Following the recent Oscar win for the animated film, “The Boy and the Heron”, Warner Brothers Discovery has announced that it has extended its multi-year streaming deal with GKIDS to continue licensing the Studio Ghibli Catalogue for Max in the United States.

Studio Ghibli is one of the most acclaimed and influential animation studios in the world, inspiring filmmakers and audiences alike over the last 30 years with beloved stories and breathtaking visuals. Under the brilliance of visionary animation directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and producer Toshio Suzuki, the studio’s films are known for timeless classics such as “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” and “Ponyo” and have won countless international awards, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for “Spirited Away,” as well as additional Oscar nominations for “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “The Wind Rises,” “The Tale of The Princess Kaguya,” and “When Marnie Was There.”

Many of these animated films have previously been distributed by Walt Disney Studios in the United States, which has caused some confusion among fans who think that Disney actually makes these movies.  However, Disney’s contract to distribute the Studio Ghibli movies expired years ago, though recently, the two companies collaborated on a special animated short featuring Baby Grogu from “The Mandalorian”.

As part of the deal, Max will be the future home of the Oscar-winning and Golden Globe-winning film, “The Boy and the Heron”, which will be coming to Max later this year. This hand-drawn, original story is Hayao Miyazaki’s first feature film in 10 years, written and directed by the Academy Award-winning director. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi.

Elizabeth Bannan Atcheson, VP, of Content Acquisitions, Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a statement:

“Our subscribers are always looking for unique stories, and we are happy to continue to offer these award-winning, critically acclaimed films and to add ‘The Boy and the Heron’ to our deep and rich Max content offering,” said

Here’s a list of movies in the deal:

• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
• Castle in the Sky (1986)
• My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
• Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
• Only Yesterday (1991)
• Porco Rosso (1992)
• Ocean Waves (1993)
• Pom Poko (1994)
• Whisper of the Heart (1995)
• Princess Mononoke (1997)
• My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999)
• Spirited Away (2001)
• The Cat Returns (2002)
• Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
• Tales from Earthsea (2006)
• Ponyo (2008)
• The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
• From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
• The Wind Rises (2013)
• The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)
• When Marnie Was There (2014)
• Earwig and the Witch (2020)
• The Boy and the Heron (2023

So unfortunately for Disney+ subscribers, this deal being extended means fans of Studio Ghibli will need a Max subscription to watch these fantastic animated films.

Would you have liked to have seen the Studio Ghibli films on Disney+?  Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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