GKIDS
Eric Beckman established GKIDS in 2008 within New York City. The company name stands for Guerrilla Kids International Distribution Syndicate, a phrase that hints at its independent spirit. Their first general release was Azur & Asmar, a French film dubbed in English for British and Irish audiences. This initial move set the stage for a distributor focused on international animated films rather than domestic blockbusters. In mid-2009, live-action features Tahaan and West of Pluto were licensed for potential general releases. Plans for both dropped by late 2011 in favor of a focus on animation. The company attained national recognition with the 2010 release of The Secret of Kells. That film received a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 82nd Academy Awards.
In September 2011, GKIDS announced the acquisition of North American theatrical distribution rights to the Studio Ghibli library. These rights had previously been held by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment retained home media distribution rights until the 17th of July 2017. On that date, GKIDS acquired home video rights for the entire catalog except Grave of the Fireflies and The Wind Rises. The Wind Rises would eventually be reissued by GKIDS on September 2020. The distributor later managed North American releases 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. They also handled first-time North American releases of Only Yesterday and Ocean Waves in 2016. By the 8th of July 2025, GKIDS released Grave of the Fireflies on Blu-ray and DVD after acquiring those rights from Sentai Filmworks.
Twenty-two feature films released by GKIDS hold a perfect 100% Fresh rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Titles include Sita Sings the Blues, Approved for Adoption, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, and Mind Game. Chicago Sun-Times reviewer Roger Ebert selected Sita Sings the Blues for his annual Ebertfest, calling it one of the year's best films. That film combines stylistic elements of Rajput painting, shadow puppetry, vector graphic animation, and Squigglevision. Not all releases have been broadly successful with critics though. Mia and the Migoo holds a 38% score while Tales from Earthsea sits at 37%. Earwig and the Witch received just 28%, making it the lowest-rated title as of June 2023. Lonely Castle in the Mirror scored 50% and The Deer King reached 59%. Industry magazine Film Journal International noted that their films tend to be really good despite the company's low profile.
Since 2017, GKIDS has partnered with Fathom Events to host an annual yearlong event called Studio Ghibli Fest. This series features limited theatrical screenings of select Studio Ghibli films in venues like AMC, Cinemark, and Regal. The only year since inception without Ghibli Fest was 2020. In 2017, My Neighbor Totoro screened on June 25 and 26 while Kiki's Delivery Service played July 23 and 24. Castle in the Sky appeared August 27 and 28. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind followed September 24 and 25. Spirited Away screened October 29 and 30. Howl's Moving Castle closed out the year November 26 and 27. By 2024, the festival included Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (40th Anniversary) May 19 and 21 alongside Castle in the Sky May 20 and 22. The Secret World of Arrietty ran June 9 and 11. When Marnie Was There (10th Anniversary) appeared June 10 and 12.
GKIDS received Oscar nominations for each of its first three films. The Secret of Kells earned a nomination at the 82nd Academy Awards in 2009. A Cat in Paris and Chico and Rita both received Best Animated Feature nods at the 84th Academy Awards in 2011. These nominations were considered highly surprising by film insiders because they beat out notable titles like The Adventures of Tintin and Cars 2. This marked the first time an independent distributor had two films in the Best Animated Feature category in the same year. Puss in Boots director Chris Miller said this indicated the academy's respect for diversity. Ernest & Celestine won Best Animated Feature at the Annie Awards in 2013. Song of the Sea and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya shared nominations at the 86th Academy Awards in 2014. 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.
On the 15th of October 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. Toho is a Japanese entertainment company based in Los Angeles. Eric Beckman previously co-founded and ran the New York International Children's Film Festival before establishing GKIDS. The acquisition marks a significant shift for the independent distributor that has specialized in international animated films. Prior to the sale, GKIDS handled American and Canadian releases of Lupin III: The First in partnership with TMS Entertainment in 2020. They also secured licenses for Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series and related films for release in 2021. By February 2022, GKIDS entered into a content partnership deal with Fox Corporation's Tubi. The company continues to distribute titles like Weathering with You and Wolfwalkers under its new ownership structure.
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Common questions
When did Eric Beckman establish GKIDS and where was it founded?
Eric Beckman established GKIDS in 2008 within New York City. The company name stands for Guerrilla Kids International Distribution Syndicate, a phrase that hints at its independent spirit.
What Studio Ghibli films did GKIDS release after acquiring North American rights in September 2011?
GKIDS managed North American releases of three new Studio Ghibli films including From Up on Poppy Hill in 2013, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya in 2014, and When Marnie Was There in 2015. They also handled first-time North American releases of Only Yesterday and Ocean Waves in 2016 and released Grave of the Fireflies on Blu-ray and DVD by the 8th of July 2025.
Which GKIDS film received the lowest Rotten Tomatoes rating as of June 2023?
Earwig and the Witch received just 28% making it the lowest-rated title as of June 2023. Other titles with lower scores include Mia and the Migoo at 38% and Tales from Earthsea at 37%.
When did Toho acquire GKIDS and what is the current ownership status of the company?
Toho announced their intent to acquire GKIDS for an undisclosed amount on the 15th of October 2024. The deal was completed in 2025 with GKIDS officially becoming a subsidiary of Toho International.
What Studio Ghibli films were screened during the inaugural 2017 Studio Ghibli Fest hosted by Fathom Events?
The 2017 festival featured My Neighbor Totoro screening on June 25 and 26, Kiki's Delivery Service playing July 23 and 24, Castle in the Sky appearing August 27 and 28, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind following September 24 and 25, Spirited Away screening October 29 and 30, and Howl's Moving Castle closing out the year November 26 and 27.