Totoro is about to have a lot of new neighbors. Beginning on February 1, Studio Ghibli films will be available on Netflix globally (excluding the US, Canada and Japan).
This marks the first time the Japanese animation studio’s catalogue will be dubbed in as many as 20 languages and feature subtitles in 28 languages, allowing fans in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America to watch films like My Neighbor Totoro (pictured) and Spirited Away in their native languages.
Studio Ghibli’s 21 films will bow on the streaming giant through distribution partner Wild Bunch International as part of Netflix’s continued efforts to grow its library of animated films.
Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Only Yesterday, Porco Rosso, Ocean Waves and Tales from Earthsea will launch with the streamer on February 1. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbors the Yamadas, Spirited Away, The Cat Returns, Arrietty and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya will bow on March 1, followed by Pom Poko, Whisper of the Heart, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, From Up on Poppy Hill, The Wind Rises and When Marnie Was There on April 1.
HBO Max picked up Studio Ghibli’s complete film collection in October, with the features set to stream exclusively in the US on WarnerMedia’s SVOD beginning this spring. The deal was brokered by distributor GKIDS and marked the first time Studio Ghibli’s content had been licensed to a streaming service.
Then, in December, GKIDS announced it would release Studio Ghibli’s movies for digital download-to-own in the US and Canada. This marked the first time these films were available on digital transactional platforms, with the catalogue available for purchase in English and Japanese languages through platforms including Apple TV, Amazon VOD, Vudu, Google Play, Sony, Microsoft and FandangoNOW.