Studio Ghibli has been enchanting audiences for over four decades with an endless catalog of timeless classics. In 2023, Nippon TV acquired a majority stake, making the legendary animation house a subsidiary.
On May 27, Nippon TV's official website updated with details from their May 25 press conference. During the briefing, Nippon TV President Hiroyuki Fukuda finally addressed the burning question: "Will Studio Ghibli films ever hit streaming platforms?"
According to their official website, a reporter pointed out that "Studio Ghibli films are currently unavailable for streaming in Japan, severely limiting how audiences can access them." They then asked if there were plans to bring Ghibli titles to platforms like Hulu. Fukuda's response?
"For now," Fukuda stated, "we intend to stick with our long-standing tradition of broadcasting Ghibli films during the 'Kinyo Road Show!' terrestrial TV slot. This approach is highly valued by both Studio Ghibli and Nippon TV." He added, "Of course, we're aware of the significant public interest and expectations for streaming, and discussions on the matter will continue."
This statement immediately ignited a firestorm on X (formerly Twitter), with many Japanese netizens scratching their heads over Nippon TV's stubborn stance. A common sentiment was that Nippon TV's "TV-centric" mindset is completely out of touch with modern viewing habits.
One user bluntly put it: "We're in the age of subscriptions! Sticking to this is a massive misstep."
Another critic chimed in: "This bizarre insistence actually reduces opportunities for people to engage with the films, ultimately shortening their cultural lifespan."
The point about "young people not watching TV" was brought up repeatedly. One netizen lamented, "Many young people living alone don't even own a TV anymore. If Ghibli doesn't seriously consider streaming, they'll just drift further and further from the younger generation."
Others highlighted the decline of DVD rental stores: "Back in the day, you could catch up on films by renting DVDs. Now, in Japan, it's almost exclusively waiting for 'Kinyo Road Show!' to air Ghibli. A lot of young people are growing up without ever seeing these movies!"
And then there's the widespread frustration over the "overseas can watch, but Japan can't" paradox. One user quipped, "Ghibli is clearly on Netflix abroad, but we can't watch it in Japan? That's just bizarre!"
Furthermore, some netizens believe that Ghibli might be a little too late to the streaming game. One person mused, "Have they already missed the optimal window for this transition? TV viewership is constantly dropping, and the era where 'anime film = Ghibli' isn't quite what it used to be."
Nippon TV President's recent comments once again underscore the clash of values within Japan's television industry, caught between traditional broadcasting and the streaming generation. For many Japanese netizens, Ghibli films remain undisputed classics, but if access continues to be restricted, concerns are mounting about whether new generations will continue to discover and cherish them.
via： X@ricon_anime_