Granmamare (voiced by Yuki Amami in Japan, and Cate Blanchett in the American release) is not only the Goddess of Mercy and the Queen of the Ocean, but she is also the mother of Ponyo in the 2008 Studio Ghibli film “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.” She can change size at will, often enormous but occasionally the size of a human in order to interact with other beings. Her blousy blue dress is reminiscent of the sea.

In Spirited Away, when Chihiro Ogino (Rumi Hiiragi/Daveigh Chase) crosses into the Spirit World, Haku (Miyu Irino/Jason Marsden) is the first spirit she truly interacts with, and he acts as her protector throughout the film. When Haku is affected by a curse, Chihiro heals him with a magic dumpling and her pure love for him. Near the end of the story, Haku is revealed to be the spirit of the Kohaku River that Chihiro had fallen into as a small child. This explained his unusual knowledge of, and closeness to, her.

Kiki is a 13-year-old witch who leaves her village for the big city with her black cat Jiji by her side. There she supports herself by setting up a delivery service for the local bakery, making the most of her ability to fly. Being a witch has its perks.

In Spirited Away, Chihiro Ogino (nicknamed Sen) is a 10 year old girl who enters a spirit world while traveling to her new home with her family. During her adventures, she quickly matures from an easily scared child to a hard-working and courageous young girl.

In My Neighbor Totoro, 10-year-old Satsuki and 4-year-old sister Mei Kusakabe move into a new house in the countryside that might be haunted. Now they’re neighbors not just with Totoro, but with soot sprites and a multi-legged cat-bus as well!

In Princess Mononoke, San is a young woman who was raised by the wolves and feels hatred for humans, but eventually comes to care for Ashitaka, a young warrior and the last prince of the Emishi tribe.