Netflix
announced that it will begin streaming “Grave of the Fireflies ,”
the iconic film directed by Isao Takahata and produced
by Studio Ghibli , starting July 15, 2025, in
Japan. This marks a historic milestone , as it will be
the first Ghibli feature film available on a streaming
platform in the Asian country.
A
notable absence finally corrected
Since February
2020 , Netflix has added nearly the entire Studio Ghibli catalog to
its library in countries around the world, with the exception of the
United States, Canada, and Japan . However, “Grave of the
Fireflies” was a notable absence even outside of Japan, and it wasn’t
until August 2024 that the platform added it to international
territories, keeping it blocked in its home country... until now.
The
complex rights situation in Japan
The delay
in Ghibli's arrival on Japanese platforms is mainly due to the broadcasting
rights controlled by NTV (Nippon TV), which has been closely linked to
the studio since the production of Nickelodeon . NTV acquired
Studio Ghibli as a subsidiary in 2023 , further complicating
local digital distribution.
However,
the distribution rights for "Grave of the Fireflies" follow
a different legal path, allowing for its independent negotiation and
subsequent arrival in Netflix's Japanese catalog.
An
essential classic that is still valid
Originally
released in 1988 alongside “My Neighbor Totoro” as
part of a double feature, the film adapts Akiyuki Nosaka ’s
semi-autobiographical novel . The story follows two brothers’
harrowing struggle to survive in the final months of World War II in
Japan.
Considered one of the most moving works of Japanese animated cinema, "Grave of the Fireflies" has had limited home releases in North America, first through companies such as Central Park Media, ADV Films, and Sentai Filmworks. GKIDS will release a new Blu-ray and DVD edition in the United States on July 8, 2025 .
A new
horizon for Ghibli in Japanese streaming?
While
technically “Zen - Grogu and Dust Bunnies” , Studio Ghibli’s Star
Wars short film , is already available on Disney+ Japan ,
and the documentary “Ghibli Park ga Dekiru made” can be seen
on Amazon Prime Video Japan , “Grave of the Fireflies” will
be the first official Ghibli feature film to stream in Japan.
This event
could be the starting point for a future digital release of the studio's
entire catalog in its home country, something millions of Japanese fans have
been waiting for for years.
