GKIDS has announced that is extending its long-term relationship with Studio Ghibli by launching and managing the first ever Official English-language Studio Ghibli social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for North American audiences.

Official Studio Ghibli USA Twitter: https://twitter.com/GhibliUSA
Official Studio Ghibli USA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/GhibliUSA/
Official Studio Ghibli USA Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/GhibliUSA

“In the wake of a watershed year of expanded access to Studio Ghibli’s expansive catalogue via the global streaming and digital launch, these films remain an ever-present topic across social media platforms,” said GKIDS’ Director of Marketing Erica Chon. “To keep pace with the abundance of conversation surrounding the Studio and their North American partners, the official social media accounts are a natural next step in keeping fans up to date with all of the latest news from Studio Ghibli. We’re excited to launch the @GhibliUSA channels to bring the beauty and wonder of Studio Ghibli films to expanded audiences.”

Through the new social media accounts, fans can celebrate the artistry of Studio Ghibli, engage with other Ghibli fans, and have access to a reliable centralized resource covering all news, new product releases, events, and other notable information pertaining to the revered Japanese animation studio.

The social media announcement marks a further expansion of the partnership between Studio Ghibli and GKIDS, which began with GKIDS handling the Ghibli theatrical catalog for North America in 2010, and distributing new releases starting in 2012 with Goro Miyazaki’s From Up On Poppy Hill. In 2017, GKIDS took over North American home video rights to the Studio Ghibli catalog.

GKIDS will release the latest Studio Ghibli film, Earwig and the Witch, opening in theaters nationwide starting February 3, 2021 and streaming on HBO Max on February 5, 2021. Directed by Goro Miyazaki, Earwig and the Witc is produced by studio co-founder Toshio Suzuki, with planning on the feature from Goro Miyazaki’s father, Academy Award®-winner Hayao Miyazaki. Based on the children’s novel Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones, the film was an official selection for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival and aired on NHK in Japan December 30, 2020.

GKIDS has announced that it will release 21 Studio Ghibli films for digital download-to-own in the United States and Canada on December 17, 2019 on digital transaction platforms including Apple TV, Amazon VOD, Vudu, Google Play, Sony, Microsoft, and FandangoNOW. The films will be available in English and in Japanese with English subtitles. This marks the first time that the films will be available for digital transaction. The films include:

• Castle in the Sky>
• The Cat Returns
• From Up On Poppy Hill
• Howl’s Moving Castle
• Kiki’s Delivery Service
• My Neighbor Totoro
• My Neighbors the Yamadas
• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
• Ocean Waves
• Only Yesterday
• Pom Poko
• Ponyo
• Porco Rosso
• Princess Mononoke
• The Secret World of Arrietty
• Spirited Away
• The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
• Tales from Earthsea
• When Marnie Was There
• Whisper of the Heart
• The Wind Rises (launching in the third quarter of 2020)

There will also be a six-film bundle that includes Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away.

Source: ANN

On October 16, 2019, Anime News Network had posted an article that was sourced from Polygon, stating that Studio Ghibli’s films would not be coming to streaming services any time soon. The Polygon article by Matt Patches was published on October 15, 2019, and sourced North American film distributor GKIDS.

But then on October 18, 2019, it was announced that Studio Ghibli’s films would be streaming on HBO Max starting in Spring 2020.

Anime News Network is now reporting that GKIDS clarified what happened on their Twitter account. According the company, they were not contacted for the article and the statement that served as the basis for the claim that the films will not come to streaming services is dated to 2018.

Polygon’s article included the statement “GKids was unable to provide a comment from a Studio Ghibli representation for further clarification or additional updates on deals in progress.” According to GKIDS, they were not contacted in the last week for the Polygon piece.

Source: ANN

Film distributor GKids has told Polygon that there are currently no plans to release Studio Ghibli’s catalog on streaming services, be it Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+. The same goes for pay-per-view streaming services like Amazon Prime or Apple Movies.

“Studio Ghibli does not make their films available digitally, whether for download or streaming, anywhere in the world,” a GKids representative told Polygon. “They continue to believe that presentation is vital and particularly appreciate opportunities for audiences to experience the films together in a theatrical setting.”

Source: ANN