Asian media and entertainment company mm2 Entertainment has entered into a five-year distribution partnership with Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli, bringing the renowned Japanese animation studio’s acclaimed films back to theatrical audiences in Southeast Asia.
The deal includes 21 Studio Ghibli films, including Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro. mm2 will re-release popular movies in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Cambodia.
Parent company mm2 Asia operates a chain of cinemas in Singapore and Malaysia, providing direct access to moviegoers. The first Studio Ghibli release under this deal is scheduled for later this year.
Studio Ghibli recently won the honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In addition, the ArtScience Museum in Singapore will hold an exhibition called “The World of Studio Ghibli”.
The Southeast Asian release comes after Studio Ghibli’s belated initial release in China generated considerable box office revenue. “My Neighbor Totoro” was released in the Middle Kingdom in 2018, about 30 years after its release in Japan, and “Ponyo” was released in 2020, 12 years after its original release. The 2001 film “Spirited Away” was released in China in 2019, outselling the then-new film “Toy Story 4” in its opening weekend. Recently, China has become the biggest theatrical market for “The Boy and the Heron.”
Chan Long Jeong, Group CEO of mm2 Asia, said: “Studio Ghibli films are world-renowned for their artistry, storytelling, and emotional resonance. This partnership will bring these beloved classics to Southeast Asian audiences and bring them to the big screen as intended. We are confident that this collaboration will introduce the world of Studio Ghibli to a new generation of fans.”
Junichi Nishioka, Studio Ghibli’s Vice President of Public Relations, Curation, Archives and International Distribution, added: “The Ghibli Museum and Ghibli Park in Mitaka are visited by many tourists from Southeast Asia every day. Hayao Miyazaki recently won the prestigious Magsaysay Award. I feel that the people of Asia are enjoying it, and I would be very happy if we could take this opportunity to share our work with more people and the children who will be born in the future.”