Studio Ghibli Fest Is Back
Hayao Miyazaki’s genius works to come back to the big screen this fall, with the launch of the 2021 Studio Ghibli festival running from October through December.
In partnership with GKIDS and Fathom Events, the annual festival, originally established in 2017, is returning to theaters across the United States. Promising fans and curious movie-goers a rare experience of watching Studio Ghibli’s works on screen long after their premiere.
With a prolific roster of films, Studio Ghibli is renowned for its stellar animation, otherworldly characters, and fantastical plots. The festival aims to celebrate the studio’s unique imagination through screenings of “Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Castle in the Sky,” and “My Neighbor Totoro.”
In line with the 20th anniversary of “Spirited Away,” the festival kicks off with the Academy-Award-winning film in October. And will be screening both English dubbed and Japanese subtitled versions for each film.
Still from “Spirited Away” (2001), awarded the Best Animated Feature at the 2003 Academy Awards (image via Mental Floss)
On the return of the festival Fathom Events CEO, Ray Nutt shared that “Studio Ghibli Fest has become an annual must-do for animation fans.” He further described the event as a “unique opportunity to experience some of the best in animation in their local cinemas.”
If you’re a first-time Studio Ghibli viewer, the festival is a perfect opportunity to acquaint yourself with the studio’s artwork. And if you like what you see, we recommend watching “Ponyo,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” “Princess Mononoke,” and “From Up on Poppy Hill” to continue the adventure.
Tickets for the festival can be found on Studio Ghibli Fest and Fathom Events’ websites. HBO Max also houses the studio’s entire collection to stream at home.