Studio Ghibli comes to Netflix

In a statement, Netflix said it was ‘very excited’ to release the films on its platform and described the studio’s work as ‘whimsical and wonderful’. Studio Ghibli is currently producing two new films, though their release dates are yet to be announced. If they’re anything like its most famous films, most notably Spirited Away, then we’ve got plenty to look forward to.

For now I’d recommend starting with The Castle In The Sky, an adventure story that offers the first glimpses of what would become the studio’s trademark narrative style. Clearly inspired by Spielberg, the film mixes swashbuckler adventure with a strong sense of spirituality, offering up gorgeously painted backdrops and wide shots of detailed architecture that are considered classic examples of steampunk fiction.

Spirited Away is perhaps the studio’s most well known film outside of Japan, and will be available in the next drop in March. There’s no word on whether the US will also be able to view the films via Netflix in the future, but for everyone else, it’s an excellent time to jump into animated film.