HBO Max Makes Deal to Stream Studio Ghibli Films

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Titles include ‘Spirited Away,’ Princess Mononoke’

AT&T’s upcoming subscription service HBO Max said it made a deal with Studio Ghibli to stream its entire library of animated films.

The agreement marks the first time the 21 films--including Academy Award winner Spirited Away--have been licensed to a streaming platform.

Also available on HBO Max at launch will be such titles as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Ponyo, Castle in the Sky and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya.

(Image credit: Studio Ghibli)

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“Studio Ghibli films are visually breathtaking, completely immersive experiences,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer for HBO Max and president of TNT, TBS, and truTV. “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.”

Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by animation directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Its films are distributed in North America by GKids.

“We are excited to be working with HBO Max to bring the complete collection of Studio Ghibli films to streaming audiences in the U.S. 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 to enjoy their favorites and delve deeper into the library, while whole new audiences will be able to discover our films for the first time.”

Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.