In the upcoming months, Ghibli aficionados in Vietnam will be able to stream their favorite flicks right at home.
Streaming giant Netflix announced yesterday that it has acquired the rights to broadcast 21 titles from Studio Ghibli to its 190 market around the world, including Vietnam. According to the company’s official Facebook account, the movies are available in Japanese audio with subtitles in 28 languages. For younger fans, dubbed versions are on offer in several languages as well.
"Studio Ghibli's animated films are legendary and have enthralled fans around the world for over 35 years," a statement by Netflix reads. "We're excited to make them available in more languages across Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia — so that more people can enjoy this whimsical and wonderful world of animation."
The whimsical animated features, however, will not be included in Netflix US, Canada and Japan due to previous exclusive deals. In the US, for example, Ghibli movies are instead distributed by streaming service HBO Max, according to Nikkei Asian Review.
The 21 movies will be released in three batches of seven every month starting next month. From February 1, Castle in the Sky (1986), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), Only Yesterday (1991), Porco Rosso (1992), Ocean Waves (1993) and Tales from Earthsea (2006) will come online.
From March 1, the following titles will be available: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), Princess Mononoke (1997), My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999), Spirited Away (2001), The Cat Returns (2002), Arrietty (2010) and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013).
Last but not least, April will see the appearance of Pom Poko (1994), Whisper of the Heart (1995), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008), From Up on Poppy Hill (2011), The Wind Rises (2013) and When Marnie Was There (2014).
Despite its previous aversion to streaming services, Studio Ghibli was won over by Netflix’s expansive distribution network, which the studio believes will help further its works’ popularity worldwide. To capitalize on this rising fame, Ghibli is also in the process of building a flagship theme park inspired by its much-loved characters, such as Kiki or Totoro. The park is expected to open near Nagoya, Japan in 2022.
[Photo via Business Insider]
