Netflix releases 21 of Ghibli Studios’ most iconic animated films – including Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and Castle in the Sky
Netflix has the rights to 21 Studio Ghibli classics, including Japanese animator and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki’s films
Incredibly, Studio Ghibli, co-founded by the famous Japanese animator, film director and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki, has finally given Netflix the rights to 21 of its timeless masterpieces. Seven titles will be released in stages from February until April. The beloved collection of animated films is filled with life lessons relevant to our day and age, and are family favourites around the world.
Whether seen by a 10-year-old, or an adult born during the 1980s, one can derive new meaning from the films each time they are viewed. Here’s a guide to Ghibli’s most iconic films and which ones to watch first:
FEBRUARY
1. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
At a time when animation films weren’t popular, Totoro had to be released in 1988 together with Grave of the Fireflies (the only Ghibli film excluded from Netflix’s list) as a double feature, because distributors doubted Totoro’s appeal.
Decades after, the world would fall in love with the gentle giant, who takes sisters Mei and Satsuki on magical adventures as they endure their mother’s illness, and learn that trials accompany the good things in life.
2. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)