Studio Ghibli releases last batch of free images from 'Nausicaa,' 'Castle in the Sky' & more

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a 1984 Japanese animated epic science fantasy adventure film adapted and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on his 1982 manga of the same name.

Taking place in a future post-apocalyptic world, the film tells the story of Nausicaä (Shimamoto), the young princess of the Valley of the Wind who becomes embroiled in a struggle with Tolmekia, a kingdom that tries to use an ancient weapon to eradicate a jungle full of mutant giant insects.

Though Nausicaa was made before Studio Ghibli was founded, it is often considered a Ghibli work, and was released as part of the Studio Ghibli Collection DVD and Blu-ray range.

The epic film, which has a similar ecological theme and storyline to Princess Mononoke, received critical acclaim, praising the story, themes, characters and animation. This classic is considered one of the greatest animated films ever made.

The new batch of free photos also includes free images from Laputa: Castle in the Sky (or simply Castle in the Sky), the first film ever animated by Studio Ghibli.

The 1986 Japanese fantasy-adventure film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki follows the adventures of a young boy and girl in the late 19th century attempting to keep a magic crystal from a group of military agents, while searching for a legendary floating castle known as Laputa.

This heartwarming film is an influential classic in the steampunk and dieselpunk genres, and is something you should definitely add to your must-watch list in case you haven't seen it yet.

Only Yesterday is a 1991 Japanese animated drama film based on the 1982 manga of the same title animated by Studio Ghibli.

Though not as well known as some of Studio Ghibli's other offerings, the realistic drama written for adults (particularly women) was a surprise box office success, attracting a large adult audience and becoming the highest-grossing Japanese film of 1991 in the country.

We also get images from one of the studio's newer offerings.

The Red Turtle: The Story of an Island is a 2016 animated fantasy drama film co-written and directed by Dutch animator Michaël Dudok de Wit and produced by Toshio Suzuki from Japan. The film is a co-production between Studio Ghibli and Wild Bunch, and tells the story of a man who becomes shipwrecked on a deserted island and meets a giant red female turtle.

Fans also get 28 images from the Ghibli Experimental Theater On Your Mark, an animated music video created by Studio Ghibli for the song On Your Mark by the Japanese rock duo Chage & Aska. The song was released in 1994 as part of the single Heart. 

To date, Studio Ghibli has released a total of 1178 images from their films, which users are free to use "within the bounds of common sense."

Here’s a full list of the films with free-to-download/use images currently available arranged by year of release.

• Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
• Castle in the Sky (1986)
• My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
• Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
• Only Yesterday (1991)
• Porco Rosso (1992)
• Ocean Waves (1993)
• On Your Mark (1994)
• Pom Poko (1994)
• Whisper of the Heart (1995)
• Princess Mononoke (1997)
• My Neighbors Yamada (1999)
• Spirited Away (2001)
• Ghiblies Episode 2 (2002)
• The Cat Returns (2002)
• Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
• Tales from Earthsea (2006)
• Ponyo on the Cliff (2008)
• The Borrower Arrietty (2010)
• From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
• The Wind Rises (2013)
• The Story of Princess Kaguya (2013)
• When Marnie Was There (2014)
• The Red Turtle (2016)

At least 21 Studio Ghibli films have been streaming on Netflix worldwide since February 2020. Be sure to catch up on these classic films during the holiday break. A big thanks to Studio Ghibli for releasing these free to use images to the world!

Download the free images from Studio Ghibli's website here.

(Images via Studio Ghibli)