Studio Ghibli fest: ‘My Neighbor Totoro,’ ‘Spirited Away,’ more hit PH cinemas

Scenes from Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro.” Images: Courtesy of Studio Ghibli

The legacy of Studio Ghibli’s films was brought back to the Philippines, as notable films of the Japanese animation company will be screened in select cinemas in the Metro.

Organized by Reality MM Studios, the Studio Ghibli Fest is a celebration of the Japanese animation studio’s films and how its stories have touched the hearts of viewers across generations.

The films included in the lineup are “Princess Mononoke,” “Spirited Away,” “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind,” “The Wind Rises,” and “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.”

According to Reality MM, the films will be shown in its original Japanese dub with English subtitles.

The festival runs from September 10 to 16, with the films to be screened at select malls.

Co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli was established in June 1984 following the success of “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.” The studio’s name is based on the Italian word “ghibli” in hopes of “blowing a new wind through the anime industry.”

Many of its works are beloved by fans and critics, one of which being “Princess Mononoke” as the first film to win the Best Picture at the Japanese Academy Awards.

Other films made by the studio are “The Boy and the Heron,” “When Marnie Was There,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” and “Grave of the Fireflies,” to name a few. /edv