Empress Middleton/The Mossy Log
If you love finding unique and whimsical activities in Portland, then the 2026 Studio Ghibli film festival is the perfect event for you. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) started hosting the event series on Jan. 16, and it will continue until March 2. Over these weeks, OMSI holds viewings of 21 fan-favorite films hand-selected by Studio Ghibli’s American distribution team: GKIDS. This curated catalogue is distributed amongst showtimes every afternoon and evening, excluding Mondays and Wednesdays. Most films are also available for viewing in either a subtitled or dubbed English format, which is indicated when purchasing a ticket.
According to IMAX, there have been other Studio Ghibli film festivals in the past, but these were usually limited to select theaters. That was the case this past year, when the company celebrated its 40th anniversary during the 2025 fest. However, this year there is even more to celebrate. The significance of this year’s festival includes not only Studio Ghibli’s first collaboration with OMSI’s Empirical Theater, but also the upgrade of select films with new and improved composition, most notably, “Princess Mononoke”. The Empirical Theater reintroduces classics like “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” as well as many others gracing screens once more for the company’s biggest celebration yet. To kick off the festival, the Empirical Theater hosted a special opening night to showcase, having undergone a 4K resolution restoration and upgrades to the original sound engineering, “Princess Mononoke.
According to OMSI’s website, the museum itself does exhibit other festival or marathon-adjacent events in the Empirical Theater. These family friendly events draw audiences from younger and older demographics alike.
I had a great time attending this event and would highly recommend seeing your favorite Ghibli film in all its extravagance. Choosing a film among their extensive catalog was certainly a challenge, seeing as throughout my adolescence, these movies have been a source of comfort.
Narratively, most Studio Ghibli films are situated in the worldview of children. And as young protagonists skillfully maneuver immeasurably foes, the film reminds you of all the triumphs and tribulations that come with being small. In the end, the film I chose to see was “Ponyo,” which started about 10-15 mins after the showtime.
The Empirical Theater is very large, even for a museum auditorium, and I would say this greatly contributed to my enjoyment of the experience. The vastness of both the screen and audience heightened the sense of wonder that accompanies both museums and Studio Ghibli films. Watching “Ponyo,” like most films by Studio Ghibli, was simultaneously calming and exhilarating. I have not paid so much attention to an animation’s miniscule details since I was Ponyo’s age. These animations, which are remarkably vibrant and intricate, feel as tangible re-released as they had in my imagination or memory. Now on the largest viewing screen, the rush of adventure seemed that much more tangible. An element of wholesomeness was present in the young audiences’ reactions in the theater. Many theater-goers at OMSI were young enough to be seeing the film for the first time, and hearing their gasps and laughter stretched out and echoed in the large auditorium added to the uplifting atmosphere. Viewing the movie in the myriad of new conditions was comparable to seeing it for the first time. I would absolutely go watch another one and if you are a fan of Studio Ghibli, I cannot recommend this event more.
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