Anime: Ghibli Fest Will Be North America’s 8 Month Long Ghibli Film Festival
Studio Ghibli is bringing some of their biggest films back to North American theaters for Ghibli Fest, an 8-month-long festival.
Ghibli Fest, the eight-month-long festival will feature a number of the studio’s classics. Of course, this isn’t a “film festival” in the classic sense. The schedule will be much more relaxed and spread out, featuring one movie per month for the duration. But this means that fans will have plenty of time and multiple chances to catch their favorites, or all of the movies, on the big screen again.
Princess Mononoke
For its 25th anniversary, Ghibli Fest will be featuring Princess Mononoke on April 3rd, 4th, and 6th.
“On a journey to find the cure for a Tatarigami’s curse, Ashitaka finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and Tatara, a mining colony. In this quest he also meets San, the Mononoke Hime.”
Princess Mononoke is easily one of the best anime films of all time. Between timeless themes of nature and understanding and a huge cast of deeply interesting characters, you can watch Princess Mononoke a dozen times and find a new thing to love every time.
Ponyo
Ponyo will be in theaters May 15th, 16th, and 18th.
“A five-year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a young goldfish princess who longs to become a human after falling in love with him.”
Ponyo is adorable, and that may scare some people off. It doesn’t look like it will have the same heft and impact as other Ghibli films. But with critical and fan acclaim, Ponyo won the 2009 Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year and managed to be the fifth highest grossing anime film of all time. It’s great and if you haven’t seen it yet Ghibli Fest is your chance. Of course, if you have seen it, Ghibli Fest is your chance to see it again.
The Cat Returns
For its 20th anniversary, The Cat Returns will be showing on June 26th and 27th.
“After helping a cat, a seventeen-year-old girl finds herself involuntarily engaged to a cat Prince in a magical world where her only hope of freedom lies with a dapper cat statuette come to life.”
In classic Ghibli fashion, The Cat Returns feels like a fairy tale from beginning to end. It’s fun and strange with some of the best animation and design for cat-people I have ever seen.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Kiki will be delivering joy to your theater on July 31st and August 1st and 3rd.
“A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.”
You know Kiki’s Delivery Service. The only Ghibli film possibly more iconic than Kiki is Totoro. This 1989 classic is proof that sometimes a movie can just highlight nice people being nice and still be great.
Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday will be showing Austin 28th and 29th.
“A twenty-seven-year-old office worker travels to the countryside while reminiscing about her childhood in Tokyo.”
This is one of Studio Ghibli’s lesser known and less popular Films. Unlike some of the other offerings, it’s a realistic drama written for adults. It did pretty well in 1991 when it came out, but if you, like me, have managed to miss this one all these years, Ghibli Fest has us covered.
Howl’s Moving Castle
Howl’s Moving Castle will be in theaters September 25th, 26th, and 28th.
“When an unconfident young woman is cursed with an old body by a spiteful witch, her only chance of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking castle.”
Howl‘s is my favorite Ghibli film and one of the few times when a movie is just as good as the book it’s based on. It’s also one of the more popular offerings the studio has put out, so I bet Ghibli Fest tickets for this one will sell themselves.
Spirited Away
Spirited Away will be playing on October 30th, and November 1st and 2nd.
“During her family’s move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.”
Spirited Away is having a moment. It’s always been popular, winning multiple awards including an Oscar. But now there is also a breathtakingly gorgeous live action stage production bringing it back into our hearts and minds. Ghibli Fest will end on a high note with this all time favorite.
If you’d like to get tickets to any of these showings for Ghibli Fest or find participating theater near you, visit the official Ghibli Fest website.
Will you be seeing any of these films on the big screen for Ghibli Fest? Which Ghibli movie is your favorite? Have you seen all of the movies included in the festival? Let us know in the comments!
Ja Ne, Adventurers!
