GKIDS


GKIDS is an American film and television distributor. Based in New York City, GKIDS releases mostly international animated films and television series to North American audiences, as well as American films by independent filmmakers. The name is said to be an acronym for "Guerrilla Kids International Distribution Syndicate".
In March 2024, The Boy and the Heron became the company's first theatrical release to win Best Animated Feature Film at the Academy Awards. In October 2024, it was announced GKIDS would be sold to Japanese entertainment company Toho, becoming a subsidiary of the Los Angeles-based Toho International. The deal was completed in 2025.

History

GKIDS was founded by Eric Beckman in 2008. He previously co-founded and ran the New York International Children's Film Festival. Their first general release was Azur & Asmar, a French film dubbed in English for British and Irish audiences.
The company attained national recognition with the 2010 release of The Secret of Kells, which received a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 82nd Academy Awards. They also received two more Best Animated Feature nominations at the 84th Academy Awards, Spanish-language Chico and Rita and French-language A Cat in Paris. Both nominations were considered highly surprising by film insiders, beating out such notables as The Adventures of Tintin and Cars 2. This marked the first time that an independent distributor had two films in the Best Animated Feature category in the same year, a decision which Puss in Boots director Chris Miller said indicated the academy's "respect for diversity."
In September 2011, GKIDS announced the acquisition of the North American theatrical distribution rights to the Studio Ghibli library, which were previously held by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, however, retained the home media distribution rights. GKIDS would later also managed the North American distribution of three new Studio Ghibli films: From Up on Poppy Hill in 2013, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya in 2014, and When Marnie Was There in 2015 as well as the first-time North American releases of Only Yesterday and Ocean Waves in 2016.
On July 17, 2017, it was announced that the North American home media rights to the Ghibli library had transitioned from Disney to GKIDS, with the distributor announcing plans to begin re-issuing the films beginning in October. The Wind Rises would eventually be reissued by GKIDS on September 2020.
In 2020, partnering with TMS Entertainment, GKIDS handled the American and Canadian release of Lupin III: The First, a 3DCG film adaptation of Monkey Punch's Lupin the Third franchise.
In October 2020, GKIDS announced their license to the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, as well as the films Death 2 and The End of Evangelion for a release in 2021.
In February 2022, GKIDS and Fox Corporation's Tubi announced that they had entered into a content partnership deal.
In March 2022, GKIDS announced their license to Makoto Shinkai's earlier works, Voices of a Distant Star, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, 5 Centimeters per Second and Children Who Chase Lost Voices, all of which were scheduled for release on home video in 2022.
On October 15, 2024, Toho announced their intent to acquire GKIDS for an undisclosed amount. The deal was completed in 2025, with GKIDS officially becoming a subsidiary of Toho International.

Style and reception

Founder Eric Beckman has described the animated market in the U.S. as "dominated by expensive-to-produce, expensive-to-distribute movies." GKIDS received Oscar nominations for each of its first three films.
GKIDS has been called "one of the most notable independent distribution companies in the US," and "the country's best distributor traditional hand-drawn animation." Industry magazine Film Journal International said, "The reason GKIDS films keep getting nominated despite the company's low profile is that, simply put, their films tend to be really good."
Twenty-two feature films released by GKIDS have a perfect, 100% "Fresh" rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes: Sita Sings the Blues, Approved for Adoption, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, Only Yesterday,
Mind Game, Grave of the Fireflies, Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki,
This Magnificent Cake!, Okko's Inn, On-Gaku: Our Sound, Goodbye, Don Glees!, Summer Ghost, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time,'' The First Slam Dunk, Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia, Blue Giant, Mars Express, Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds, Look Back, 100 Meters, Kokuho, and Angel's Egg. Sita Sings the Blues, combining stylistic elements of Rajput painting, shadow puppetry, vector graphic animation, and Squigglevision, was selected by Chicago Sun-Times reviewer Roger Ebert for his annual Ebertfest, calling it "one of the year's best films".
Not all have been broadly successful with critics, though: Mia and the Migoo, Tales from Earthsea, Fireworks, MFKZ, Earwig and the Witch, The Deer King and Lonely Castle in the Mirror'' are, as of June 2023, the only seven with "Rotten" ratings.

Films distributed by GKIDS

US titleOriginal titleCountryUS releaseRotten Tomatoes score
Tahaan: A Boy With a GrenadeTahaanIndia
Azur & Asmar: The Princes' QuestAzur et AsmarFrance
81%
Trouble at TimpetillLes Enfants de TimpelbachFranceAugust 22, 2009
Sita Sings the BluesSita Sings the BluesUnited States 100%
''France, Belgium, Ireland
90%
West of PlutoÀ l'ouest de PlutonCanada
Summer WarsSamā WōzuJapan79%
Eleanor's SecretKérity, la maison des contesFrance
Mia and the MigooMia et le MigouFrance-Italy
38%

89%

96%

93%

98%

100%

95%

88%

83%

92%

93%

78%

96%

90%
Chico & RitaChico y RitaSpain
88%
'Une vie de chatFrance83%
Tales of the Night'France80%
The Rabbi's CatLe Chat du rabbinFrance
94%
Approved for AdoptionCouleur de peau: mielFrance-Belgium 100%
WrinklesArrugasSpain93%
'Momo e no TegamiJapan80%
From Up on Poppy HillKokuriko-zaka karaJapan87%
''France81%
Ernest & CelestineErnest et CélestineFrance-Belgium98%
Patema InvertedSakasama no PatemaJapan73%
NocturnaNocturna, una aventura magicaSpain-France
Welcome to The Space Show'Uchū Show e YōkosoJapan
The Tale of the Princess KaguyaKaguya-hime no MonogatariJapan100%
Song of the SeaSong of the SeaIreland99%
The Kingdom of Dreams and MadnessYume to Kyōki no ŌkokuJapanJanuary 27, 201592%
When Marnie Was ThereOmoide no MarnieJapan92%
ZarafaZarafaFrance-Belgium76%
Kahlil Gibran's The ProphetKahlil Gibran's The ProphetCanada65%
Boy and the WorldO Menino e o MundoBrazilDecember 11, 201593%
Only YesterdayOmoide PoroporoJapanJanuary 1, 2016100%
April and the Extraordinary WorldAvril et le Monde truquéFrance-Belgium-CanadaApril 1, 201697%
Phantom BoyPhantom BoyFrance-BelgiumJuly 15, 201688%
A Town Called Panic: Double FunPanique au Village: Double PlaisirFrance-BelgiumSeptember 24, 2016
Miss HokusaiSarusuberi: Miss HokusaiJapanOctober 14, 201693%
Ocean WavesUmi ga KikoeruJapanDecember 28, 201689%
My Life as a ZucchiniMa vie de CourgetteSwitzerland-FranceFebruary 24, 201799%
My Entire High School Sinking into the SeaMy Entire High School Sinking into the SeaUnited StatesApril 14, 201784%
The Girl Without HandsLa Jeune Fille sans mainsFranceJuly 21, 201795%
Mune: Guardian of the MoonMune, le gardien de la luneFranceAugust 12, 201780%
Revolting RhymesRevolting RhymesUnited KingdomAugust 15, 201786%
Napping PrincessHirune-hime: Shiranai Watashi no MonogatariJapanSeptember 8, 201768%
The BreadwinnerThe BreadwinnerCanada-Ireland-LuxembourgNovember 17, 201795%
Howl's Moving CastleHauru no Ugoku ShiroJapanNovember 26, 201788%
Mary and the Witch's FlowerMeari to Majo no HanaJapanJanuary 18, 201889%
Tales from EarthseaGedo SenkiJapanFebruary 6, 201837%
Mind GameMaindo GēmuJapanFebruary 16, 2018100%
Birdboy: The Forgotten ChildrenPsiconautas, los niños olvidadosSpainMarch 13, 201894%
PonyoGake no Ue no PonyoJapanMarch 25, 201891%
Lu Over the WallYoaketsugeru Rū no UtaJapanMay 11, 201878%
Satellite Girl and Milk CowUribyeol Ilho-wa EolluksoSouth KoreaJune 5, 2018
FireworksUchiage Hanabi, Shita Kara Miru ka? Yoko Kara Miru ka?JapanJuly 3, 201845%
Grave of the FirefliesHotaru no HakaJapanAugust 12, 2018100%
The Night Is Short, Walk On GirlYoru wa Mijikashi Aruke yo OtomeJapanAugust 21, 201890%
Perfect BluePāfekuto BurūJapanSeptember 6, 201884%
The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales...Le Grand Méchant Renard et autres contes...France-BelgiumSeptember 23, 201897%
MFKZMutafukazFrance-JapanOctober 11, 201839%
MiraiMirai no MiraiJapanNovember 29, 201890%
Never-Ending Man: Hayao MiyazakiOwaranai Hito Miyazaki HayaoJapanDecember 13, 2018100%
Modest HeroesChīsana Eiyū: Kani to Tamago to Tōmei NingenJapanJanuary 7, 201986%
This Magnificent Cake!Ce magnifique gâteau!Belgium, France, The NetherlandsMarch 1, 2019100%
Okko's InnWaka Okami wa Shōgakusei!JapanApril 22, 2019100%
FunanFunanFrance-Luxembourg-BelgiumJune 7, 201993%
Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the TurtlesBuñuel en el laberinto de las tortugasSpainAugust 16, 201998%
Another Day of LifeJeszcze dzień życiaPoland, Spain, Belgium, Germany, HungarySeptember 13, 201989%
The Case of Hana & AliceHana to Arisu Satsujin JikenJapanSeptember 17, 2019
PromarePromareJapanSeptember 20, 201997%
The Secret World of ArriettyKari-gurashi no AriettiJapanSeptember 29, 201994%
Genius PartyJīniasu PātiJapanOctober 15, 2019
Genius Party BeyondJīniasu Pāti BiyondoJapanOctober 15, 2019
Weathering with YouTenki no KoJapanOctober 18, 2019
January 17, 2020		93%
White SnakeBáishé: YuánqǐChinaNovember 15, 201970%
Aya of Yop CityAya de YopougonFranceNovember 26, 2019
Summer Days with CooKappa no Kū to NatsuyasumiJapanJanuary 21, 2020
Ride Your WaveKimi to, Nami ni NoretaraJapanFebruary 19, 202093%
Tokyo GodfathersTōkyō GoddofāzāzuJapanMarch 9, 202092%
Marona's Fantastic TaleL'Extraordinaire Voyage de MaronaFranceJune 21, 202096%
Children of the SeaKaijū no KodomoJapanAugust 11, 202062%
The Wind RisesKaze TachinuJapanSeptember 1, 202088%
WolfwalkersWolfwalkersIreland, Luxembourg, FranceNovember 13, 202099%
On-Gaku: Our SoundMusicJapanNovember 20, 2020100%
Lupin III: The FirstRupan Sansei Za FāsutoJapanDecember 11, 202095%
Earwig and the WitchĀya to MajoJapanFebruary 3, 202128%
Lupin III: The Castle of CagliostroRupan Sansei Kariosutoro no ShiroJapanJuly 16, 202196%
Evangelion: Death ²Shin Seiki Evangerion Gekijōban: Shi to ShinseiJapanDecember 8, 2021
The End of EvangelionShin Seiki Evangerion Gekijōban: Air/Magokoro wo, Kimi niJapanDecember 8, 202192%
BelleBelle: Ryū to Sobakasu no HimeJapanJanuary 14, 202295%
Pompo the CinephileEiga Daisuki Pompo-sanJapanApril 29, 202296%
Panda! Go, Panda!Panda KopandaJapanMay 6, 2022
Panda! Go, Panda!: Rainy Day CircusPanda Kopanda: Amefuri Circus no MakiJapanMay 6, 2022
Fortune Favors Lady NikukoGyokō no Nikuko-chanJapanJune 3, 202291%
5 Centimeters per SecondByōsoku Go SenchimētoruJapanJune 7, 2022
Voices of a Distant StarHoshi no KoeJapanJune 7, 2022
The Place Promised in Our Early DaysKumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no BashoJapanJune 7, 202271%
Children Who Chase Lost VoicesHoshi wo Ou KodomoJapanJune 7, 2022
The Deer KingShika no Ō: Yuna to Yakusoku no TabiJapanJuly 13, 202259%
Inu-OhInu-OhJapanAugust 12, 202291%
Goodbye, Don Glees!Gubbai, Don Gurīzu!JapanSeptember 14, 2022100%
Summer GhostSamā GōsutoJapanNovember 1, 2022100%
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a TimeShin Evangerion Gekijō-ban: ?JapanDecember 6, 2022100%
New Gods: Yang JianXin Shen Bang: Yang JianChinaJanuary 20, 202363%
Giovanni's IslandJoban'ni no ShimaJapanFebruary 21, 202378%
Unicorn WarsUnicorn WarsSpainMarch 10, 202380%
Spirited Away: Live on StageButai "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi"JapanApril 23, 2023
Lonely Castle in the MirrorKagami no KojōJapanJune 21, 202350%
The First Slam DunkThe First Slam DunkJapanJuly 28, 2023100%
Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to GibberitiaErnest et Célestine: Le voyage en CharabieFranceSeptember 1, 2023100%
Blue GiantBlue GiantJapanOctober 8, 2023100%
The Boy and the HeronKimitachi wa Dō Ikiru kaJapanDecember 8, 202396%
Chicken for Linda!Linda veut du poulet!FranceApril 5, 202494%
Mars ExpressMars ExpressFranceMay 3, 2024100%
Ghost in the Shell 2: InnocenceInnocenceJapanJune 23, 202465%
Sirocco and the Kingdom of the WindsSirocco et le Royaume des courants d'airFrance-BelgiumAugust 11, 2024100%
Dan Da Dan: First EncounterDandadan: Fāsuto EnkauntāJapanSeptember 13, 2024
Look BackRukku BakkuJapanOctober 4, 2024100%
Ghost Cat AnzuBakeneko Anzu-chanFrance-JapanNovember 15, 202474%
A Silent VoiceKoe no KatachiJapanDecember 15, 202495%
The Colors WithinKimi no IroJapanJanuary 24, 202592%
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-Kidō Senshi Gandamu Jīkuakusu -Beginning-JapanFebruary 28, 2025
Witch Watch: Watch PartyWitchi Wotchi: Wotchi PātīJapanMarch 16, 2025
COLORFUL STAGE! The Movie: A Miku Who Can’t SingGekijōban Purojekuto Sekai: Kowareta Sekai to Utaenai MikuJapanApril 17, 2025
Wolf ChildrenŌkami Kodomo no Ame to YukiJapanMay 11, 202595%
Dan Da Dan: Evil EyeDandadan: JashiJapanJune 6, 2025
Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death – The MovieJujutsu Kaisen: Kaigyoku / GyokusetsuJapanJuly 16, 2025
Shin GodzillaShin GojiraJapanAugust 14, 202587%
Love & PopRabu & PoppuJapanSeptember 1, 2025
Your NameKimi no Na waJapanSeptember 1, 202598%
The Legend of Hei IILuo Xiaohei Zhan Ji 2ChinaSeptember 5, 2025
Linda Linda LindaRinda Rinda RindaJapanSeptember 5, 202588%
The Girl Who Leapt Through TimeToki o Kakeru ShōjoJapanSeptember 14, 202587%
100 MetersHyakuemuJapanOctober 10, 2025100%
Evangelion: 1.11 You Are AloneEvangerion Shin Gekijō-ban: JoJapanOctober 21, 202571%
Evangelion: 2.22 You Can AdvanceEvangerion Shin Gekijō-ban: HaJapanOctober 21, 202582%
Little Amélie or the Character of RainAmélie et la Métaphysique des TubesFranceOctober 31, 202598%
KokuhoKokuhoJapanNovember 14, 2025100%
Angel's EggTenshi no TamagoJapanNovember 19, 2025100%
Liz and the Blue BirdRizu to Aoi ToriJapanDecember 1, 202583%
Millennium ActressSennen JoyūJapanDecember 1, 202593%
Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution – Shibuya Incident x The Culling Game BeginsJujutsu Kaisen: Shibuya Jihen x Shimetsu KaiyūJapanDecember 5, 202571%
Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: The Immortal BloodlineLupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no KetsuzokuJapanJanuary 4, 2026
All You Need Is KillAll You Need Is KillJapanJanuary 16, 202692%
Hard BoiledLat Sau San TaamHong KongJanuary 25, 202692%
A Better TomorrowYing Hung Boon SikHong KongMarch 1, 202694%
The Boy and the BeastBakemono no KoJapanMarch 17, 202690%
The KillerDip Huet Seung HungHong KongApril 5, 202696%
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy BottomShaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy BottomUnited KingdomFall 2026
Godzilla Minus ZeroGojira Mainasu ZeroJapanNovember 6, 2026
SunnySunnyJapan2029
Allah Is Not ObligedAllah N'est pas ObligéFrance, Luxembourg, Belgium, Canada
Another WorldAnother WorldHong Kong
ChaOChaOJapan

Some Studio Ghibli films currently theatrically distributed by GKIDS were distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures for DVD and Blu-ray Disc. However, on July 17, 2017, GKIDS announced that they have acquired the home video rights for the entire Studio Ghibli catalog except Grave of the Fireflies, which the US home video rights had been licensed under Sentai Filmworks, although GKIDS did own the US theatrical rights to the film and would eventually acquire the home media rights with a Blu-ray and DVD release on July 8, 2025; and The Wind Rises, which GKIDS would eventually release digitally on September 1, 2020, and on Blu-ray and DVD on September 22, 2020.
The company also tours selections of short and feature films screened at NYICFF across the country. In mid-2009, the live-action features Tahaan and West of Pluto were licensed for potential general releases but plans for both were dropped by late 2011 in favor of a focus on animation. GKIDS would eventually refocus on live-action films in 2025 with a limited screening of Love & Pop, as well as a nationwide screening for Shin Godzilla and Linda Linda Linda.