Studio Ghibli Fest Returns for 2018

Studio Ghibli Fest 2018

Last year, the Studio Ghibli Fest, an exhibition of six anime classics, was so popular that additional showings were added.

Now comes the announcement for Studio Ghibli Fest 2018, this time with nine films.

Studio Ghibli Fest 2018

Each film is shown across three days, two dubbed (Sundays and Wednesdays) and one subtitled (Mondays). Here’s the schedule:

Ponyo

Ponyo (10th Anniversary) — Sunday, March 25; Monday, March 26; and Wednesday, March 28

When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea.

The Cat Returns

The Cat Returns — Sunday, April 22; Monday, April 23; and Wednesday, April 25

Haru is walking home after a dreary day of school when she spies a cat with a small gift box in its mouth crossing a busy street, and she jumps in front of traffic to save the cat from an oncoming truck. To her amazement, the cat gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her very politely. But things take an even stranger turn when later than night, the King of Cats shows up at her doorstep in a feline motorcade. He showers Haru with gifts and decrees that she shall marry the Prince and come live in the Kingdom of Cats!

Porco Rosso

Porco Rosso — Sunday, May 20; Monday, May 21; and Wednesday, May 23

“Porco Rosso” is a world weary flying ace-turned-bounty-hunter, whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell. When he infuriates a band of sky pirates with his heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a hotshot American rival, to get rid of him. But with the help of the teenage girl Fio, an aspiring airplane designer, and a sultry lounge singer named Gina, Porco takes to the skies for what may be his final high-flying showdown.

Pom Poko

Pom Poko — Sunday, June 17; Monday, June 18; and Wednesday, June 20

An action-packed ecological fable about the clash between nature and human civilization. The tanuki (raccoon dogs) of Tama Hills find their fun-loving community under attack when their quiet woodlands are threatened by encroaching developers looking to create still more houses and shopping malls. Desperate to survive, the tanuki band together and learn the ancient art of transformation, shape-shifting into a comical variety of humans and spirits as they undertake a last-ditch plan to scare away the humans and save their home, in this deeply-affecting, funny and heartfelt look at what it means to live in the modern world.

Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke — Sunday, July 22; Monday, July 23; and Wednesday, July 25

Inflicted with a deadly curse, the young warrior Ashitaka heads west in search of a cure. There, he stumbles into bitter conflict between Lady Eboshi, the proud people of Iron Town, and the enigmatic Princess Mononoke, a young girl raised by wolves, who will stop at nothing to prevent the humans from destroying her home and the forest spirits and animal gods who live there.

Grave of the Fireflies (30th Anniversary) — Sunday, August 12; Monday, August 13; and Wednesday, August 15

As the Empire of the Sun crumbles upon itself and a rain of firebombs falls upon Japan, the final death march of a nation is echoed in millions of smaller tragedies. This is the story of Seita and his younger sister Setsuko, two children forced to fend for themselves in the aftermath of fires that swept entire cities from the face of the earth. Their struggle is a tribute to the human spirit. Presented in its digitally remastered and restored format, Grave of the Fireflies is one of the rare films that truly deserves to be called a masterpiece.

My Neighbor Totoro

My Neighbor Totoro (30th Anniversary) — Sunday, September 30; Monday, October 1; and Wednesday, October 3

When Satsuki and her sister Mei move with their father to a new home in the countryside, they find country life is not as simple as it seems. They soon discover that the house and nearby woods are full of strange and delightful creatures, including a gigantic but gentle forest spirit called Totoro, who can only be seen by children. Totoro and his friends introduce the girls to a series of adventures, including a ride aboard the extraordinary Cat Bus, in this all-ages animated masterpiece featuring the voices of Tim Daly, Lea Salonga, and real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, in a classic tale of magic and adventure for the whole family. (Also shown last year.)

Spirited Away

Spirited Away — Sunday, October 28; Monday, October 29; and Wednesday, October 30

Chihiro thinks she is on another boring trip with her parents. But when they stop at a village that is not all that it seems, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits, shape-shifting dragons, and a witch who never wants to see her leave. She must call on the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world. (Also shown last year.)

Castle in the Sky

Castle in the Sky — Sunday, November 18; Monday, November 19; and Wednesday, November 20

This high-flying adventure begins when Pazu, an engineer’s apprentice, spies a young girl, Sheeta, floating down from the sky, held aloft by a glowing pendant. Both Sheeta and Pazu are searching for the legendary floating castle, Laputa, and they vow to travel there together to unravel the mystery of the luminous crystal. But their quest won’t be easy, as soon they are being pursued by greedy air pirates, the military, and secret government agents, who all seek the power Sheeta alone can control. (Also shown last year.)



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