CELEBRITY

Listen Up, You Can Now Stream Every Studio Ghibli Movie on HBO Max

© 1988 – Studio Ghibli/My Neighbor Totoro

Need another way to escape reality? You can now watch the entire Studio Ghibli collection on HBO Max.

© 2001 – Studio Ghibli/Spirited Away

Studio Ghibli films have enthralled us for decades, and it’s a relief that we’re now able to binge-watch them again through this stressful time. For years, Studio Ghibli creatives have been against streaming films online and instead preferred releasing films in theaters. They believed the presentation of films was the key to a positive movie theater experience for audiences around the world. They also didn’t see a need for streaming as home video sales were extremely successful.

This all changed in the past decade when Studio Ghibli underwent a significant transformation. The founder, Hayao Miyazaki retired back in 2013, while the co-founder, Isao Takahata passed away five years later. The remaining founders were uncertain of Studio Ghibli’s future but were positively influenced by other artists’ opinions of streaming in the digital age. With Studio Ghibli’s newfound appreciation for the diverse number of streaming platforms online, coupled with the launch of HBO Max, the deal was sealed.

Staring today, HBO Max users can stream any Studio Ghibli film in their home. Truly, a whimsical Miyazaki movie is the best medicine to help us all forget our worries during this pandemic.

So don’t delay! You could be flying on a broomstick with Kiki in Kiki’s Delivery Service or living with a dreamy wizard in a magical mechanical home in Howl’s Moving Castle. Return to the fantasy world of Studio Ghibli that will always hold a special place in our hearts.