Studio Ghibli Fest
Graphic by Jayden Liu & Mellisa Mulia
by Tiffany Liu
Bringing excitement to those who appreciate Japanese culture, the Studio Ghibli Fest hopes to promote Japanese animation by showing various movies across different theaters across the country.
English-dubbed and subtitled movie versions will be available on separate dates, according to fathomevents.com. Participating local theaters include Alhambra Renaissance 14, Santa Anita 16, Monrovia Cinema 12 & LFX and Puente Hills 20.
Presented by GKIDS, a distributor of various animated features, and Fathom Events, an entertainment content provider, the event will be ongoing throughout the year, therefore allowing multiple opportunities for viewers to experience it.
Best known for its animated feature films, Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation film studio based in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1985, the successful studio has created many well known films, such as “Spirited Away,” which won a Golden Bear and Academy Award in 2002.
Considered by many to be Hayao Miyazaki’s greatest work, “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” tells the tale of a young princess’s dangerous journey in a poisoned futuristic world. This movie’s dubbed version is available Sept. 24 and 27, while the subtitled version is available Sept. 25.
Meanwhile, the film “Spirited Away” showcases the separation of 10- year-old Chihiro from her parents at an abandoned carnival. Captured and forced into servitude, she must navigate the complex spirit world and find her way home. The movie’s dubbed version is available Oct. 29 and Nov. 1, while the subtitled version is available Oct. 30.
Another one of Miyazaki’s famous works, “Howl’s Moving Castle” presents the story of Sophie, an average girl who works in a hat shop. One day, however, she is suddenly swept into the world of magic by a charming wizard named Howl. The movie’s dubbed version is available on Nov. 26 and 29, while the subtitled version is available Nov. 27.
For those interested in animation or simply curious about Japanese culture, the Studio Ghibli Fest provides an opportunity for viewers to expand their knowledge of this whimsical world.