Photo by Nobuhiro Hosoki
Academy Award-winning animation distributor GKIDS has acquired the North American distribution rights to the entire film catalog of a Japanese director Mamoru Hosoda.
GKIDS’ President David Jesteadt said, “One of GKIDS’ earliest distribution projects was the theatrical release of ‘Summer Wars,’ when Mamoru Hosoda had already cemented his position as one of the most exciting animation directors. We were honored to deepen our relationship with the release of his two latest films, “Mirai“ and “Belle“ and are excited to now be able to showcase the full breadth of Hosoda’s ambitious storytelling across his film catalog, featuring some of the most acclaimed and successful Japanese animated films of all time.”
Hosoda’s six out of five films have received the Japan Academy Prize and also landed an Oscar nomination for 2018’s “Mirai” and remains the only Japanese animation director outside of Studio Ghibli to receive an Academy Award nomination for best animated feature.
“Summer Wars” and “Wolf Children” are set to enter the GKIDS’ catalog immediately. “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” and “The Boy and the Beast” are expected to enter the catalog next year. The films are planned for new theatrical and home video releases.
GKIDS has previously released Hosoda’s later two films “Mirai“ and “Belle,” and also previously handled the theatrical release of “Summer Wars“ in the United States. 2021’s “Belle” became Hosoda’s highest-grossing film to date in North America. Both films made their respective world premieres at the Cannes Film Festival.
The director’s work is produced by Studio Chizu, whose catalog is represented internationally by Charades, and the new deal was negotiated between Eric Beckman at GKIDS and Yohann Comte and Carole Baraton at Charades on behalf of Studio Chizu.
Bandai Entertainment previously released “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” on DVD in 2008, and on Blu-ray Disc in 2011. Funimation later Acquired the rights to the film and released it on Blu-ray Disc in 2016 and 2022.