The Unofficial Studio Ghibli Cookbook: 50+ Delicious Recipes Inspired by Your Favorite Japanese Animated Films

by Jessica Yun

Bring some magic into your kitchen with this unofficial collection of Japanese recipes inspired by Hayao Miyazaki’s most beloved films.

Since 1985, Studio Ghibli has enchanted moviegoers with fantastic stories of adventure, magic, friendship, family, and most of all—the most delicious-looking animated food. Now you can create your own mouthwatering dishes with this book full of 50 unofficial, fan-created recipes! From tantalizing breakfasts and lunches to Japanese favorites like yakitori and onigiri, recipes

Perfect for fans of Japanese anime, manga, and comfort food cooking!



Cover ©Cathy Phung

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Japan

128 pages, Hardcover

First published July 12, 2022

About the author

Jessica Yun is a business reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age with a focus on the food, beverage and agribusiness sectors.

Reviews

[Iriala · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy fan cookbooks. They often offer art or lore in addition to trying to bring these popular fictional worlds into reality through food. Food thats meant to be prepared and actually eaten over a gimmick recipe that might look pretty and taste terrible. This particular cookbook offered me a mixed experience.

This book did not offer the art or lore and merely provided a slight nod to various stories of Studio Ghibli ahead of each recipe.

That being said, what impressed me were the recipes themselves. I had never prepared Japanese food and had an ill-prepared kitchen. The introduction was very helpful explaining tools and ingredients needed as well as substitutions. The recipes were easy to understand and offered bright colored photos. Chapters break down into Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, and Desserts.

I prepared the "Japanese Cream Stew" from The Secret World of Arrietty and the "Smoky & Sweet Yakitori" from Pom Poko. Both were surprisingly delicious and filling and were recipes I would make again.

Overall a great introduction into Japanese cooking with a fun selection of recipes for a variety of tastes and diets.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made a bunch of dishes from this so it counts. Just let me have this I’m way behind on my reading goal.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. Recipes from my favorite films and beautiful photos.
Would make a great gift for any Studio Ghibli fan.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Flop

::// I only wanted to make the bolognese

[grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

wanted to try all of them 😭

[Kaylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this cookbook for Christmas, and it is so cute! Studio Ghibli movies are so comforting, and I’m glad that someone compiled all of the recipes from them because the food animations always look delicious!

The recipes look simple enough to make, but there is no difficulty scale/rating system that I could tell (which may have helped for beginner cooks). I appreciated the addition of the common ingredients and utensils at the beginning of the book; you could easily turn the ingredients list into a shopping list and be able to make tons of recipes off of it.

I am most looking forward to making tonkatsu/katsudon and the soufflé cheesecake!

[Mrs. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book we have been waiting for for several months. It was well worth the wait. This would be a wonderful gift for any Studio Ghibli film enjoyer! It will take quite a while to work through cooking the recipes in our order of interest. I expect it to be quite fun too. They did a great job with the photography. The
illustrations are really cute. I will be buying more copies to share and give away. I read the cookbook like a novel as I often do with cookbooks worth buying and reusing. It was a good read. I as an experienced home cook don’t foresee any recipe issues. Yay!
Happy reading and cooking everyone!:D
I am also looking forward to reading about everyone’s favorite recipe along with their favorite Ghibli characters as they write their reviews of this lovely cookbook.
Thank you Jessica Yun!!!

[Darek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy fan-made cookbooks, but this was kind of disappointing. The pictures were pretty, and the recipes were solid, but it's difficult to make eggs on toast the wrong way. The included recipes weren't really what I was hoping for when I picked up a Studio Ghibli themed cookbook. Most of the included recipes are very simple things that I think most cooks probably already know or have encountered elsewhere with more interesting twists or additions. The most recognizably Studio Ghibli recipe was the Herring and Pumpkin Pot Pie; everything else was just kind of generic food.

[Mercer County Library System · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Studio Ghibli classics such as Ponyo and Spirited Away will delight in this cookbook that features mouthwatering main dishes such as Totoro's bento and shrimp tempura, followed by delightful desserts including red bean buns and jam cookies. Each recipe features background information about the Studio Ghibli story that inspires the dish, as well as step-by-step instructions, which include photographs to help chefs visualize their creations. (Reviewed by Kathy, Hopewell Branch)

[Norah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book for my birthday, and absolutely love it! There is a wide range of recipes with varying difficulties as well, which I think is nice. Would have liked to know what movie each reference in the book is from, but I also understand that with this not being a Studio Ghilbi endorsed book, that may not be possible.

Have absolutely loved the recipes I've made so far, and already have more I want to make!

[AmyLou Allred · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I love reading cookbooks that have descriptions for each recipe that goes with the cookbook theme. Each description was super fun to read. The pictures were crisp and appealing, even though most of these recipes aren't for me. Fun read for any foodie or someone looking for fun Japanese Animated film inspired recipes.

[Connie Whitcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I enjoyed figuring out what movie went with each recipe. Got them all!!! The pictures were so good. Can't wait to try some of the recipes, although my crispy pork gyoza, (from Spirited Away) may come from Costco rather than the recipe in this book, the dipping sauce will be the recipe in this cookbook.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of obscure references to the movies that I don't get. Interesting Japanese street food recipes I think are a stretch to be Studio Ghibli related. I think it would be an interesting book without the Ghibli tie in.

[Colten · Rating 5 out of 5]

The food styles come in a variety of cooking levels, so this book can be utilized by near anyone!

Thats my way of saying I'm not a great cook, but I can follow these instructions to make a bangin' meal. Deff need to buy a copy now!

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vo Vo's #1
Yun Yums #1
Cookbook based on animated movies from Studio Ghibli, has recipes inspired by each of the films, with a little precision of thee movie and reason for the recipe and then a clear guide to how to make the dish.
Well presented and with some fine recipes.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tried the chicken congee and tankatsu recipes and they were good!

[Reba · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very cute cookbook, however, I wish it had more recipes and a food-to-movie index (i.e. I wasn't sure what movie some of the recipes were coming from.)

[Thyme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neat recipes! I am a noob at cooking so I haven’t made much from this book yet but I’m sure all the food tastes really good!

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t so thrilled with most recipes.

[Sarah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up.

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and fun read of recipes I’ve always wanted to taste since watching the movies!

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unofficial books are rather interesting, they don't have the art of the original story and they miss something.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but a little scattered.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great pictures, cute instructions, but they were typical recipes or too way involved with unusual ingredients. At least for me. 😁

[ALEYA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!!!!

[Charlie - disableddaydreamer | itsbarbieparis (looking for mutuals) · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was overall “ok”. i found a few things but it’s not as exciting when you get another look inside

[Amber Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is such a cute cookbook. Great for fans of any Studio Ghibli movie or wanting to learn to make various Japanese food, like the ones shown in anime, mangas, and movies.

The unofficial Studio Ghibli cookbook has various recipes that are featured in different Studio Ghibli films, like Howls Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service.

There’s also recipes that you might have seen in different mangas and animes, like Naruto, Food Wars!, or Bleach.

After reading this cookbook, I’m inspired to watch a Studio Ghibli film or an anime and cook recipes from this cookbook

It’s definitely a cookbook that I’ll be wanting in my collection!

[Donna Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little cookbook to the infamous Studio Ghibli movies and their popular recipes. I look forward to making some soon!

[Bismah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any fan of Studio Ghibli movies (especially fans of the food!) will love this cookbook! I didn't cook anything from it, but I would recommend it to anyone wanting to cook their Studio Ghibli feast at home!!

[Amber Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is such a cute cookbook. Great for fans of any Studio Ghibli movie or wanting to learn to make various Japanese food, like the ones shown in anime, mangas, and movies.

The unofficial Studio Ghibli cookbook has various recipes that are featured in different Studio Ghibli films, like Howls Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service.

There’s also recipes that you might have seen in different mangas and animes, like Naruto, Food Wars!, or Bleach.

After reading this cookbook, I’m inspired to watch a Studio Ghibli film or an anime and cook recipes from this cookbook

It’s definitely a cookbook that I’ll be wanting in my collection!