GKids, the North American distributor that has brought Studio Ghibli films to American audiences for over a decade, has expanded into a new market. The company acquired distribution rights to the studio's complete 23-film catalog for the U.K. and Ireland, covering theatrical, home video, television, and digital platforms, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Streaming rights remain with Netflix outside North America and Japan.
The deal was negotiated by GKids CEO Eric Beckman and Vincent Maraval of Goodfellas. GKids will partner with its sister company Anime Limited, an established U.K. anime distributor, to manage the new territorial rights.
The catalog's theatrical rollout begins with Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) in IMAX on August 21, 2026, followed by 4K remasters in IMAX theaters and physical media formats through fall 2026. The 23-film library includes Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, Castle in the Sky, The Boy and the Heron, and Whisper of the Heart, among others.
GKids president David Jesteadt said the company planned to take loving care of the catalog for U.K. and Irish audiences, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The acquisition represents the most significant expansion of GKids' Ghibli relationship beyond North America, reaching a region where the films have long found devoted audiences but uneven theatrical distribution.
