GKIDS Films Will Release Studio Ghibli's 'Ocean Waves'

Between GKIDS Films and Disney, almost every film from Studio Ghibli has now been released in the United States. Isao Takahata's Only Yesterday was one of the last hold-outs, finally arriving in the US this year, only 25 years after its original release. One more Ghibli production that has yet to be released in North America is Ocean Waves, a 1993 film directed by Tomomi Mochizuk. Based on a novel by Saeko Himuroy, it was originally made to be screened on Japanese television.

Although made for TV, GKIDS are going to give viewers in the US a chance to see it in cinemas in a brand spanking new 4K restoration. It will be receiving a limited run at New York's IFC Center from December 28th, and will also screen for one night only in LA's Egyptian Theatre. It will then screen at select cinemas in the US and Canada throughout January, February, and March. A home release will follow in spring 2017.

Ocean Waves was the first Studio Ghibli film directed by anyone other than Hayo Miyazaki or Isao Takahata and functioned as a training exercise for Studio Ghibli's younger staff at the time. The plot revolves around a pair of teenage friends who's relationship is tested by the arrival of a beautiful new transfer student.

Although never released in the US, Ocean Waves has been released elsewhere, receiving DVD releases in the UK and Australia some time ago.

The list of confirmed screenings follows:

New York, NY IFC Center December 28, 2016
Toronto, ON TIFF January 3, 2017
Albuquerque, NM Guild Cinema January 6, 2017
Fort Lauderdale, FL TBD January 7, 2017
Kansas City, MO Screenland Armour January 9, 2017

Portland, OR OMSI Empirical Theater January 11, 2017
Los Angeles, CA American Cinematheque January 12, 2017
Chicago, IL Gene Siskel Film Center January 13, 2017
Denver, CO Denver Film Society January 13, 2017
Santa Ana, CA The Frida Cinema January 13, 2017
Tempe, AZ Harkins Valley Art January 13, 2017


Waterloo, ON Princess Cinema January 13, 2017
Atlanta, GA Plaza Theatre January 13, 2017
San Francisco, CA Roxie Theatre January 16, 2017
Fairfax, VA Angelika Mosaic January 17, 2017
Washington, DC Angelika Pop-Up January 17, 2017
Dallas, TX Angelika Dallas January 17, 2017
Plano, TX Angelika Plano January 17, 2017
San Diego, CA Angelika Carmel January 17, 2017
Honolulu, HI Consolidated Theatres Kahalas January 17, 2017
Pittsburgh, PA Row House Cinema January 20, 2017
Vancouver, BC Vancity Theatre January 20, 2017
Columbus, OH Gateway Film Center February 9, 2017
Cleveland, OH Cleveland Cinematheque February 23, 2017
Port Orchard, WA Dragonfly Cinema March 10, 2017