Los Angeles is about to get very misty-eyed, very animated and very busy.
This month, the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills is hosting an ambitious Studio Ghibli marathon: all 22 films from the legendary Japanese animation studio, screened across a multi-day run of double features, often clocking in at three to four hours.
The marathon kicks off with Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, an introduction to Hayao Miyazaki’s obsession with flight, nature and moral complexity. From there, the lineup moves through some of the studio’s most beloved contrasts: My Neighbor Totoro is paired with the devastating Grave of the Fireflies; Kiki’s Delivery Service alongside the reflective Only Yesterday; and Pom Poko followed by Porco Rosso.
Heavy hitters like Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo are all here, of course, but the schedule also makes room for quieter favorites and later-era works. You’ll find Whisper of the Heart, From Up on Poppy Hill, The Wind Rises and When Marnie Was There, culminating in The Boy and the Heron, Miyazaki’s most recent (and possibly most personal) film.
All screenings are subtitled and take place at the historic Fine Arts Theatre at 8556 Wilshire Boulevard, a classic movie house that feels well-suited to Ghibli’s hand-drawn worlds. Seating is limited, tickets are final and shows are likely to sell out, especially the weekend slots, so planning ahead is strongly advised.
For longtime fans, it’s a rare chance to see the entire Ghibli canon the way it was meant to be seen: on a big screen, in sequence, with an audience that knows exactly when to laugh, gasp or quietly sob. For newcomers, it’s a crash course in why Studio Ghibli has inspired such deep devotion for nearly four decades. Either way, clear your calendar and bring some tissues.
Find more information about the film marathon here.
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