GKIDS

Overview

GKIDS is a New York-based Academy Award-winning producer and distributor of artist-driven and award-winning animation from around the world. Founded in 2008 by Eric Beckman, the company is now led by President David Jesteadt and operates as a subsidiary of Toho Global, which acquired GKIDS in October 2024. GKIDS handles North American distribution across theatrical, home video, digital, and streaming platforms for the Studio Ghibli library (23 films), the works of Makoto Shinkai, Satoshi Kon, Tomm Moore, Mamoru Hosoda, and many other animation filmmakers.

The company has received 13 Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations and won the award in 2024 for Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron. Previous nominations include The Secret of Kells (2010), A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita (2012), Ernest & Celestine (2014), The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea (2015), Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There (2016), My Life as a Zucchini (2017), The Breadwinner (2018), Mirai (2019), Wolfwalkers (2021), and The Boy and the Heron (2024). In July 2026, GKIDS extended its Studio Ghibli distribution rights to the UK and Ireland, acquiring theatrical, home video, TV, and digital rights for the 23-film library from sales agent Goodfellas.

Studio Ghibli Distribution

GKIDS acquired the North American theatrical distribution rights to the Studio Ghibli library from Disney in 2011. Since then, the company has re-released classic Ghibli films theatrically in restored editions, released new Ghibli productions, and produced premium home entertainment editions. The Boy and the Heron (2023) grossed $47.3 million domestically and $289.9 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing anime films in North American box office history.

GKIDS and IMAX have been partnered since 2021 on a wide collection of titles. The IMAX release of Princess Mononoke became the second-highest grossing vault release ever for IMAX. Additional Studio Ghibli 4K restorations are planned for IMAX release in 2026 and beyond. The first UK and Ireland IMAX release under the new agreement is Kiki's Delivery Service (August 21, 2026), with The Secret World of Arrietty and Whisper of the Heart slated to follow.

Since 2017, GKIDS has produced the annual Studio Ghibli Fest, a monthly nationwide theatrical program screening Studio Ghibli films in over 1,000 theaters across the US. The 2026 lineup, presented in partnership with Fathom Entertainment, includes seven films: Ponyo, Tales from Earthsea (20th anniversary, first time in Ghibli Fest), Only Yesterday (35th anniversary), Castle in the Sky (40th anniversary), and Spirited Away (25th anniversary, closing the series). Each film screens in both subtitled and English-dubbed versions.

Expansion Beyond Animation

GKIDS has expanded beyond its animation roots into live-action film distribution. Recent live-action releases include Shin Godzilla from director Hideaki Anno, and Kokuho, Japan's 2025 Oscar entry for Best International Feature. Kokuho grossed $134.5 million worldwide ($14.7 million in North America), making it one of the highest-grossing Japanese live-action films ever. GKIDS also distributes the anime-inspired series Dan Da Dan, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Arcane: League of Legends.

Upcoming theatrical releases include Godzilla Minus Zero, the follow-up to director Takashi Yamazaki's Academy Award-winning Godzilla Minus One (which grossed $116.5 million worldwide); Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, the latest Aardman feature; Little Amelie and the Character of Rain; and All You Need Is Kill from Warner Brothers Japan and Studio 4°C. Recent theatrical releases include the box office hit Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution and Mamoru Oshii's cult classic Angel's Egg.

UK and Ireland Expansion

In July 2026, GKIDS acquired UK and Ireland distribution rights to the 23-film Studio Ghibli library, marking its first major territorial expansion beyond North America. The deal was negotiated by Eric Beckman at GKIDS and Vincent Maraval at Goodfellas. GKIDS rights for UK and Ireland include theatrical, home video, TV, and digital, while Goodfellas retains streaming rights for the territory (currently licensed to Netflix).

In the UK and Ireland, GKIDS works in close partnership with sister-company Anime Limited, the Glasgow-based distributor recently acquired by GKIDS' parent company Toho Global. The two companies have previously shared titles and collaborated on releases including Arcane, Perfect Blue, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Most Ghibli titles have had limited availability in the UK and Ireland for several years, and GKIDS plans to re-release the entire library across all home video platforms.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For animated feature filmmakers seeking North American theatrical distribution, GKIDS is the primary specialist contact. The company evaluates animated features on artistic and creative grounds alongside commercial potential, with a catalog spanning family animation, adult animation, and animated documentaries. GKIDS acquires at major animation festivals including Annecy International Animation Film Festival (the most important animation-specific festival in the world), Cannes, Sundance, and TIFF.

GKIDS' parent company Toho Global provides the distributor with access to Toho's extensive Japanese film catalog and production pipeline. The Toho acquisition has also enabled GKIDS to expand into live-action Japanese cinema distribution, including the Godzilla franchise and Japanese Oscar entries. Filmmakers with Japanese or Asian-language content seeking Western distribution should consider that GKIDS now has the infrastructure and corporate backing to handle both animation and live-action releases across multiple territories.

The company also produces the ANIMATION IS FILM festival in Los Angeles, which has become the premier US showcase for feature animation. This festival provides an additional acquisition context alongside Annecy for animated features seeking GKIDS distribution.

Notable Releases

GKIDS' catalog includes The Boy and the Heron (2023, $289.9 million worldwide, Academy Award winner), Kokuho (2025, $134.5 million worldwide, Japan's Oscar entry), Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution (2025, box office hit), Godzilla Minus One (2023, $116.5 million worldwide, Academy Award winner for Visual Effects), The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014), Wolfwalkers (2020), Mirai (2018), and the complete Studio Ghibli library including Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Castle in the Sky.

See Also

For how animated feature distribution works at the North American specialty level, see Distribution Deals Explained. For UK and European animated feature distribution, see StudioCanal and Curzon in this directory. To model the revenue contribution of North American theatrical and home entertainment rights in an international sales projection, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.