Entering 2025 was honestly very difficult. I knew it would mark another year, the 3rd, without Ethan’s physical presence. However, THIS year has another ring to the longing of sharing life with him. It would be his 25th…

In honor of Ethan’s amazing capacity to share life through creativity, artwork and story telling, we have chosen to frame this years remembering activities through his love of Studio Ghibli. To those who choose to remember Ethan with us, we invite you to look back on the years of having him near through the ways he shared it with each of us. I have learned that sharing Ethan’s joyful spirit, now that he is heavenward, brings the color of his life back into focus. So, ending year three provides another chance to remember how he loved all of us by sharing his joys with us.

WHAT: JOLT-ON 2025 Memorial Game Days remembering Ethan through the world of Studio Ghibli

Ethan loved to share his favorite characters and story elements. He found unique ways to weave Ghibli life into the days we were with him.

WHEN: May 30th through June 9th, 2025

This time period starts on Ethan’s 25th Birthday and ends with his Heaven day. You are welcome to extend out into the year ahead if your timeline of remembering is further along in the calendar.

SCHEDULE: Wang Family Events to Remember

Our Family will remember Ethan with the following activities and will share them here during the Memorial Game Days:

• Studio Ghibli Film Festival 2025 – check your local movie theater locations for their current schedule of Ghibli fan favorite movies. You can see the full listing of movie features showcased between May 15th and the end of September this year at gkids.com.
  • If you are in the Fox Valley Illinois area, you might find us at the theater enjoying a box of Mike ‘n Ikes with one off the shows below!
    May 18th begins with Kiki’s Delivery Service
    June 22nd – 24th: The Secret World of Arriety
    July 19th – 23rd: My Neighbor Totoro
    August 10th – 12th: Grave of the Fireflies
    August 23rd – 27th: Ponyo
    September 20th – 24th: Howl’s Moving Castle
    
• Ghibli inspired art/craft activities – we will share with you the joyful ways Ethan brought the characters of Ghibli movies to life.
  
• Ghibli gear. A commemorative Memorial edition t-shirt is available for Ethan’s 25th Birthday. These t-shirts are available from Stickermule.com and showcase the characters of Princess Mononoke as the 2025 JOLT-ON! graphic and are just $19 (we do not make a profit as these are sold at cost through the StickerMule website). Simply a fun way to remember and carry Ethan with us. They ship pretty fast too! Choose from:
  – San and Moro
  – Ahitaka and Yakul
  
• TBD: Studio Ghibli Trivia Night – stay tuned for the date!

HOW: Set aside time to remember Ethan the stories of Studio Ghibli

Here are some creative ideas to encourage you to join us…

• Host a Studio Ghibli watch party with your friends and share a new title together. Two of Ethan’s favorites are Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away! Your local library should have the movies for borrowing or stream from your favorite service.
• Play the video game Ni No Kuni I or II on the Playstation 3 or 4, PC, or Nintendo Switch platforms.
• Create origami characters from the movies.
• Remember food favorites and gather friends to enjoy them with you… Ghibli inspired snacks, ramen, sushi, gimbap… just to name a few!
• Host a Ghibli themed trivia night. Encourage friends in competitive fun with the movies and characters as you gather to remember!
• Wear a favorite Ghibli gear/t-shirt on Ethan’s would be 25th birthday (May 30th) and Leap Day (June 9th).

We are looking forward to all the ways you are remembering Ethan as this third year comes to a close! Please share in the comments below. If you have a file or image to include, please email it to jolton@wfour.net and we will add it to your comment post.