Prepare your inner-child, and any children that you may have, for the utter joy that is Studio Ghibli as the Light House Cinema celebrates the Japanese animation house with 3 whole months of screenings, from May 1st to July 24th.
The Light House Cinema is delighted to present this selection of some of the many wonderful films from one of the most acclaimed animation studios in the world, Studio Ghibli. The films of directors such as Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata are beautifully hand-drawn works of art that transport audiences of all ages to fantastical worlds filled with unforgettable characters. Join them as we enjoy some of the most imaginative stories ever brought to life on screen!
All films will be screened in Japanese language with English subtitles.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
3pm, Sunday May 1st
Miyazaki’s audacious tale of Princess Nausicaa and her protection of the Ohmu, an insect race threatened by the Valley’s neighbours and an essential element to a fragile eco-system, was based on his own manga. Set in the distant future in the aftermath of a global war that has destroyed human civilization. Only small pockets of people have survived and one such place is the Valley of Wind, where Princess Nausicaä lives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McM0_YHDm5A
3pm, Sunday May 8th
Jumping overboard on a flying ship to avoid capture, Sheeta is rescued by her powerful crystal necklace which floats her down to safety. Sheeta longs to see Laputa, the castle in the sky, but the pirates are after its treasure and its secret powers. As the different parties fight over who gets control of Laputa, it’s up to Sheeta to use her ancient knowledge to save it from destruction. Ghibli’s first film is a thrilling adventure set in an alternate 19th Century, and produces a high quality anime style that sets the benchmark for the films to follow.
3pm, Sunday May 15th
6.30pm, Monday May 16th
While their mother recovers from an illness, Satsuki and her little sister Mei get away from it all on a rural retreat. Far from the bustle of the city, they discover a mysterious place of spirits and magic, and the friendship of the charming Totoro woodland creatures. Cited by Akira Kurosawa as one of his favourite Japanese films of all time, My Neighbour Totoro introduced the world to the much loved Totoro, now an icon and the logo of Studio Ghibli itself.
3pm, Sunday May 22nd
6.30pm, Tuesday May 24th
Grave of the Fireflies is the achingly beautiful story of Seito and his little sister Setsuko as they struggle to survive when their mother is killed in an air-raid in WWII. Isao Takahata’s heart-breaking drama is one of the masterpieces of Japanese animation. A true masterpiece, this is a devastating and unexpected piece that doesn’t pull any punches in its depiction of a country at war, and a family desperate to stay together at all costs.
3pm, Sunday May 29th
Adapted by Hayao Miyazaki from the children’s book by Eiko Kadono, Kiki’s Delivery Service is a magical parable that will entertain girls and boys alike. It follows the fun-filled escapades and new friendships of a young trainee witch, Kiki, who must leave her family on the night of a full moon to learn her craft. Arguably Ghibli’s most accessible title, it represented a major breakthrough in the studio’s fortunes as Japan’s highest grossing film of 1989, and a family favourite throughout the world.
3pm, Sunday June 5th
Realising that she is at a crossroads in her life, bored twenty-something office worker Taeko heads for the countryside. The trip dredges up forgotten memories, childish romance, puberty and growing up; the frustrations of maths and boys. In lyrical switches between the present and the past, Taeko wonders if she has been true to the dreams of her childhood self. This adult drama surprised its audience by tackling subjects usually dealt with in live action, and went on to become Japan’s highest grossing domestic title in 1991.
8.30pm, Wednesday June 15th
3pm, Sunday June 19th
In one of the most successful films of all time at the Japanese box office, Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece depicts the story of a young warrior, Ashitaka, who travels far from his remote village seeking a cure to his battle wound, eventually finding a human enclave under siege from deities of times past, wolves of the hills, and San, a wild girl of the woods. Miyazaki’s epic tale bridges history and fantasy, and as well as being a colossal hit in the domestic market, it also put Ghibli on the map internationally.
Studio Ghibli Fancy Dress Party + Spirited Away
Party from 8pm, film at 10.30pm on Saturday June 25th
Are you a Moro or Totoro? Kiki or Catbus? Ponyo or Porco? The Liht House Cinema is super-excited to host their first Studio Ghibli Fancy Dress party on Saturday 25th June followed by a late night screening of Hayao Miyazaki’s celebrated Oscar-winning vision Spirited Away on the big screen! So whether you’re a Princess Mononoke or Princess Kaguya, channel your inner cosplayer and join them for a night of Ghibli-themed fun. Please note that while the film is rated PG, the party will be an over 18s event.
3pm, Sunday June 26th
6.30pm, Wednesday June 29th
A visionary work, Spirited Away was the winner of the 2001 best animated feature Oscar®, and is one of Studio Ghibli’s most universally appealing films. The film tells the story of Chihiro’s adventures and struggles rescuing her parents from an evil witch by working in a bathhouse to the gods.
3pm, Sunday July 3rd
6.30pm, Tuesday July 5th
From Oscar®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki and based on the book by Diana Wynne-Jones, Howl’s Moving Castle is set in a magical world of wizards and spells. The story follows the adventures of Sophie, a young girl trapped in an old woman’s body by an evil sorcerer’s curse.
2pm, Sunday July 10th
6.30pm, Monday July 11th
Hayao Miyazaki places Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid in a contemporary Japanese setting with the story of a little fish from the sea named Ponyo, who struggles to realise her dream of living with a boy named Sosuke.
3pm, Sunday July 17th
In The Wind Rises, his farewell masterpiece, writer and director Hayao Miyazaki pays tribute to engineer Jiro Horikoshi and author Tatsuo Hori in this epic tale of love, perseverance, and the challenges of living and making choices in a turbulent world.
2.30pm, Sunday July 24th
When an aging bamboo cutter finds a tiny girl in a glowing stalk of bamboo he and his wife decide to raise her as their daughter. Growing at a rapid rate, she soon becomes an enchanting and beautiful young lady, but beneath the magic she holds a secret that will affect the lives of all those she encounters.