For those who are new to Japanese animated films (anime), the works of Studio Ghibli are often the first films that a fan would recommend to watch. Long hailed as some of the best works of animation to ever come out of Japan, Studio Ghibli films have received numerous Academy Award nominations, and make up six out of the ten highest-grossing animated films in Japan.
Now, Netflix has announced that they will be streaming 21 Studio Ghibli titles from February 1st globally, in every region except North America and Japan. The films will be released in batches each month, in February, March and April.
A statement released on the Netflix blog announced the details. “For the first time ever, this expansive catalogue of Studio Ghibli films will be subtitled in 28 languages, and dubbed in up to 20 languages. This partnership will enable fans in Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America to enjoy beloved classics, such as Academy Award®-winner Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Arrietty, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, among others, in their native languages.”
“This is a dream come true for Netflix,” said Aram Yacoubian, Netflix’s director of original animation. “Studio Ghibli's animated films are legendary and have enthralled fans around the world for over 35 years. We're excited to make them available in more languages across Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia—so that more people can enjoy this whimsical and wonderful world of animation.”
Studio Ghibli films can appeal to children and adults alike. In their book on the studio, Michelle Le Blanc and Colin Odell write that “Ghibli makes films that touch the soul, that can enrapture and delight everyone from toddlers to pensioners. Crucially, they retain the one thing that’s frequently lacking in commercial cinema—integrity.”
Film critic Roger Ebert said of Hayao Miyazaki, the co-founder and part of the creative force behind Studio Ghibli, that "the quiet man from Japan with the mop of grey hair may be the best animation filmmaker in history."
The announcement was marked with celebration on Twitter, although American and Canadian fans expressed their disappointment at being left out.
Netflix: We're adding several Studio Ghibli films to our service
— GUN_Vanguard (@GUN_Vanguard) January 20, 2020
Everyone: YAY!
Netflix: You can't view them in the U.S., Canada, or Japan
The U.S., Canada, and Japan: pic.twitter.com/4XcSX9kySO
The release dates for each film are as follows:
February 1, 2020:
Castle in the Sky (1986), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), Only Yesterday (1991), Porco Rosso (1992), Ocean Waves (1993), Tales from Earthsea (2006)
March 1, 2020:
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), Princess Mononoke (1997), My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999), Spirited Away (2001), The Cat Returns (2002), Arrietty (2010), The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)
April 1, 2020:
Pom Poko (1994), Whisper of the Heart (1995), Howl's Moving Castle (2004), Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008), From Up on Poppy Hill (2011), The Wind Rises (2013), When Marnie Was There (2014)
