Starting Feb. 1, Netflix subscribers can watch all 21 Studio Ghibli films anywhere in the world—except North America and Japan.
In a landmark deal announced Monday, the streaming service acquired exclusive rights to the beloved art house’s full catalogue, including Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro.
“This is a dream come true for Netflix and millions of our members,” Aram Yacoubian, director of original animation at Netflix, said in a statement. “Studio Ghibli’s animated films are legendary and have enthralled fans around the world for over 35 years.”
The expansive catalogue is subtitled in 28 languages and dubbed in up to 20, so folks in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East can enjoy award-winning flicks like Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Kiki’s Delivery Service in their native tongue.
“In this day and age, there are various great ways a film can reach audiences,” Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki said. “We’ve listened to our fans and have made the definitive decision to stream our film catalogue.”
It wasn’t easy, but Netflix convinced distribution company Wild Bunch—international keeper of Studio Ghibli’s works—to team up.
“The Netflix team convinced us with their consistent love and energy for finding the best ways to promote the incredible and unique catalogue worldwide with respect to the Studio Ghibli philosophy,” according to Wild Bunch CEO Vincent Maraval.
“We’re excited to make [these movies] available [across the globe] so that more people can enjoy this whimsical and wonderful world of animation,” Yacoubian added.
American anime addicts, meanwhile, can get their Ghibli fix via HBO Max, which is expected to start streaming all 21 movies this year.
Mark Your Calendar
The Netflix Studio Ghibli release schedule is as follows:
Feb. 1, 2020: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Only Yesterday, Porco Rosso, Ocean Waves, Tales from Earthsea
March 1, 2020: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbors the Yamadas, Spirited Away, The Cat Returns, Arrietty, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
April 1, 2020: Pom Poko, Whisper of the Heart, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, From Up on Poppy Hill, The Wind Rises, When Marnie Was There
More on Geek.com:
- Studio Ghibli Theme Park Opening in Japan in 2022
- Studio Ghibli Vets Working on New Short Film Anthology
- One of Miyazaki’s Most Memorable Ghibli Characters Was Based on His Mother
- What to Stream on Netflix This Weekend
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