By popular demand, the return of the smash-hit retrospective!

JULY 4-6, 8, 10-14, 18-31
AUGUST 1-5

This major retrospective of the films of Studio Ghibli, the world-renowned anime studio founded in Tokyo in 1985 by animation directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki, was a positive sensation — in fact, our most popular large-scale series in years — when we first presented it in December. By popular demand, we’re pleased to bring it back for a return engagement during our 2013 summer season. And we’ve added two additional Ghibli features to the 14 we screened the first go-round.

Frequently referred to as the Disney of Japan, Studio Ghibli (pronounced “jib-lee” or “gee-buh-lee”) is known for startlingly original animated feature films that combine dazzling visual virtuosity, vivid characterizations, and epic storytelling. These include some of the most magical, most beloved animated movies ever made, including Castle in the Sky, My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle.

Ghibli’s warm, intelligent, poetic films, often full of great flights of fancy that borrow from fairytale, folklore, and science fiction, are always grounded in a deeply-felt humanism that embraces family and community and believes in essential human goodness (despite considerable evidence of human folly), and in a deep concern for the environment and our relationship with nature. They typically feature strong female protagonists. Ghibli films, it is also worth noting, are still primarily (and lovingly) crafted the traditional way, through the labour-intensive, hand-drawn, frame-by-frame technique of cel animation.

The program includes two rare titles — Only Yesterday and The Ocean Waves — never released in North America. It also features two films not included in The Cinematheque’s first presentation of the retrospective in December: popular Ponyo, a great favourite of children, and the recently-released From Up on Poppy Hill, the latest wonder from Studio Ghibli.

LANGUAGE FORMAT: All films, with the exception of Ponyo, will screen in their original Japanese-language versions with English subtitles. Ponyo will screen in its English-voiced version.

SCREENING FORMAT: All films, with the exception of The Ocean Waves, will be presented in recent 35mm prints struck for this touring retrospective.

ALL AGES WELCOME
The Cinematheque welcomes all ages to this family-friendly presentation of the films of Studio Ghibli. All films in the series are rated G or PG (with the exception of Princess Mononoke and The Ocean Waves, which are 14A - under 14 requires adult accompaniment). Membership required for those 18+.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Acknowledgements: Acknowledgements: The Cinematheque is grateful to Dave Jesteadt and GKIDS (New York) for assistance in making this presentation possible. Program notes by (or adapted from) GKIDS, except where otherwise noted.