Get set for Studio Ghibli Fest 2022 on April 3

Above : “Princess Mononoke” will open Studio Ghibli Fest 2022 on April 3. (Photo/Fathom Events)

Fans of Japanese animation are lucky enough to enjoy a treat every year when Studio Ghibli kicks off its annual festival. And the same will hold true in 2022.

Studio Ghibli Fest 2022 begins April 3 with a 25th-anniversary showing of Hayao Miyazaki ’s 1997 film “Princess Mononoke.” Featuring a dubbed sound track, the screening will be followed by a subtitled version on April 4 and a second dubbed version on April 6.

The film will play at AMC River Park Square as well as three Regal Cinemas locations: Northtown Mall, Spokane Valley and Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone Stadium.

The late Roger Ebert was a big fan both of Miyazaki and of “Princess Mononoke”: “The drama is underlaid with Miyazaki’s deep humanism, which avoids easy moral simplifications. … You won’t find many Hollywood love stories (animated or otherwise) so philosophical. ‘Princess Mononoke’ is a great achievement and a wonderful experience, and one of the best films of the year.”

Subsequent films in the series are as follows:

“Ponyo” : May 15, 16, 19.

“The Cat Returns” : June 26, 27.

“Kiki’s Delivery Service” : July 31, Aug. 1 and 3.

“Only Yesterday” : Aug. 28-29

“Howl’s Movie Castle” : Sept. 25, 26, 28.

“Spirited Away” : Oct. 30, Nov. 1, 2

Most of these films have been released on VHS, DVD and by various streaming services. But nothing beat seeing them as they were originally intended.

In other words, on a big screen.