For Studio Ghibli addicts like myself, the opportunity to catch some of the studio’s classic and well-loved masterpieces on the big screen was nothing more than a dream for such a long time.
However, since partnering with GKIDS, anime fans in North America have been blessed with several chances to buy overpriced giant sodas and buckets of buttery popcorn and do what I didn’t think possible decades back.
Studio Ghibli Fest 2019 kicked off in April celebrating the 15th anniversary of Howl’s Moving Castle. Over the course of the next several months other anniversaries will be honoured in the same manner. For instance, if you head to your local partnered theatre tonight or tomorrow, you can catch Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Did you know that Nausicaä is 35 years old? That means I was three when it first came out!
Here’s a full list of the movies that are part of this year’s Studio Ghibli Fest:
Howl’s Moving Castle (15th Anniversary): 4/7, 4/8, 4/10
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (35th Anniversary): 5/20, 5/22
Whisper of the Heart
Whisper of the Heart: 7/1 and 7/2
Kiki’s Delivery Service (30th Anniversary): 7/28, 7/29, 7/31
My Neighbor Totoro: 8/25, 8/26, 8/28
The Secret World of Arrietty: 9/29, 9/30
Spirited Away: 10/27, 10/28, 10/30
Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke: 11/17, 11/18, 11/20
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya: 12/16/ 12/18
And if you are #TeamDub or #TeamSub, don’t you worry. GKIDS has you covered by offering showings in both formats. Just make sure you check the dates to pick the version that’s right for your anime viewing habits.
I plan on hitting up as many of these showings as I possibly can. It’s hard to turn down seeing My Neighbor Totoro or Spirited Away at the theatre in a room filled with other people who love it as much as I do. And the chance to finally see Whisper of the Heart with those same people on the silver screen? Be still, my heart!
