Japan’s is partnering with Singapore-based mm2 Entertainment to rerelease ‘s beloved anime classics in cinemas across Southeast over the next five years. The distribution deal, unveiled by the two companies Thursday, will see mm2 release 21 of Ghibli’s iconic films, including fan favorites like , and , across seven territories: Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Cambodia. The plan continues Ghibli’s highly lucrative leveraging of its library in recent years.
Undertaking a similar strategy in mainland China, the company has earned tens of millions by making Miyazaki’s work available to a new generation of Chinese moviegoers. The maestro’s earned $26 million from a China rerelease in 2018, followed by with $69 million in 2019. Other titles have followed.
Mm2 said the first titles in the Studio Ghibli library will be given the rerelease treatment in Southeast Asia later this year. The company’s parent company, mm2 Asia, operates cinema chains in Singapore and Malaysia, where it will handle the marketing and distribution of the Ghibli titles directly. In other markets, it will work with partners.
“Studio Ghibli’s films are renowned worldwide for their artistry, storytelling, and emotional resonance,” said Chang Long Jong, Group CEO of mm2 Asia. “This partnership allows us to bring these beloved classics to Southeast Asian audiences, where they can be enjoyed on the big screen as intended. We are confident that this collaborati.