Studio Ghibli is looking to provide something special to its supporters this holiday season. The entire catalog of its hit anime movies will soon be available to purchase digitally for your – or your friend’s – amusement.
The library, which includes classic anime films like Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Ponyo, and more can be purchased starting on December 17, as announced by GKIDS, the distributor, online rather than having to find it on DVD. You will be able to find the films across multiple platforms including Apple TV, Amazon VOD, Fandango Now, Vudu, Microsoft, Sony, and Google Play, according to THR.
This decision also comes as streaming its 21-film catalog may get more difficult come the launch of HBO Max. Earlier this year, it was announced that all the famed Japanese animated films by Studio Ghibli would be streaming exclusively on NBC’s upcoming streaming service. Sometime in May, all the films on other services will disappear and only be available to stream on that single platform.
They haven’t explicitly said how long the download-to-own model will stick or if it’s only over the holiday season.
Studio Ghibli was started back in 1985 Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki and quickly rose to fame for their well-created and classic anime films.