It has been a beautiful Christmas this year. I'm always sad to see the red and green go away each season but just because the holidays are fading doesn't mean that family fun in Oklahoma City must also come to end. In fact, it's a good time to take a break from the lights and tinsel for a change of scenery. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art has a theater series going on now that provides a nice break from all the holiday themes: Studio Ghibli's classic anime selections.
Looking for spontaneous weekend plans? This Saturday and Sunday are the last showings of some different cinema that you won't find at the average box office. Here's what you'll find on the big screen at the Museum of Art:
"Spirited Away" – Saturday, Dec. 27, 2 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 28, 5 p.m.
"Howl's Moving Castle" – Saturday, Dec. 27, 5 p.m.
"Princess Mononoke" – Saturday, Dec. 27, 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m.
Studio Ghibli at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art was featured in this week's Weekend Picks too, our editors' selections of the 10+ best family events around the metro. It's published on Thursdays and you can have it delivered to your inbox by signing up here.
I'm not an anime fan but taking my seven-year-old son, Sam, to see something different made it worth attending and I enjoyed the films because there weren't predictable plots or themes. The animation style is visually striking and it was a break from the usual in every way with scenes more akin to art than anything you'd find on a Saturday morning. We saw two selections and the show times had just enough time between them to have a quick walk-around and visit to the Museum's gift shop. It was a nice, low-key activity after having gone into labor unexpectedly earlier in the week. More importantly, it's something Sam will remember that stands out from the usual.
I doubt that my toddler could have sat through the cinema portion of our afternoon out but I realized there was a ready alternative if my husband had been able to attend with him: Drop-In Art is Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. The theme for the Dec. 27 is Bubble Prints and there's a special Sunday session too, Chihuly-Inspired Window Hangers. Classes feature local artists and are free for Museum members or included with regular Museum admission.
Tickets to attend the Studio Ghibli shows are $5 for Museum members, $9 for non-member adults and $5 for children.
