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HBO Max to Stream Studio Ghibli Films in Spring 2020

HBO Max and GKIDS announced on Thursday that HBO Max will begin streaming the "entire Studio Ghibli film library" of 21 feature films in spring 2020. This deal marks the first time that Studio Ghibli films will stream on any platform.

The announcement noted that Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo, Castle in the Sky, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, and other films will be available at launch. The full lineup of feature films that will stream on HBO Max includes:

• 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 fall 2020)

The website Poygon reported on Tuesday that GKIDS told the website that Studio Ghibli had no plans to stream its films. “Studio Ghibli does not make their films available digitally, whether for download or streaming, anywhere in the world,” a GKIDS representative told Polygon via email corresponce earlier this year. “They continue to believe that presentation is vital and particularly appreciate opportunities for audiences to experience the films together in a theatrical setting.”

GKIDS has released the films on home video in North America. The distributor also regularly screens the films theatrically in North America, and Fathom Events began holding an annual "Studio Ghibli Fest" series of screenings in 2017.

Source: Press release