A rare Studio Ghibli project is finally getting a U.S. release

One of the rarest Studio Ghibli projects, Ocean Waves, is finally heading to the U.S. for a limited release.

GKIDS, an American film distributor, announced that it was working with Ghibli to bring the feature over to select cinemas in early 2017. Ocean Waves was originally released as a television series by the studio, but has been played in a feature format before since it clocks in at 72 minutes.

The movie follows two high school best friends, Yutaka and Taku, as they both fall in love with a new transfer student from Tokyo, Rikako. According to GKIDS, Rikako is an adventurous spirit, “whose attitude vacillates wildly from flirty and flippant to melancholic.” Things start to go awry for the group when Taku joins Rikako on a trip to Tokyo and rumors start spreading about their involvement.

The film was directed by Tomomi Mochizuki, it should be noted, and not the studio’s more iconic creative, Hayao Miyazaki. Mochizuki also directed a few episodes of the short-lived Ranma ½ series that ran in Japan between 1989 and 1990.

Ocean Waves’ limited run will begin in New York on Dec. 28, before other cities around the country and a few international locations. For a full list of cities hosting the film, check out the release schedule from GKIDS below.

Dec. 28

New York, NY — IFC Center

Jan. 3

Toronto, ON — TIFF

Jan. 6

Albuquerque, NM — Guild Cinema

Jan. 7

Fort Lauderdale, FL — TBD

Jan. 9

Kansas City, MO — Screenland Armour

Jan. 11

Portland, OR — OMSI Empirical Theater

Jan. 12

Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque

Jan. 13

Chicago, IL — Gene Siskel Film Center

Denver, CO — Denver Film Society

Santa Ana, CA — The Frida Cinema

Tempe, AZ — Harkins Valley Art

Waterloo, ON — Princess Cinema

Atlanta, GA — Plaza Theatre

Jan. 16

San Francisco, CA — Roxie Theatre

Jan. 17

Fairfax, VA — Angelika Mosaic

Washington, DC — Angelika Pop-Up

Dallas, TX — Angelika Dallas

Plano, TX — Angelika Plano

San Diego, CA — Angelika Carmel

Honolulu, HI — Consolidated Theatres Kahalas

Jan. 20

Pittsburgh, PA — Row House Cinema

Vancouver, BC — Vancity Theatre

Feb. 9

Columbus, OH — Gateway Film Center

Feb. 23

Cleveland, OH — Cleveland Cinematheque

March 10

Port Orchard, WA — Dragonfly Cinema