Joseph Luster
March 19, 2024 
The anime films of Mamoru Hosoda officially have a new home. The first four films from the acclaimed director are joining 2018’s Mirai and 2021’s Belle at GKIDS, which now has North American distribution rights for Hosoda’s full catalog.
The deal spans 2006’s The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, 2009’s Summer Wars, 2012’s Wolf Children and 2015’s The Boy and the Beast. Plans are still being cemented, but at this time they’re aiming for new theatrical and home entertainment releases. GKIDS notes that Summer Wars and Wolf Children are immediately entering the catalog, while The Boy and the Beast and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time will be added next year.
Here’s what GKIDS president David Jesteadt had to say about the acquisition:
“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.”
A Hosoda Collection website is now live.
Source: Press Release
