A collection of Japanese animated treasures that gives Disney a run for their money!
The wait is almost over for many movie fans, as Studio Ghibli films will finally be made available on Netflix Canada.
On Thursday, June 25, the powerhouse streaming service will add 20 titles from the Studio Ghibli catalogue to its library which includes Academy Award-winning animated films such as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and My Neighbour Totoro.
For the unfamiliar, Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by Japanese animated film directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki and is celebrated for their whimsical storytelling, spectacular direction, and distinctive visual styling which usually consists of classic hand-painted animation.
Not only is the studio a multiple Academy Award-nominee, but co-founder Miyazaki was named one of the world’s most influential people by TIME Magazine in 2005.
These films are perfect for movie lovers of all ages. If you are new to their library of films, we recommend starting with Princess Mononoke— a true landmark in the world of animation. It's one of Ghibli and Miyazaki's many animated masterpieces and features voice work by Claire Danes, Billy Bob Thornton, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Gillian Anderson. You can watch the trailer here.
Our second pick would be Spirited Away, a masterwork, and arguably the best in a long line from Japan's premier animator. The film overtook Titanic in the Japanese box office to become the highest-grossing film in Japanese history. It is frequently ranked among the greatest animated films ever made and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards. You can watch the trailer here.
Here is the full list of the Studio Ghibli movies soon to be added to Netflix Canada:
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Castle in the Sky (1986)
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Porco Rosso (1992)
Ocean Waves (1993)
Pom Poko (1994)
Whisper of the Heart (1995)
Princess Mononoke (1997)
My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999)
Spirited Away (2001)
The Cat Returns (2002)
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Tales of Earthsea (2006)
Ponyo (2008)
The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2014)
When Marnie Was There (2014)
There is still no word on when and if the studio’s oldest and most beloved film, 1988’s Grave of the Fireflies, will be added to the streaming service.