The Event Experience

There were impressive displays of official merchandise from Bandai Namco and BoxLunch, featuring a giant Jiji cat alongside other Studio Ghibli properties, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and more.

A postcard writing table invited us to write personal messages to a loved one. The cards featured original concept art by Yoshifumi Kondo (animation director and character designer of Kiki’s Delivery Service), printed for one of two IMAX posters created for the 4K release. Kondo also directed Whisper of the Heart, another Ghibli classic that will receive its own 4K IMAX remaster in theaters.

Before seating, we picked up our movie snacks from the complimentary concession stand, which included not only popcorn but also bread from one of my favorite bakeries, Okayama Kobo! Eating bread while watching a movie where a witch-in-training lives above a bakery? Perfect.

The Magic of 4K Remastering

I haven’t seen the film in over 5 years, so watching a remastered Kiki’s Delivery Service in 4K on the IMAX screen was pure joy. The hand-drawn details of this older film, now magnified and sharpened, truly showed the care for animation that Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli painstakingly put into their work. The bustling city crowds felt alive, like each background figure had a story of their own rather than just being “extras.” The architectural details and the lush greenery also added to the feeling like I was watching it for the first time all over again. 

My heart was smiling the entire time, and seeing the hand-drawn animation at this scale, every brushstroke and painted background, is a great reminder that real human hands created this film. The 4K remaster lets longtime fans rediscover details they may have missed and lets new viewers appreciate the beloved film that still resonates with audiences today.

Coming-of-Age, Loneliness, and Self-Care Themes

Even though Kiki’s Delivery Service was released in 1989, its themes still resonate with viewers, especially with adults. Kiki is a witch-in-training who has to live on her own for a year, all while dealing with the struggles of fitting in to a new town, managing the little money that she has, finding a way to support herself, and going through a form of depression due to burnout.

Doesn’t it sound familiar in today’s environment? People who have ever felt like they’re “losing their spark” will find comfort in this movie and be encouraged to take a break and reset. 

From Elusive to Main Stream

There was a time when watching a Studio Ghibli film meant importing DVDs or hoping a friend had a copy, even if it didn’t have English subtitles. For many Western fans, seeing an IMAX screening of an animated film from 1989 would have seemed impossible a couple of decades ago. Now, thanks to the success of Princess Mononoke’s 4K IMAX remaster last year, fans can continue to experience Studio Ghibli stories together and on the biggest screen possible. 

Watch Kiki’s Delivery Service in 4K IMAX nationwide on Friday, March 13, 2026, for one week only. The next two Studio Ghibli 4K IMAX remasters will be one-day-only releases of Whisper of the Heart on April 21, 2026, and The Secret World of Arrietty on May 19, 2026.

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The Glassworker premiered at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 10, 2024, and was released in Pakistani theaters on July 26, 2024. The film will be released in the United States, with a special sold-out screening tonight at Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles featuring a Q&A with director Riaz and moderator Sabeen Faheem.

If you have seen the poster and the trailer, it is giving off Studio Ghibli vibes. It is no surprise since it is produced by Mano Animation Studios’ Geoffrey Wexler, who has worked for the iconic Japanese animation studio with films such as From Up on Poppy Hill, The Wind Rises, Only Yesterday and more.

Siddhant Adlakha of Variety: “The Glassworker goes beyond merely aping Miyazaki’s distinctive style. It gets to the heart of the anti-war sentiment that underscores much of his work.”

Swara Salih of The Nerds of Color had this to say about the film: “With his inaugural film that he’s worked on for over 10 years, Riaz and his team have made a resounding contribution to animation and cinema, giving us a timeless tale with so, so much to say.”

Frank J. Avella of The Conteding: “I loved this film so much and the theme of art being paramount to our lives could not be more vital right now. The movie also explores the difficulties inherent in two people connecting when they share conflicting ideologies.”

About The Glassworker

Synopsis: Young Vincent and his father, Tomas, run the finest glass workshop in the country and find their lives upended by an impending war in which they want no part. The arrival in their town of an army colonel and his young, talented violinist daughter, Alliz, shakes their reality and tests the relationship between father and son.

The English voice cast includes Art Malik, Sacha Dhawan, Anjli Mohindra, Tony Jayawardena, Teresa Gallagher, Maya Soraya, Sham Ali, and Mina Anwar.

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Studio Ghibli Fest returns this year with a selection of fan-favorite and iconic titles including Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service and Pom Poko. This comes after Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron won an Oscar for best-animated feature film.

On September 19th, GKIDS and BoxLunch hosted a special event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Howl’s Moving Castle with a 35mm screening and reception. BoxLunch donates food to Feeding America for purchases made via its stores, and it has a selection of Howl’s Moving Castle apparel and merchandise including cardigans, hoodies, tapestry throws, candle mood lights, coin purses and more. You can visit the online store at https://www.boxlunch.com/pop-culture/shop-by-license/howls-moving-castle/.

About Howl’s Moving Castle

Synopsis: Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a curse on Sophie and turns her into a 90-year-old woman. On a quest to break the spell, Sophie climbs aboard Howl’s magnificent moving castle and into a new life of wonder and adventure. But as the true power of Howl’s wizardry is revealed, Sophie finds herself fighting to protect them both from a dangerous war of sorcery that threatens their world.

The film is directed by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke) and features the voice talents of Lauren Bacall, Christian Bale, Billy Crystal, Blythe Danner, Emily Mortimer and Jean Simmons.

The post Howl’s Moving Castle Heads Back to Theaters for 20th Anniversary appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The Studio Ghibli style is no accident since it’s directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, an animator who has worked on projects including Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Grave of the Fireflies, Porco Rosso, and more.

About The Imaginary

Synopsis: Studio Ponoc’s The Imaginary portrays the depths of humanity and creativity through the eyes of young Amanda and her imaginary companion, Rudger, a boy no one can see imagined by Amanda to share her thrilling make-believe adventures. But when Rudger, suddenly alone, arrives at The Town of Imaginaries, where forgotten Imaginaries live and find work, he faces a mysterious threat.

The film is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose and based on the novel of the same name by A.F. Harrold and illustrated by Emily Gravett (Bloomsbury Publishing). It was produced and written by Yoshiaki Nishimura (The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There).

Studio Ponoc’s credits include Modest Heroes and Mary and the Witch’s Flower.

The voice cast includes Louie Rudge-Buchanan (Rudger), Evie Kiszel (Amanda), Hayley Atwell (Lizzie), Sky Katz (Emily), Jeremy Swift (Mr Bunting), Kal Penn (Zinzan), LeVar Burton (The Old Dog), Jane Singer (Granny Downbeat), Ruby Barnhill (Aurora), Roger Craig Smith (Snowflake), Courtenay Taylor (Cruncher-of-Bones), and Miles Nibbe (John),

The Imaginary will debut on Netflix on July 5, 2024.

The post Netflix’s The Imaginary Trailer Gives Off Studio Ghibli Vibe Thanks to Director Yoshiyuki Momose appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Godzilla Minus One has been praised by critics and moviegoers with a 98% Tomatometer and an A on CinemaScore, which polls audiences in theaters nationwide. For its domestic box office, it has grossed over $34 million, adding to the $64 million worldwide total.

“Yeah, I’m very, very excited,” Godzilla Minus One director Takashi Yamazaki tells Nerd Reactor before the film’s release in the States. “I got a taste of it at the [L.A.] premiere. And I really can’t wait to see what the reactions are on a larger scale for North America. You know, this is my first time I’m like really officially releasing a film formally in North America. So I’m really excited about what the fan reaction will be.”

Studio Ghibili’s The Boy and the Heron has also been doing well, receiving an A- CinemaScore and a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. The animated film has become the animation studios’ highest-grossing film at the North American box office with over $23 million. It has also become the highest-grossing original (non-franchise IP) Japanese animated feature in North America.

The Boy and the Heron surpasses Ponyo’s $15.7 million, director Hayao Miyazakis’ previous highest-grossing film in the States.

About The Boy and the Heron

The hand-drawn, animated feature marks the return of Miyazaki since The Wind Rises, which was released 10 years ago.

The English voice cast includes Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh.

The film has been nominated for Best Feature – Animated and Best Original Score at the Golden Globes, Best Animated Feature at the HCA’s Astra Awards, Critic’s Choice Awards, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle, Chicago Film Critics Association, and Boston Film Critics Association.

The story is written and directed by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, produced by co-founder Toshio Suzuki, and the score is composed by Joe Hisaishi. Its theme song, “Spinning Globe,” was written and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.

“The Boy and The Heron” (GKids)

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