GKIDS and Fathom Events Partner to Bring Ultimate Series of Animated Masterpieces to U.S. Cinemas Throughout 2017
Series Highlights Six of Studio Ghibli’s Most Treasured Films on the
Big Screen in STUDIO GHIBLI FEST and a U.S. Theatrical Premiere of
‘Mune: Guardian of the Moon’ Beginning This Summer
DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Following the success of the “Spirited Away” and “Princess Mononoke”
cinema events, GKIDS, the acclaimed distributor of multiple Academy Award®-nominated
animated features, and Fathom Events, the leading distributor of event
cinema, are proud to announce a partnership to bring the biggest series
of anime titles to U.S. audiences throughout 2017. The series features
Studio Ghibli’s revered animated classics, a selection of GKIDS new
release titles and an ongoing animated short film mini-festival.
The 2017 partnership kicks off with the iconic “My Neighbor Totoro,”
from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, on Sunday, June 25 and Monday,
June 26. “Totoro” is the first title in STUDIO
GHIBLI FEST, a six film monthly series which continues with “Kiki’s
Delivery Service,” “Castle In The Sky,” “Nausicaä of the
Valley of the Wind,” “Howl’s Moving Castle” and a special
cinema-run of the Academy Award-winning “Spirited Away” timed for
Halloween.
GKIDS is also partnering with Fathom Events to release “Mune:
Guardian of the Moon,” from the producers of “The Little Prince,”
for the first time in U.S. cinemas. Two additional new release titles
are anticipated as part of the 2017 GKIDS/Fathom lineup.
All GKIDS events will include GKIDS MINIFEST, an ongoing festival
of award-winning short animated films from around the world, as part of
the exclusive event experience.
Tickets for these titles can be purchased beginning Friday, April 28,
2017 online by visiting www.ghiblifest.com,
www.FathomEvents.com
or at participating theater box offices. Moviegoers throughout the U.S.
will be able to enjoy these events in select movie theaters. A complete
list of theater locations will be available April 28 on the Fathom
Events website
(theaters and participants are subject to change).
“We are extremely proud to be partnering again with GKIDS to bring these
beloved animated films to the big screen, including some of Hayao
Miyazaki’s most iconic works,” Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said. “Fans
across the nation will now have the unique opportunity to experience
these brilliant films as they were meant to be seen, on the big screen
with full cinema sound, and together with their friends and families.”
“We are thrilled to be expanding our successful partnership with Fathom
to bring Studio Ghibli and other GKIDS films to movie theaters
nationwide,” said GKIDS CEO Eric Beckman. “Together we are creating an
exciting and unique cinema event experience for Studio Ghibli fans to
come celebrate their favorite films, while introducing wide new
audiences to some of the most amazing animated films of all time.”
“My Neighbor Totoro” (1988) – Sunday, June 25 and Monday, June 26
STUDIO
GHIBLI FEST kicks off with one of Studio Ghibli’s most iconic films (and
characters) in this family classic from legendary director Hayao
Miyazaki. Two young girls, Satsuki and Mei, move with their father to a
new house in the countryside. But country life is not so simple as it
seems, as they soon discover the house and nearby woods are full of
strange and delightful creatures, most notably a family of Totoros,
gigantic but gentle bear-like forest spirits that can only be seen by
children.
“Kiki’s Delivery Service” (1989) – Sunday, July 23 and Monday,
July 24
This is the beloved coming-of-age story of a resourceful
young witch who uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to
lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt. It is tradition for
all young witches to leave their families on the night of a full moon
and set out into the wide world to learn their craft. When that night
comes for Kiki, she embarks on her life journey with her chatty black
cat, Jiji, landing the next morning in a picturesque seaside village,
where a bakery owner hires her to make deliveries.
“Castle In The Sky” (1986) – Sunday, August 27 and Monday, August
28
This title is a rollicking adventure about a young girl with a
mysterious crystal pendant, who falls out of the sky and into the arms
and life of young Pazu – a consummate mechanic obsessed with aircrafts.
Together they search for Laputa, the floating island in the sky, and
site of a long-dead civilization promising enormous wealth and power to
those who can unlock its secrets. But greedy pirates, spies and the army
are also all in hot pursuit!
“Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (1984) – Sunday, September
24 and Monday, September 25
There are few films, animated or
otherwise, of such sweeping scope and grandeur as this one. Set in a
devastated future world decimated by atmospheric poisons and swarming
with gigantic insects, Nausicaä is a young princess, both brave and
innocent, whose love for all living things and passionate determination
to understand the processes of nature lead her into terrible danger,
sacrifice and eventual triumph.
“Spirited Away” (2001) – Sunday, October 29 and Monday, October 30
Following
the smash-hit 15th anniversary celebration, the Academy
Award-winning masterpiece “Spirited Away” returns to movie theaters as
part of this unique Studio Ghibli celebration, just in time for
Halloween. 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.
“Howl’s Moving Castle” (2004) – Sunday, November 26 and Monday,
November 27
“Howl’s Moving Castle” is an acclaimed fantasy based on
the novel of the same name, and the second Studio Ghibli film
(after “Spirited Away”) to be nominated for Best Animated Feature at the
Academy Awards. Sophie, an average teenage girl working in a hat shop,
finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her
feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. However, after this
chance meeting, the young girl is turned into a 90-year old woman by the
vain and conniving Witch of the Waste. Embarking on an incredible
adventure to lift the curse, she finds refuge in Howl’s magical moving
castle.
“Mune: Guardian of the Moon” (2017) – Dates TBD
Plunge into
a world of wonder, magic and mythology in this fantastic animated
adventure from the producers of “The Little Prince,” hailed by critics
as “stunning! Like a made-for-children Avatar!” (Le Monde) In a land
divided between the realms of day and night, the Guardian of the Sun
keeps watch over the sun maintaining light and warmth to all of
humanity. The Guardian of the Moon lures the moon to the Land of
Darkness to provide a balance to the sun and supply the world with
dreams. At the momentous ceremony to appoint the two new guardians, the
unexpected occurs: the heir apparent is passed over, and the title
Guardian of the Moon is bestowed on Mune, a small forest faun who seems
wholly unprepared to take on such a weighty responsibility. Now it is up
to unlikely hero Mune and his friend Glim – a headstrong young girl with
wax for skin – to save the sun and restore order to the world.
For artwork/photos related to this series, visit the Fathom Events press
site.
About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is recognized as the leading domestic distributor of event
cinema with participating affiliate theaters in all 100 of the top
Designated Market Areas®, and ranks as one of the largest overall
distributors of content to movie theaters. Owned by AMC Entertainment
Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal
Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) (known collectively as AC JV, LLC),
Fathom Events offers a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events
such as live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera,
dance and theatre productions like the Bolshoi Ballet and National
Theatre Live, sporting events like Copa America Centenario, concerts
with artists like Michael Bublé, Rush and Mötley Crüe, the yearlong TCM
Big Screen Classics film series and inspirational events such as To Joey
With Love and Kirk Cameron’s Revive US. Fathom Events takes audiences
behind the scenes and offers unique extras including audience Q&As,
backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the
ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network
(“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America,
bringing live and pre-recorded events to 896 locations and 1,383 screens
in 181 DMAs. For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.
About GKIDS
GKIDS is a producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation
for both adult and family audiences. Since 2010, the company has scored
an astounding nine Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations – including
The Secret of Kells, A Cat in Paris, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and
Boy and the World. GKIDS also handles North American theatrical
distribution for Oscar winner Hayao Miyazaki’s famed Studio Ghibli
library of films, one of the world’s most coveted animation collections
with titles “Spirited Away,” “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Princess Mononoke”
and others. GKIDS founder and CEO Eric Beckman is also co-founder of New
York International Children’s Film Festival, an Oscar-qualifying event
and North America’s largest film festival for children and teens.
About Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by animation directors Hayao Miyazaki
and Isao Takahata and is one of the most successful and well-respected
animation studios in the world. Cultivating a creative force of talented
directors, animators, and storytellers under the revered brilliance of
Miyazaki and Takahata, Studio Ghibli’s films have been praised for their
originality, dazzling animation, and epic storytelling. The films have
become a beloved part of Japanese popular culture, and have garnered
worldwide acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Hayao Miyazaki’s
Spirited Away won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature of 2002
and in 2005 Miyazaki was named one of “the most influential people” by
TIME Magazine.
Contacts
Fathom Events
Jessica Nelson, 720-262-2753
jnelson@fathomevents.com
or
Katherine
Schwappach, 720-262-2713
kschwappach@fathomevents.com
or
Scoop
Marketing for Fathom Events
Erik Stein, 818-761-6100
estein@solters.com
or
GKIDS
Hannah
Rimm, 212-528-0500 x110
Hannah@gkids.com
or
42West
for GKIDS
Todd Nickels, 212-277-7555
todd.nickels@42west.net
or
Annalee
Paulo, 310-477-4442
annalee.paulo@42West.com
or
Brigade
for GKIDS
Tahajah Samuels, 917-580-6566
tahajah@brigademarketing.com
