is about a thief named Lupin III who robs a casino only to find that his reward is counterfeit bills. So he goes to the source, which brings him to the titular castle, but he gets involved in a plot involving a young woman who’s soon to be married to a Count. Adventure and fun ensue.
The Castle of Cagliostro is definitely the most “anime” Miyazaki movie. This is likely because Lupin III was already an established character, so Miyazaki was just throwing him into another adventure. But it’s a fun one. It’s also the movie that feels the least like a Miyazaki film, but is that such a bad thing?
