What seemed impossible one second is a dream come true the next. Welcome to the frenzied back-catalog land grab of the streaming wars.
On Thursday, HBO Max announced the acquisition of exclusive U.S. streaming rights to the Studio Ghibli film library, giving films like Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro an on-demand digital home for the first time.
Before the deal, master animator Hayao Miyazaki’s films and the other Ghibli titles were only available to view on purchased physical media or in theaters under GKids and Fathom Events’ “Ghibli Fest” screening program, part of a preservation effort on behalf of the revered company. But times change; most of the library is expected to be available when HBO Max launches in spring 2020.
(Polygon reached out to GKids to clarify whether the Ghibli Fest screenings and Blu-ray publishing would continue under this contract. A representative tells us that while there are no announcements regarding 2020 theatrical plans, both Studio Ghibli and GKids remain committed to the theatrical experience.)
“Studio Ghibli films are visually breathtaking, completely immersive experiences,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer of HBO Max, in a statement. “Exciting, enchanting, and deeply humanistic, these wonderful films have captured people’s hearts around the world, and we are proud to showcase them in an accessible way for even more fans through HBO Max.”
“We are excited to be working with HBO Max to bring the complete collection of Studio Ghibli films to streaming audiences in the US. As a premium content brand, HBO Max is an ideal home for our films,” said Koji Hoshino, chairman of Studio Ghibli. “Upon launch of the service this spring, existing Ghibli fans will be able enjoy their favorites and delve deeper into the library, while whole new audiences will be able to discover our films for the first time.”
In 2014, Studio Ghibli shut its doors following Miyazaki’s announcement that he was finally retiring. In the aftermath, Studio Ponoc broke out of Ghibli’s staff to produce last year’s Mary and the Witch’s Flower. A Ghibli theme park began construction, with plans to open the gates in 2022. And Miyazaki has a new movie in the works, with Ghibli back in operation to make it happen. The company’s legacy and future seem brighter than ever, and now for the first time, people who threw away their Blu-ray players will have a chance to see the company’s films in the comfort of their own homes.
Here’s the full list of titles coming to HBO Max next year:
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)
Oh, and if you’re looking for Isao Takahata’s acclaimed Grave of the Fireflies, fun fact: Because Studio Ghibli did not produce the film itself, the company does not own the rights to it. But the good news is you can stream that film on Hulu right now.