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    Gateway Unspools Full Ghibli Anime Program

    Beginning January 1 and running until summer 2016, Gateway Film Center will unspool one anime film from Studio Ghibli every weekend until their entire catalog has been screened. For fans of anime, this unique event is sure to draw notice.

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    According to Johnny DiLoretto, director of communications for GFC, the program sprang from a relationship between the film center, the New York based GKids and Studio Ghibli. GKids is an American distributor geared principally to high quality international animated films. The Tokyo based Ghibli has released some of the most lauded animation in the world, but is known primarily because of the work of Hayao Miyazaki, among the most successful and beloved animators on earth.

    Says DiLoretto, “Chris Hamel, our president and programmer, has built a relationship with GKids over several years. We have always played anime in our mix of movies, and fans turn out to support the films. There may be no more passionate fanbase for anime than the one for Studio Ghibli, so we’re thrilled to serve them with this unprecedented event.”

    There has been no full catalog showcase of Ghibli anywhere on earth. According to DiLoretto, the idea to change that belongs to GFC president Chris Hamel.

    “Since the film center’s inception he’s been committed to global cinema and animation, so this seemed a natural step,” he says. “And, if you know Chris, you know he doesn’t do anything half way. He set out to do something big and inclusive and took aim at the entire Ghibli catalog.”

    DiLoretto thinks the program will appeal to longtime fans as well as newcomers to anime – folks like himself.

    “I am actually an anime neophyte, so this is an exciting development for me and for others new to anime,” he says. “The films of Miyazaki are masterworks irrespective of genre, and I particularly like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke — those are terrific, near perfect entry points into the realm of anime.”

    The series will boast screenings of every Miyazaki film, as well as the rest of the animated features in the Ghibli catalog.

    “You have to admire their commitment to excellence,” DiLoretto says of the animation studio. “The animation is always beautiful and they frequently feature proactive female characters — something we don’t see enough of. This is the studio’s thirtieth year and you have to hand it to them — their output over three decades is incredibly reliable. In my opinion, Pixar doesn’t match the Ghibli output in terms of consistency.”

    There are films in the series that have never screened in Columbus, and several of the events will screen in 35 mm. DiLoretto says the film center has other surprises in store.

    “We love to make individual screenings their own events, so we’re hard at work finding fun, unexpected ways to bring the films off the screen for moviegoers,’ he says.

    Response to the program has already been very positive.

    “It was wonderful to hear from so many passionate people who shared their excitement about the program,” says DiLoretto. “We’re hearing from people here in Columbus and across the country about this series, because it’s never been done and there are so many people who love Studio Ghibli. It just underscores the connection people are making to the film center’s unique program. We’ve built a reputation for innovating, bringing surprising programming to Columbus that lets people experience movies that couldn’t otherwise see on the big screen.”

    Word of mouth and social media buzz are important for the theater, allowing it to spend more energy on programming than on marketing.

    “As a non-profit, independent theater, we’ve had the freedom to build something special here,” says DiLoretto. “We believe each week we are presenting a moviegoing experience that’s unparalleled in Columbus, in Ohio — and really, around the country. But since we’re not a big box theater, we have some limitations on how we can get the word out. So people talking about Ghibli at GFC all around the country helps raise awareness. We want as many people to hear about it as they can, so they can come here from next door or states away and enjoy it!”

    Showtimes will vary and tickets will be regular price. The complete Ghibli at GFC schedule follows:

    • January 1 NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND (1984)
    • January 8 CASTLE IN THE SKY (1986)
    • January 15 MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988)
    • January 22 GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (1988) In Japanese with English subtitles.
    • January 29 KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE (1989)
    • February 5 PORCO ROSSO (1992)
    • February 12 OCEAN WAVES (1993) In Japanese with English subtitles.
    • February 19 POM POKO (1994) in 35mm
    • February 26 ONLY YESTERDAY (1991) Ohio premiere
    • March 4 WHISPER OF THE HEART (1995) in 35mm
    • March 11 PRINCESS MONONOKE (1997)
    • March 18 MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS (1999)
    • March 25 SPIRITED AWAY (2001)
    • April 1 THE CAT RETURNS (2002)
    • April 8 HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (2004)
    • April 15 TALES FROM EARTHSEA (2006)
    • April 22 PONYO (2008)
    • April 29 THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY (2010)
    • May 6 FROM UP ON POPPY HILL (2011)
    • May 13 THE WIND RISES (2013)
    • May 22 THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA (2013)
    • May 29 WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE (2014)

    For more information, visit gatewayfilmcenter.org.

    Read more from Hope at MADDWOLF and listen to her weekly horror movie podcast, FRIGHT CLUB.

    Looking for more film events in Columbus? CLICK HERE to visit our Events Calendar.

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    Hope Madden
    Hope Maddenhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Hope Madden is a freelance contributor on Columbus Underground who covers the independent film scene, writes film reviews and previews film events.
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