In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Studio Ghibli’s 1988 classics My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies, Studio Canal has announced that UK fans will be able to experience a recreation of the original Japanese double-bill feature with the two anime masterpieces set to receive a nationwide theatrical release this month.
“While their mother recovers from an illness, Satsuki and her little sister Mei get away from it all in an idyllic rural retreat. Far from the bustle of the city, they discover a mysterious place of spirits and magic, and the friendship of the Totoro woodland creatures. Conceived as a family film devoid of conflict and suffused with the joy of country living, MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO is a masterpiece for the whole family, uniting the unique vision of Hayao Miyazaki with a feel-good tale of childlike wonder and true originality.”
“Set in Japan during World War II, GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES focuses on Seita and his little sister Setsuko. After their mother I skilled in an air raid, and with their father serving in the navy, they are forced to fight for survival in the devastated Japanese countryside. Food and shelter are scarce, and even their own relatives are too concerned with their own survival. All they have is each other and their belief that life must carry on. Isao Takahata and his team, including character animator Yoshifumi Kondo, have created a visually stunning and emotionally powerful meditation on the devastating consequences of war.”
The Studio Ghibli double-bill of My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies will hit UK cinemas on Friday, May 24th.
Originally published May 17, 2013. Updated April 10, 2018.
