‘The Boy and the Heron’ Headed to Max as Streamer Extends Studio Ghibli Deal

Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron has a streaming destination in the United States.

Max has landed streaming rights to the animated film under an extension of its deal to be the exclusive streaming home for the films of Studio Ghibli, the revered animation studio founded by Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. GKIDS, which handles North American distribution for Studio Ghibli, and Max have inked a multi-year extension to keep the studio’s library on the Warner Bros. Discovery platform.

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“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 for Warner Bros. Discovery.

The Studio Ghibli library has been part of Max’s catalog since it launched (as HBO Max) in 2020. The initial deal with GKIDS marked the first time that the studio’s full roster of movies was licensed to a U.S. streaming service.

A debut date for The Boy and the Heron on Max will be announced later. The film is the second best animated feature Oscar winner for Studio Ghibli and for Miyazaki, after 2002’s Spirited Away.

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