Max has agreed a new U.S. licensing deal extension with GKIDS. The new agreement ensures the Studio Ghibli catalog will remain available on the streaming service for years to come. The deal will also make Max the U.S. streaming home of The Boy and the Heron, the winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at this year’s Oscars.
Prior to the transition to Max in May 2023, HBO Max had been the streaming home of Studio Ghibli content ever since the streaming service launched back in 2020. As this was also the first time Studio Ghibli movies had become available to stream in the U.S., Max continues to be a great choice for fans of the animation studio’s collection.
That is now unlikely to change for some years to come. While Warner Bros. Discovery did not confirm how long the extension was for, the company did announce it is a multiyear agreement, suggesting nothing will change over the next few years.
“Our subscribers are always looking for unique stories, and we are happy to continue to offer these award-winning, critically acclaimed films and to add ‘The Boy and the Heron’ to our deep and rich Max content offering,” said Elizabeth Bannan Atcheson, VP, Content Acquisitions, Warner Bros. Discovery.
In terms of the Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron, Max didn’t confirm when it will become available to stream, but did state an announcement confirming the streaming premiere date will be made later this year.
In the meantime, Max subscribers can continue to stream the following Studio Ghibli titles.
- Castle in the Sky (1986)
- The Cat Returns (2002)
- Earwig and the Witch (2020)
- From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
- Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
- Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
- My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
- My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999)
- Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
- Ocean Waves (1993)
- Only Yesterday (1991)
- Pom Poko (1994)
- Ponyo (2008)
- Porco Rosso (1992)
- Princess Mononoke (1997)
- The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)
- Spirited Away (2001)
- The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)
- Tales from Earthsea (2006)
- When Marnie Was There (2014)
- The Wind Rises (2013)
- Whisper of the Heart (1995)
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