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For some reason, Studio Ghibli films always get it right when it comes to coming up with a thought-provoking yet equally calming storytelling. One can guess it’s because of its simplicity, which also has immaculate vibes to it. The stories can be wildly fantastical, but the characters always feel real. But the most impressive thing about their films is their representation of female characters.

Yes, that’s right! Women in anime have usually been portrayed in the most over-the-top, exaggerated ways possible, so it’s quite rare to come across a series that gets it right. However, Studio Ghibli has been the sole exception to this notorious trend. Here’s a comparative analysis of how this Studio managed to justify the female characters like no other Shonen series.

Ghibli’s female protagonists don’t need to “prove” their worth, just cause they’re women!

They’re simple, they’re real,...

The 2025 Academy Awards have come and gone, and the anime community once more finds itself disappointed with no nominations within the field. The Oscars have had a long history of overlooking anime, but to be snubbed for another year—especially when Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s Look Back was more than eligible for the running—had anime fans everywhere shaking their heads.

Previous anime productions have snagged an Oscar in the past, however. Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away became the first anime feature to win an Academy Award in 2001, followed by The Boy and The Heron in 2024. In recent years, other Studio Ghibli productions and anime films have also contended for the entertainment industry's most coveted award, with some close to winning.

When Marnie Was There Is a Much Deeper Story Than Inside Out Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Story by Joan G. Robinson Image via Studio Ghibli

When Marnie Was There is...

Studio Ghibli's renowned dark fantasy epic, Princess Mononoke, will soon have its 4K theatrical debut in North America.

As detailed on Gkids' official site and its X (formerly Twitter) page, an "all-new 4K restoration" of the Princess Mononoke anime movie will be screened at select IMAX theaters in the U.S. and Canada starting March 26. This event will feature both the original Japanese version (with subtitles) and the Miramax-produced English dub. The special 4K remaster of the film is being released to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Studio Ghibli, which first opened its doors in 1985. In addition to Princess Mononoke, the studio has produced some of the most beloved animated films in Japanese history, including Spirited Away (2001), My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), among many others.

Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke Comes to IMAX Theaters in First-Time Release Count your days. The Wolf Princess is here. 🔥Princess...

With as many anime films that became Studio Ghibli classics, it's only natural that some Ghibli films fell under the radar. These films may not be bad for any reason. They simply could not live up to the standards fans set for these movies. One of the unfortunate films fans overlooked was From Up on Poppy Hill.

This coming-of-age romance had the makings of a realistic but fantastic Studio Ghibli film. Unfortunately, a key story line to its plot made many turn up their noses in this fantastic movie without ever truly giving it a chance. Though this plot point is integral to how the story is told, it may have just been too controversial for audiences.

From Up on Poppy Hill Is a Charming Coming-of-Age Romance From Up on Poppy Hill Is One of Studio Ghibli's More Realistic Anime

From Up on Poppy Hill follows the budding romance of...

Without a drop of doubt, Hayao Miyazaki has made himself a living legend in the world of animation. As the first Japanese film director to have received an Oscar (in fact two now), his films offer such cinematic experiences that have managed to capture the hearts of people around the globe.

Anna and Marnie from When Marnie Was There | Credits: Studio Ghibli

In fact, what is exceptionally interesting about Miyazaki is that he never shies away from being his worst critic despite all his successes. He’s known to be extremely self-deprecating and often doubts his own work.

But one film that tested his doubts to the limit was When Marnie Was There, which wasn’t even an original work by Miyazaki himself! So, what was it about When Marnie Was There that made Miyazaki so unconvinced?

Miyazaki was never satisfied with Marnie’s original character design! A still from...

Confession: I haven't seen a lot of anime films in my life and am by no means an aficionado, but the ones I have seen I really enjoyed. Grave of the Fireflies, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle are all awe-inspiring classics. Last year I wrote about When Marnie Was There for its tenth anniversary and loved it. So, because of that, I was excited to watch The Colors Within, written by Reiko Yoshida and directed by Naoko Yamada, and is in American theaters now. With a coming-of-age story and what seemed like a slight supernatural premise, it was right up my alley. Sadly, The Colors Within is the first anime movie I've seen where I walked away thinking it was just okay. Instead of capturing the magic of those past examples, it flies low and aims to be cute. That's a start, but with its threadbare plot, it wasn't enough for a feature film.

Studio Ghibli has had a long and illustrious career and has come to be renowned for its magnificent stories and fantastic settings. It has to also be noted that Studio Ghibli has never been afraid of coming out with a unique idea, which might or might not be accepted.

A still from When Marnie Was There. Credits: Studio Ghibli

This is why they have always been a pioneer in creating masterpieces that effortlessly blend magical realism with profound emotional themes. However, among many such tales, the work When Marnie Was There, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, stands out as a uniquely grounded story.

It focused on largely ignored themes such as loneliness, mental health, and self-discovery. The work may not have achieved the widespread acclaim of ‘Spirited Away‘ or ‘My Neighbor Totoro‘ or even an Oscar like ‘The Boy and the Heron.’

When Marnie Was There is a mirror to the human psyche

At its core,...

Studio Ghibli is famous for combining its lighthearted animation style with complex characters, from protagonist to antagonist and everyone in between. Hayao Miyazaki once said that he puts a part of himself into his villains, which no doubt is why they authentically reflect real parts of the human experience (for better or worse). Many say that the word "antagonist" applies more aptly to Studio Ghibli movies than villains, because the characters aren't black and white.

Studio Ghibli movies aren't afraid to explore the darker parts of the human experience, like violence, consumption, and avarice. Villains like Spirited Away's Yubaba is more of an antagonist capable of change, whereas Nan from When Marnie Was There is absolutely cruel and indefensible. Some Ghibli "villains" aren't just one person, but a school of thought, or an entity that represents something like overwork, war, land-grabbing, or even apathy.

Updated on January 9, 2025, by Ajay...

A new animation production brand that aims to "deliver anime to the world" has been announced, bringing on top executives with prior experience at both Studio Ghibli and Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump.

On Jan. 1, 2025, Ldh Japan Co., Ltd. announced a company merger, folding Ldh apparel Inc., expg Inc., and Ldh Digital Inc., into Ldh Japan as the surviving company. On Jan. 6, Oricon reported that Ldj Japan had launched a new animation production brand, Ldh Animation. Ldh Animation's stated aim is to "dare to deliver Japanese animation to the world, with the three pillars: 'Production of works as an animation studio,' 'planning and licensing business,' and 'expansion of its digital sphere of influence.'" To help steer this new project, former Studio Ghibli President Koji Hoshino, along with former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief and former senior managing director of Shueisha, Masahiko Ibaraki, both came on board as advisors.

Studio Ghibli films are no stranger to complex ideas and messages, often using the film’s characters, setting or conflicts to encourage viewers to consider their own stances, such as Howl’s views on vanity in Howl’s Moving Castle or Jiro’s dashed dreams of becoming a pilot in The Wind Rises. These moments offer the audience a self-reflective chance to ponder deep internal questions, with the breadth and scope of these questions stretching far and wide thanks to the staggering number of films in Studio Ghibli’s roster.

From Chihiro confronting greed and materialism within her time at Yubaba’s bathhouse in Spirited Away to Anna struggling to find her place in the world as an adopted child yearning to understand her biological family in When Marnie Was There, Studio Ghibli encourages viewers to dissect their own thoughts relating to broad topics in their most thought-provoking films.

Related This...

Experience Spirited Away in All of Its Magical Beauty on the Big Screen This Christmas on Boxing Day Re-release

London, 10 December 2024 – Elysian Film Group and Anonymous Content are thrilled to unveil the official trailer and poster for the highly anticipated UK and Roi re-release of Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award®-winning animated masterpiece, Spirited Away. Longtime fans and new viewers of Studio Ghibli alike can experience the fantastical film on the big screen once again on 26th December 2024.

The Standard call it “Awe-inspiring”, and Financial Times wanted to award it “Six stars out of five” for a treasure that lives and breathes on the big screen. To experience Spirited Away back in the cinema since its 2003 release means all audiences will once again get to have that “magical experience” (Empire).

Winner of the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature, Spirited Away is a “must see masterpiece” (Digital Spy) that follows...

Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by the already seasoned directors Hayao Miyazaki, who'd earned his bones at Toei, and Isao Takahata, who'd worked alongside him. With them was producer Toshio Suzuki, who, as Animage magazine editor, helped Miyazaki introduce "Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind" to Japanese manga fans. While the manga wouldn't be completed until 1994, Suzuki encouraged and assisted Miyazaki in completing the film, which led to the founding of Ghibli.

Of the 24 films Studio Ghibli has produced to date — including "Nausicaa," which may have been a Topcraft and Toei production but wouldn't exist without Ghibli's founders — few are a total failure. Even the controversial Goro Miyazaki films have gleams to them that might shine brighter if he didn't have his father's massive shadow over him. But nor can a list say that they're almost all number ones, because that's not fun to debate. These rankings are subjective but...

The filmography of Tokyo-based powerhouse Studio Ghibli can be summed up in a few apt words like 'iconic' and 'engaging,' but not just because of the heartwarmingor heartbreakingcontent. Above all else, these movies are beautiful. The worlds featured in Ghibli's works inspire viewers with their intricate settings and their emphasis on both natural beauty and architectural splendor. Their environments are elevated with eye-popping attention to detail, whether the films take attentive watchers through enchanting forests, leagues under the sea, or even the spiritual world right across the veil from our own.

Studio Ghibli's feature-length works cover a wide variety of settingsboth from starting points and within the films themselves. Sometimes, the audience is served stark contrasts to depict the deeper themes beyond the plot, and at other times, the movie's point is how the locations depicted in it mesh together. Ghibli's signature attention to style is more than evident...

In 2014, Studio Ghibli came out with When Marnie Was There, a hauntingly beautiful film based on British author Joan G. Robinsons novel of the same name. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi (who was also responsible for The Secret World of Arrietty and was a key animator for numerous classic Ghibli films), When Marnie Was There tells the tale of young Anna Sasaki and the heartbreaking journey she takes to overcome her depression and fear of abandonment.

Through the friendship she forms with the mysterious yet cheerful girl, Marnie, Anna processes and heals from the pain that has kept her trapped in a shell of insecurity. In a work of dream-like artistry that the talents of Studio Ghibli so easily capture, Yonebayashi gifted Ghibli fans with a deeply meaningfuland tragically underratedstory about family, patching up childhood wounds of abandonment, and reconciling with lost loved ones.

Related 10 Saddest Studio Ghibli Movies (So Far...

When we think of the most successful animated storyteller of this generation, the name of Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli automatically pops into our minds. The duo has given his viewers a number of films that we have watched and enjoyed while growing up. Though the choices will be varied, everyone will have one, with Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and The Boy and the Heron being the most popular choices.

A still from Spirited Away | Credits: Studio Ghibli

While the filmmaker has been making films since 1963, where his works have been praised for their distinct storytelling and breathtaking animation that adds a unique charm to the work. Thus, making the work so appealing to viewers around the world.

Though Miyazaki-Sensei’s works are in a league of their own, one of his works has been heavily misunderstood. After all, it gave a plot twist that no...

Studio Ghibli has dominated Japanese animated films for decades with the likes of Grave of the Fireflies, Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle, and Spirited Away. Just this year, Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. 2024 also marks the ten-year anniversary of Hiromasa Yonebayashi's When Marnie Was There, a coming-of-age film that was an adaptation of the 1967 novel of the same name from author Joan G. Robinson. It has the voice acting talents of Sara Takatsuki, Kasumi Arimura, Nanako Matsushima, and Susumu Terajima, with wonderful English dubbing supplied by the likes of Hailee Steinfeld, Kiernan Shipka, Catherine O'Hara, and John C. Reilly as just a few names of its big star Hollywood cast. While When Marnie Was There is not as fantastical as some other iconic anime films, it makes up for it by giving us a...

Miyazaki has become one of the most celebrated directors of kids movies for a reason, and viewers will find his films on-demand on Max.

Hayao Miyazaki has had a remarkable career. Miyazaki’s career started in 1963, and for the past six decades he has captured the imagination of audiences with his groundbreaking work. The legendary animator and filmmaker’s newest movie “The Boy and the Heron” is coming to streaming on Max on Friday, Sept. 6, joining the other Studio Ghibli titles available to stream on that service. We’ll run through the other Miyazaki films on Max below, and explain your subscription options for the streamer as well!

Sign Up $9.99+ / month Max.com Where to Stream Miyazaki’s Films:

Castle in the Sky

The Cat Returns

From Up on Poppy Hill

Howl’s Moving Castle

Kiki’s Delivery Service

My Neighbor Totoro

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Only Yesterday

Pom...

Studio Ghibli is the most famous and beloved anime studio in the world. Since its founding in 1985, the studio has created many of cinema's most successful and critically praised films, including Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, and My Neighbor Totoro. While the studio is frequently praised for its excellent writing and breathtaking animation, its environment design rarely gets the praise it deserves.

However, the studio's top-tier environmental design is one reason Studio Ghibli's films work so well. These elements help make the movies' settings feel like living, breathing places. The best example of this clever design work is found in the various houses the studio has created, as it's easy to imagine yourself living in them as you enjoy the film. But which Studio Ghibli house is the coolest, and which is just a fixer-upper?

Related Studio Ghibli Re-Releases Diorama Calendar Collection Inspired by Totoro, Kiki and Spirited Away

Studio...

Steinfeld's upcoming vampire movie with Ryan Coogler is her first original film since 2016 - a refreshing return to original content for the actress. The Edge of Seventeen was a critical success, showing Steinfeld's talent in original movies - signaling a need for more original work from her. Although Steinfeld has been in franchise content lately, her role in Coogler's film could lead to more original projects in the future - a positive step for her career.

Hailee Steinfeld's upcoming movie will break an eight-year streak for the actress. Ever since being nominated for an Oscar at the age of 14 for her performance in the Coen Brothers' remake of True Grit, Steinfeld has been a sought-after actress of her generation. Her work has included live-action films such as Ender's Game, 3 Days to Kill, and Ten Thousand Saints, as well as voice acting roles in When Marnie Was There and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Max has shared a curated list of films available to stream on the service in Summer 2024. Max is home to Warner Bros. Pictures films, classics and new favorites from A24, the Studio Ghibli library, and award-winning films spanning multiple genres.

The platform is showcasing its vast film library with curated summer watch lists of blockbusters, horror, family-friendly films, and more.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Warner Bros. Pictures’ Dune: Part Two, the groundbreaking sequel to Dune, is now available to stream on the platform along with recent hits like Wonka and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which also has an American Sign Language (Asl) version of the film available to stream.

Viewers can also find summer favorites like Mamma Mia!, Meg 2: The Trench, A Night at the Roxbury, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Dune: Part Two

Horror fans can look to Max for their summer scares and favorite films from franchises,...

Cbr Anime Week is brought to you by Hulu Animayhem

One of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki's darkest and weighty films, Princess Mononoke, is returning to cinemas in the U.S. for a limited-time theatrical release for Studio Ghibli Fest 2024.

Via a press release, Gkids and Fathom Events' Studio Ghibli Fest 2024 continues with the iconic film Princess Mononoke, which arrives back in theaters in America for just five nights from July 13-17, 2024. Fans can watch Princess Mononoke in Japanese dubbed with English subtitles on July 13 at 3 p.m., July 15 at 7 p.m. and July 17 at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the English dubbed release premieres on July 14 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., followed by another screening on July 16 at 7 p.m. Fans can get their tickets from the Ghibli Fest and Fathom Events official websites or participating theaters. Readers can check out Gkids' new Princess Mononoke trailer below.

A decade ago, legendary director Hayao Miyazaki retired, sending Studio Ghibli’s team of animators to seek employment elsewhere. Those were dark, uncertain times for the industry, which explains why veteran Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura picked the word “ponoć” (which means “midnight” in Croatian) for his new studio: He wanted to convey a new dawn for some of the medium’s most talented artists.

No question, the spirit survived in Studio Ponoc’s first feature, “Mary and the Witch’s Flower,” as well as a series of shorts bundled under the title “Modest Heroes.” Anime fans breathed a collective sigh of relief. The magic they’d associated with Studio Ghibli would live on. And then Miyazaki changed his mind and made “The Boy and the Heron”. In an unexpected twist, the artists who’d come up working alongside Miyazaki now found themselves competing with him.

Studio Ponoc’s second feature, “The Imaginary,...

Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the director of The Secret World Of Arietty and Mary And The Witch’s Flower, is already making his next animated film for Studio Ponoc.

Studio Ponoc, the Japanese animation house founded by producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, has its latest feature film in UK cinemas from the 28th June. Called The Imaginary, it’s based on the children’s book by British author A F Harold, and it’s the disarming tale of a young girl, her imaginary friend Rudger, and how their encounter with a imagination-hunting villain named Mr Bunting.

We sat down to talk with its producer, Nishimura, last week, and with time running short, we quickly asked what Studio Ponoc is up to next, given nothing has been officially announced. To our surprise, Nishimura revealed that his studio already has its next animated project in production – it’s a feature film which he says will be “quite epic and action-filled.

The Imaginary Image: Netflix Let’s address the big Totoro in the room right up front, shall we? The Imaginary, a new animated feature heading soon to Netflix, is not a Studio Ghibli film, though it looks and sounds an awful lot like one. There’s a good reason for...

The ImaginaryImage: Netflix

Let’s address the big Totoro in the room right up front, shall we? The Imaginary, a new animated feature heading soon to Netflix, is not a Studio Ghibli film, though it looks and sounds an awful lot like one. There’s a good reason for that:...

“You Imaginaries never learn,” sneers a character in the trailer of Netflix’s new animated movie The Imaginary. “There is one thing imagination can never defeat. And that is reality.”

Snotty as he might be, the speaker has a point. 2024 has already seen the release of two movies about imaginary friends, and both of them met with a mixed response. The Blumhouse horror film Imaginary, about a pretend play pal turned evil, turned a profit but disappointed viewers. The John Krasinski movie If starring Ryan Reynolds has also made back its budget, but audiences seem largely down on it.

Netflix hopes to turn the tide with their entry into the genre, the animated film The Imaginary. Judging by the first trailer, The Imaginary just might pull it off.

The Imaginary introduces the viewers to Amanda (Evie Kiszel), a precocious girl who spends her days playing with her make-believe mate Rudger...

With the release of films like John Krasinski’s If, Blumhouse’s Imaginary, and even Ale de Jong’s 1991 comedy Drop Dead Fred, the power of imagination flows strongly throughout Hollywood. While each of the films mentioned above brings something different to the table, Yoshiyuki Momose’s latest animated feature, The Imaginary, hits differently. Studio Ponoc is proud to present The Imaginary trailer today, previewing an upcoming animated film to boggle the senses, stir emotions, and remind you of friends long forgotten.

Studio Ponoc‘s The Imaginary portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger, a boy no one can see imagined by Amanda to share her thrilling make-believe adventures. But when Rudger, suddenly alone, arrives at The Town of Imaginaries, where forgotten Imaginaries live and find work, he faces a mysterious threat. Directed by renowned animator Yoshiyuki Momose (Spirited Away...

2024 has been a big year for movies about imaginary friends, between the Blumhouse horror film "Imaginary" and John Krasinski's live-action family film "If." Now, Netflix is getting in on the imagination-based fun with Studio Ponoc's "The Imaginary," which already looks to be one of the best animated films of the year. With breathtaking hand-drawn animation and a groundbreaking technique of animating light and shadow, "The Imaginary" looks stunning and seems to be introducing a whimsical, heartfelt, and emotionally charged story to back up the gorgeous visuals. Here's the official synopsis of the film, which is based on A.F. Harold and illustrator Emily Gravett's beloved and award-winning novel of the same name:

"Studio Ponoc's 'The Imaginary' portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger, a boy no one can see imagined by Amanda to share her thrilling make-believe adventures.

Founded in 2015 by Yoshiaki Nishimura, former lead film producer of Studio Ghibli and two-time Academy Award nominee for producing “The Tale of Princess Kaguya,” “When Marnie Was There”), Studio Ponoc has quickly emerged as a Japanese animation studio to watch. Known for “Mary and the Witch’s Flower” (2017) and 2018’s “Modest Heroes,” their latest is the animated fantasy film “The Imaginary.”

Read More: ‘Paddington In Peru’ Trailer: The Beloved Bear Goes On A Jungle Adventure Later This Year

Released last year in Japan, Netflix is premiering the Studio Ponoc film in North America and other territories this summer, giving it the global exposure it deserves.

Continue reading ‘The Imaginary’ Trailer: ‘Spirited Away’ Animator Directs New Fantasy Studio Ponoc Film Coming To Netflix In July at The Playlist.

Netflix dropped the trailer for “The Imaginary,” the hand-drawn fantasy from Japan’s Studio Ponoc (streaming July 5), currently in competition at the Annecy Animation Festival. The Oscar hopeful is adapted from the A.F. Harrold novel (illustrated by Emily Gravett) and is told through the eyes of young Amanda (Evie Kiszel) and her imaginary companion, Rudger (Louie Rudge-Buchanan), a boy who introduces her to make-believe adventures that turn dangerous when he encounters forgotten Imaginaries in a mysterious town.

“The Imaginary” is directed by former Studio Ghibli animation vet Yoshiyuki Momose (“Grave of the Fireflies”) and produced by Studio Ponoc founder and former Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura (the Oscar-nominated “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” and “When Marnie Was There”).

“The Imaginary” marks the second feature from Studio Ponoc and the first in its multi-film deal with Netflix. The studio was founded in 2015 as a spiritual successor to Ghibli and released its debut feature,...

Studio Ghibli's 1997 feature Princess Mononoke features a myriad of colorful characters that director Hayao Miyazaki uses to explore the tense conflict between man and nature. In honor of the film, Ghibli has reintroduced its popular Princess Mononoke character magnet collection to its online store, Donguri Sora.

Donguri Sora's Princess Mononoke magnet set is truly a sight to behold, as each character is intricately crafted down to the finest facial detail. The six-piece collection includes San (with her mask), Moro, the Great Forest Spirit, Yakul, Okkoto and San's canine brother, Yamainu (or Dog God). As Mononoke fans know well, several of the film's non-human characters are capable of speech, and this is another detail that has been integrated into the magnet designs. As shown in the included images, Moro, Okkoto and Yamainu each have movable mouths. Unfortunately, these magnets are not sold individually, so buyers are not able to pick and choose their favorite characters.

Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata, who passed away in 2018, has received a posthumous North American release of his final anime TV series, Chie the Brat. The release comes from Discotek Media, a distribution company that focuses on licensing and distributing anime and other Japanese media, especially retro titles from the 1970s, '80s and '90s.

Discotek announced this week that Takahata's Chie the Brat - The Original First TV Series - Blu-ray has officially been released via the Crunchyroll Store. Fans in North America can now order the Blu-ray for the first time ever, priced at US$52.46 ($69.95 Msrp), with Crunchyroll teasing the release, "This complete collection includes all 64 episodes of the groundbreaking comedy classicpresented in high definition with the original Japanese language and English subtitles!" Readers can check out the Blu-ray footage, cover and additional stills below.

Related Studio Ghibli's Anime Art Book Receives English-Language International Release

Ghibli's upcoming...

Ghibli Fest 2024 sees two of Studio Ghibli's most underrated titles, The Secret World of Arrietty and When Marnie Was There, get new theatrical rerelease dates.

Via a press release, both of Oscar-nominated director Hiromasa Yonebayashi's feature films at Studio Ghibli -- The Secret World of Arrietty and When Marnie Was There -- will return to U.S. theaters for just two nights. The Secret World of Arrietty's theater dates are June 9 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (English-language dub), and June 11 at 7 p.m. (Japanese-language with English subtitles). The When Marnie Was There dates are June 10 at 7 p.m. (English dub) and June 12 at 7 p.m. Japanese with subtitles). Readers can purchase tickets and find supported theaters at the official Ghibli Fest and Fathom Events websites and read below for more information.

Related "Action-Adventure and Nostalgic": Son of Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki Reveals Possible Next Film...

After the history-making success of The Boy and the Heron in theaters, Studio Ghibli and Fathom Events decided to continue celebrating the legacy of the Japanese animated movie studio in theaters. Today, the companies announced that Ghibli Fest 2024 will move on with two additional titles. This time, Hiromasa Yonebayashi will be the filmmaker whose work will be remembered, and When Marnie Was There and The Secret World of Arrietty will debut in theaters this summer.

Last year, Attack on Titan fans in Japan got to see Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert take to the stage in a lively new adaptation of Hajime Isayama's iconic shonen manga. Now, the live-action stage show is headed to New York for its debut run in North America.

Via Oricon, the showrunners for Attack on Titan: The Musical have announced that the show will have its first U.S. run at the New York City Center Theater on October 11-13. This high-quality production utilizes high-tech stage effects, along with "analog theatrical techniques," to bring the world of Attack on Titan to life in an entirely new way. According to franchise creator Hajime Isayama, the show also presents a narrative that slightly deviates from previous versions, stating, "The actor's actions and songs have made this Attack on Titan a new one that is different from both the original work and the anime.

When Hayao Miyazaki’s long-awaited and supposed swansong The Boy and the Heron opened at No. 1 at the North American box office last December with a record-breaking $12.8 million tally, it was not only the first original anime title to achieve such a feat, but it was the biggest ever opening for U.S. distributor Gkids. It kickstarted what would be a whirlwind few months for the now 16-year-old company as it took the Studio Ghibli film, (which had opened the Toronto Film Festival in September) to an enormous $46.7 million box office gross (more than double their initial projections) in North America and, later a Best Animation win at the Oscars.

“It was the right film for the right time,” says Gkids president Dave Jesteadt. “The Boy and the Heron was Miyazaki’s first film in 10 years, and I think that a normal concern would have been if audiences had forgotten him,...

The Boy and the Heron Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Ko Shibasaki, Aimyon, and Yoshino Kimura

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

The Boy and the Heron Movie Review ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

What’s Good: The film’s animation is breathtaking, proving that classic 2D animation still has space on the big screen.

What’s Bad: The film’s story can get confusing sometimes, and many audience members will only know what is happening if they pay full attention.

Loo Break: No loo breaks for this one. The film asks for your full attention as you need to decipher its symbolism to give meaning to the film.

Watch or Not?: Yes, this could be Miyazaki’s last film and needs to be watched on the big screen.

Language: Japanese (with subtitles)

Available On: Theaters

Runtime: 124 Minutes

User Rating:

Hayao Miyazaki’s career has been one of the most...

Studio Ponoc's The Imaginary officially comes to Netflix on July 5th. The Imaginary promises a heartfelt story of friendship and mortality from Studio Ghibli alumni. Studio Ponoc's The Imaginary packs stunning animation and a deep narrative and is set to be a big anime release.

Netflix has shared the release date for The Imaginary, the latest film by Studio Ponoc, an anime film studio famously founded by Studio Ghibli alumni, most notably Hiromasa Yonebayashi of When Marnie Was There fame. This is their first feature film since their debut film, Mary and the Witchs Flower, and promotional material suggests that the film will be just as gorgeous as their previous work, including their work with Studio Ghibli.

Theres a lot to be excited about with The Imaginary, and it finally has a confirmed English release date. After being previously announced for streaming on Netflix with no release date, its...

“The Imaginary,” an upcoming hand-drawn animated fantasy film from Japan’s Studio Ponoc that was selected for the main competition at the upcoming Annecy International Animation Film Festival, is set to debut July 5 on Netflix. An Oscar-qualifying run is also planned.

“The Imaginary” is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, whose credits as an animator include Studio Ponoc’s 2017 debut feature “Mary and the Witch’s Flower” and Studio Ghibli’s Academy Award winner “Spirited Away.” Studio Ponoc founder Yoshiaki Nishimura, the Oscar-nominated producer of Studio Ghibli’s “The Tale of The Princess Kaguya” and “When Marnie Was There,” is producing.

Based on the novel of the same name by A.F. Harrold and illustrated by Emily Gravett, “The Imaginary” is described as a fantasy that “portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger. Their fantastical adventures launched from her attic, lead them to...

In September 2022, Studio Ghibli's coming-of-age masterpiece, Spirited Away, premiered in theaters throughout North America. Now, Fathom Events is kicking off its annual Ghibli Fest celebration with a fresh round of screenings for the beloved film.

As detailed in a recent press release, Fathom Events and its distribution partner, Gkids, will present screenings of Spirited Away at participating U.S. theaters from April 27 to May 1. As part of Ghibli Fest 2024, audiences will have the opportunity to view the film in its original Japanese version (with English subtitles) or watch the Disney-produced English dub starring Daveigh Chase (Chihiro Ogino), Jason Marsden (Haku), Suzanne Pleshette (Yubaba) and David Odgen Stires (Kamaji). Screenings will also include a special behind-the-scenes featurette about Studio Ghibli's theme park in Nagoya, Japan. The complete list of theater dates and times is listed below. According to the release, all time slots are equivalent to regional and local times.

Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron has finally revealed its streaming home following a contract renewal with American film distributor Gkids.

The streaming platform Max has announced a multiyear agreement with Gkids via a Warner Bros. Discovery press release, which will "extend the exclusive U.S. film streaming rights for Studio Ghibli, Japan’s legendary, Oscar®-winning animation house." As part of this deal, The Boy and the Heron will come to Max, with the exact release date to be confirmed later this year.

Related Hayao Miyazaki's Debut Film Unveils Global Luxury Shoe Collaboration Luxury shoemaker Madras has revealed its new line in collaboration with Hayao Miyazaki's debut film, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro.

Wbd Vice-President of Content Acquisitions Elizabeth Bannan Atcheson said regarding the deal, "Our subscribers are always looking for unique stories, and we are happy to continue to offer these award-winning, critically acclaimed...

The Boy and the Heron will be available for streaming on Max, joining the Studio Ghibli film collection following the film's Oscar win. The film has received critical acclaim, including being awarded the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2023. The movie explores themes of grief through a poignant story about a boy who copes with his mother's death.

Hayao Miyazaki's award-winning film, The Boy and the Heron, has just received an official streaming home. The incredible movie will soon be available to stream on Max. The Boy and the Heron will be the newest in the long list of Studio Ghibli films currently streaming on the Max platform.

The movie was released in theaters on December 8, 2023, in the USA, going on to gross over $167 million worldwide. The amazing film has received countless awards and nominations, and recently took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. This 2023 Oscar is Miyazaki's...

Max will continue to be the studio’s exclusive streaming home in the United States with tiles including “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Spirited Away,” and more.

Thanks in no small part to the prevalence of streaming media, anime has become an increasingly important part of the American entertainment landscape in recent years. When Warner Bros. Discovery launched the HBO Max streaming service in 2020, the iconic films of Studio Ghibili were included in the catalog. On Tuesday, Wbd announced that it had extended its deal with the Japanese studio and that the recent Oscar-winning film “The Boy and the Heron” will stream on HBO Max’s successive streaming service Max.

HBO Max became the first streaming service to carry Studio Ghibli titles when it launched in 2020. This new multi-year extension will keep the iconic Japanese studio’s films on Max in the United States. Recent Oscar winner “The Boy and the Heron...

On the heels of Best Animated Feature wins at the Oscars and Golden Globes, Hayao Miyazaki’s hand-drawn original The Boy and the Heron has been set to stream exclusively in the U.S. on Max, following the streamer’s move to extend its multiyear U.S. licensing deal with famed Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli.

Max closed its initial deal with Studio Ghibli catalogue in 2020, marking the first time the studio’s films were available to stream. Expect a premiere date for The Boy and the Heron to be announced later this year.

One of the most acclaimed and influential animation studios in the world, Studio Ghibli previously won an Oscar for 2002’s Spirited Away and has also drawn nominations for Howl’s Moving Castle, The Wind Rises, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, and When Marnie Was There. Other celebrated works from the studio include My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service,...

Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron,” which just won the Oscar for animated feature film, is streaming to Max in the U.S.

Warner Bros. Discovery announced a multiyear agreement with independent distributor GKids to extend Max’s exclusive U.S. streaming rights for films from Studio Ghibli, Japan’s legendary animation house. The streamer has been the U.S. home to Studio Ghibli’s catalog since 2020, when the service originally launched as HBO Max.

Under the deal renewal, Max will be the future home of “The Boy and the Heron”; the streaming premiere date on Max will be announced later this year. The hand-drawn, semi-autobiographical film — Miyazaki’s first feature film in 10 years — was produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki and features a musical score from Miyazaki’s longtime collaborator Joe Hisaishi.

The extension with GKids also will keep nearly two dozen Studio Ghibli films — including “My Neighbor Totoro,...

Studio Ghibli, like Western counterparts Disney, Pixar and the UK’s Aardman, is one of the most important animation studios in movie history. Since its first feature film, “Castle in the Sky” in 1986, Studio Ghibli has delivered two dozen thought-provoking tales beautifully rendered in a unique brand of animation. To date, its output has racked up have a lucky seven Oscar bids for Best Animated Feature.

“Spirited Away” was the first Studio Ghibli movie to break into the Academy Awards conversation and did so with aplomb in 2003. It won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature (Miyazaki the recipient) over “Ice Age,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” and “Treasure Planet.”

In 2006, Miyazaki was again nominated — this time for “Howl’s Moving Castle” alongside “Corpse Bride” and “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” with the latter movie, an Aardman creation, reigning victorious.

Miyazaki and Suzuki were the nominees...

Makoto Shinkai's success stems from his distinctive style: emotional stories focused on love and the supernatural. For fans of Shinkai, watching She and Her Cat: Everything Flows can give insight into his early work and its impact on his career. Kyoto Animation's series Kanon and Clannad, as well as Mamoru Hosoda's Belle, possess storytelling and themes similar to Shinkai's, making them great choices for fans.

Over the past few years, Makoto Shinkai has easily become one of the most recognizable names in anime. All three of his most recent films —Your Name, Weathering With You, and Suzume — have become some of the most critically and financially successful anime films of all time, and that's given Shinkai a reputation for being one of the best anime directors of the past decade.

Much of Makoto Shinkai’s success can be attributed to his distinctive style. In addition to his...

An anime film was bound to make it into the Oscar nominations this year, and the contender this time around is Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron . Ghibli's latest film was nominated in the Animated Feature Film Category, where it will compete with Elemental , Nimona , Robot Dreams and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse . Other nominations include Godzilla Minus One , which is up for the Visual Effects category , and Japanese/German co-production Perfect Days —directed by Wim Wenders and written by Wim Wenders and Takuma Takasaki—which is up for Best International Feature Film . We'll find out who wins when the 96th annual Academy Awards ceremony airs live on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 4:00pm Pacific Time. Related: The Boy and the Heron Awarded Golden Globe for Best Animated Film Miyazaki previously won an Academy Award in 2002 for Spirited Away , making anime history. His Howl's Moving Castle film was nominated in...

In just a few weeks, the 18th recipient of the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature will be revealed. While it is highly likely that the new winner will share a 3D visual style in common with nearly all of its predecessors, voters may instead decide to finally honor a fully hand-drawn movie for the first time. Fittingly, this monumental distinction would be credited to the legendary Studio Ghibli and its esteemed cofounder, Hayao Miyazaki, who suspended his brief retirement in order to make his dozenth film, “The Boy and the Heron.”

With an original plot that pointedly references the classic Japanese novel “How Do You Live?,” “The Boy and the Heron” is the 25th entry in Studio Ghibli’s animated canon and the company’s 10th film released after the creation of this Golden Globe category. Although four of its post-2005 productions earned Oscar notices for Best Animated Feature,...

Founded in 2008, New York-based production studio and distributor Gkids almost immediately established itself as the United States’ most valuable lifeline to animated cinema from around the world, and so — after earning 12 Oscar nominations for introducing modern classics like “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” and “Wolfwalkers” to American audiences — it might seem a bit overblown to suggest that the label’s reputation could still hang in the balance of a single dub. Gkids president Dave Jesteadt certainly didn’t expect that to be the case when he formally took the reins in January 2017, as the already thriving company was still on the verge of its greatest triumphs. And yet, by the end of the following month, everything that Gkids had accomplished would seem like a long prologue for the challenge that would ultimately define it.

On February 24, 2017, Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki announced that legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki was coming...