Celebrating the Music of Studio Ghibli With the Toronto Symphony Orchestra →

Thursday, June 20th marked a magical evening at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall. Netflix Canada and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra hosted a select group of special guests for a celebratory gathering which culminated with a highly anticipated performance by the legendary Japanese composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi, known for his iconic scores in films from the Oscar winning Japanese studio Studio Ghibli. Attendees enjoyed a Studio Ghibli-inspired dinner curated and prepared by Japanese restaurants Miku & Minami, following a warm introduction by Toronto Symphony Orchestra CEO ​​Mark Williams. The sold-out performance featured three works: Symphony No. 3 "Metaphysica" (Joe Hisaishi), La valse(Maurice Ravel), and Spirited AwaySuite (Joe Hisaishi).

Starting with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), Hisaishi has produced music for several Hayao Miyazaki films, including My Neighbor Totoro(1988) and The Boy and the Heron(2023). He has collaborated on the music production of over 80 films at home and abroad, and his works have won many awards including several Japan Academy Film Prizes for Outstanding Achievement in Music. It was announced in March 2024that Oscar and Golden Globe® winning film The Boy and the Heron will stream on Netflix, at a date to be announced later this year, following a partnership extension with Goodfellas and GKIDS. An additional 21 Studio Ghibli films- including such beloved classics as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, The Secret World of Arrietty, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoroand The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, among others - will continue to stream on Netflix in Canada and around the world, ex-US and Japan.