Paris (AFP)
Netflix strengthens in Japanese animation: the American streaming giant will be able to broadcast on several continents the masterpieces of director Hayao Miyazaki, such as "Le voyage de Chihiro", "Princesse Mononoké", or "Mon voisin Totoro" .
The American group announced in a press release that it has signed an agreement giving it access to a catalog of 21 films from Studio Ghibli, which it will broadcast from February 1 in the countries where it is active, with the exception of three territories: United States, Canada and Japan. An announcement that corresponds, according to Netflix, to a desire "to develop its exceptional offer of animated films".
"Our decision to distribute our catalog of films in streaming corresponds to a request from our fans. We hope that this initiative will allow many spectators in the world to discover the universe of Studio Ghibli," explained in a statement from Netflix Toshio Suzuki, producer at Studio Ghibli.
These films include cult works such as "Le voyage de Chihiro" (the dreamlike journey of a little girl immersed in a fantasy universe populated by spirits), or "Princess Mononoke" (the story of a princess raised by a wolf ), which combine the imagination of Japanese traditions, and contemporary themes such as ecology and anti-militarism.
The 21 animated films will be available online by April 1, 2020.
This agreement allows Studio Ghibli to complete the international distribution of its catalog in streaming, since it had already signed an agreement at the end of 2019, covering the United States, with the HBO Max service of the group Warner Media.
© 2020 AFP