Fans of Studio Ghibli in the U.S. and Canada will be delighted with the news that the studio's film catalog is now available to rent. According to TechCrunch, this is the first time that Studio Ghibli's films can be finally rented in North America.
Starting on Tuesday, 22 films from the studio will be finally available to rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, and Microsoft.
Films such as Oscar winner "Spirited Away" and nominees "Howl's Moving Castle" and "When Marnie Was There" will be priced at $4.99 per title, as per Variety.
Studio Ghibli is Expanding its Streaming Options
Thanks to HBO Max, Studio Ghibli's film catalog became available for streaming in the U.S. since 2020. Now, thanks to digital rentals, the studio is expanding its streaming options, as per ComicBook.
A deal was struck by GKIDS, a U.S. film distribution company, to release Studio Ghibli's films to digital rental platforms, as per Variety.
All rentals will be available in HD. The films will be in original Japanese language but there will be English dubs as well.
This is the first time that Studio Ghibli's films are made available through digital rental.
According to Variety, since GKIDS obtained the North American film distribution rights to the studio's films in 2011, the catalogue has been one of the pillars of the distributer's business.
In 2017, it was followed by the home media rights. Previously, the Walt Disney Company is the one distributing Studio Ghibli's films.
Since 2017, GKIDS hosted a series of limited run screenings in partnership with Fathom Events. The studio's films were subjected to limited screenings throughout the year.
In 2019, the film catalog became available for digital purchase. Since 2020, the films are being streamed in the U.S. on HBO Max through an exclusive deal with GKIDS.
Read Also: Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki Finally Speaks Up About Makoto Shinkai's 'Your Name'
Viewers Can Now Rent All 22 Films of Studio Ghibli
Aside from "Spirited Away," "Howl's Moving Castle" and "When Marnie Was There," other titles which are now available to rent are "Castle in the Sky," "Ponyo," "Princess Mononoke," "The Cat Returns," and "The Tale of The Princess Kaguya."
"Earwig and the Witch," "From Up on Poppy Hill," "My Neighbors the Yamadas," "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind," "Ocean Waves," "Only Yesterday," "Pom Poko," "Porco Rosso," "The Secret World of Arrietty," "Tales from Earthsea," "Whisper of the Heart" and "The Wind Rises" are also available for rental.
In the past years, viewers cannot download the titles legally in the U.S. as the Japanese animation studio didn't make their films available digitally.
However, in 2017, GKIDS obtained the theatrical distribution rights for Studio Ghibli films in North America, as per TechCrunch.
Now, because of the new deal with GKIDS, customers can rent the movies, and it is no longer necessary for them to pay the $9.99 or $14.99 subscription to HBO Max, as per TechCrunch.
Viewers also no longer need to purchase Studio Ghibli films on digital platforms for around $12 to $17. Because of the deal struck by GKIDS, these anime movies can now be rented for a lower price of $4.99.
Related Article: HBO Max to Exclusively Stream Studio Ghibli Films including 'Spirited Away' and 'My Neighbor Totoro'
