GKids

The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart Arrive in Limited Edition Steelbook™ Blu-Ray+DVD March 16, 2021 from GKIDS, Distributed by Shout! Factory

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Studio Ghibli and GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory, will release The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart, from the Studio Ghibli library of films, on March 16, 2021 in limited edition SteelBook packaging with striking new art. Each SteelBook will house a Blu-ray & DVD combo pack, presenting the film alongside hours of bonus features and a booklet with stunning art and statements from the filmmakers.

With this release, two films from one of the world’s most coveted animation collections can come home to collectors in limited edition SteelBook packaging for the first time in North America.

The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart now join Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo in a series of SteelBook releases from the Studio Ghibli collection of films.

The Cat Returns

From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of My Neighbor Totoro and the Academy Award®-winning Spirited Away, comes a charming and magical adventure that will delight the entire family.

Haru is walking home after a dreary day of school when she spies a cat with a small gift box in its mouth crossing a busy street, and she jumps in front of traffic to save the cat from an oncoming truck. To her amazement, the cat gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her very politely. But things take an even stranger turn when later that night, the King of Cats shows up at her doorstep in a feline motorcade. He showers Haru with gifts, and decrees that she shall marry the Prince and come live in the Kingdom of Cats.

Bonus Features:

  • Exclusive Booklet
  • Feature-Length Storyboards
  • The Making of The Cat Returns
  • Behind the Microphone
  • Original Theatrical Trailers
  • TV Spots

Whisper of the Heart

Discover the brilliance of this heartwarming coming-of-age classic from the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of My Neighbor Totoro and the Academy Award®-winning Spirited Away.

A chance encounter with a mysterious cat sends Shizuku, a quiet schoolgirl, on a quest for her true talent. Together with Seiji, a boy determined to follow his dreams, and enchanted by The Baron, a magical cat figurine who helps her listen to the whispers of her heart, Shizuku embarks on a life-changing adventure that takes her beyond the boundaries of her imagination. This beautiful tale based on a screenplay from Hayao Miyazaki will delight and amaze audiences of all ages.

Bonus Features:

  • Exclusive Booklet
  • Feature-Length Storyboards
  • Four Masterpieces of Naohisa Inoue
  • Background Art from “The Baron’s Story”
  • Behind the Microphone
  • Original Theatrical Trailers

GKIDS and Shout! Factory to Release the On-Gaku: Our Sound Anime Film on BD/DVD on March 9, 2021

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

GKIDS and Shout! Factory have announced on Monday that they will release Kenji Iwaisawa’s ON-GAKU: Our Sound anime film on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on March 9, 2021. The film will launch digitally the same day.

The release’s bonus content will include the “Mountain,” “Mourning Ice Pop,” “Nicky,” and “Taro Wanted to be Water” short films by Iwaisawa; a feature-length “making of” documentary; a live musical performance; and storyboards.

GKIDS describes the story of the film as:

When you’re a bored teenager looking for thrills, sometimes the only thing you can turn to is rock ‘n roll. Having no skill, money, or even a full set of drums, a feared trio of high school delinquents nevertheless decide they are destined for musical glory in a quest to impress their only friend Aya, avoid a rival gang, and – most importantly – jam out. Animated almost entirely by director Kenji Iwaisawa, and featuring a lead performance by Japanese alt-rock legend Shintaro Sakamoto, ON-GAKU: Our Sound brings its own sound and vision to the Hiroyuki Ohashi manga from which it was adapted. With pitch-perfect deadpan humor, the film presents a highly original take on the beloved slacker comedy: a lo-fi buddy film with a blaring musical finale that will leave you wanting an immediate encore.

GKIDS screened the film in theaters in North America on December 11, 2020 in 24 cities.

Source: ANN

GKIDS to Release Lupin III THE FIRST on Home Video on December 15, 2020 and January 12, 2021

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

One of the most influential characters in anime returns with a new adventure. The exciting new film Lupin III THE FIRST makes its way to home entertainment this winter following a North American theatrical run. Introducing the beloved characters in CG animation for the first time, the film will be released on digital download-to-own on December 15, 2020 and on Blu-ray™ + DVD combo pack, as a standalone DVD, and as a SteelBook™ edition of the Blu-ray combo on January 12, 2021 from GKIDS and Shout! Factory.

This release will be presented in both the original Japanese version and a new English dubbed version, featuring the return of the English cast that has voiced previous Lupin films and series. Bonus features exclusive to the Blu-ray include interviews with director Takashi Yamazaki and the Japanese voice cast, and much more. The SteelBook edition also includes a beautiful, 16-page booklet featuring character concept art. Fans who order their Blu-ray + DVD combo pack or SteelBook copies from shoutfactory.com will receive an exclusive 18×24” lithograph, while supplies last.

The iconic “gentleman thief” Lupin III returns in an action-packed, continent-spanning caper, as Lupin III and his colorful underworld companions race to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Bresson Diary before it falls into the hands of a dark cabal that will stop at nothing to resurrect the Third Reich. The gang undertakes trap-filled tombs, aerial escapades and daring prison escapes with the trademark wit and visual finesse that have made LUPIN THE 3RD one of the most storied animation franchises in the world, in this electric adventure that is sure to steal the hearts of fans old and new.

The all new English language dub film will feature the voices of Tony Oliver, Doug Erholtz, Michelle Ruff, Richard Epcar, and Lex Lang returning to their roles within the franchise, and Laurie C. Hymes, J. David Brimmer, and Paul Guyet joining the cast for this latest adventure.

SteelBook, Blu-ray & DVD Bonus Features:

  • Interviews with Director and Japanese Cast*
  • CG Model Gallery
  • Animation Breakdown
  • Yellow Carpet Premiere
  • Theatrical Trailers and Promos

*exclusive to the SteelBook & Blu-ray releases

GKIDS Licenses the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV Series and the Death (True)² and End of Evangelion Films for Blu-ray and Digital Download

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

GKIDS has announced that it has licensed the North American theatrical, home video, and EST rights to the 1995-1996 Neon Genesis Evangelion television series as well as the films Evangelion: Death (True)² and The End of Evangelion. The company plans to offer these titles on Blu-ray Disc and digital download-to-own in 2021. This is the first time that the television series has been available on Blu-ray in North America.

Neon Genesis Evangelion will mark its 25th anniversary on October 4, 2020.

Source: ANN

GKIDS’ Children Of The Sea Is Now Available On Digital, Blu-Ray, and DVD

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

From Japan’s STUDIO4°C and director Ayumu Watanabe comes Children of the Sea, a stunningly beautiful adaptation of the prize-winning manga. Featuring a score from legendary composer and long-time Studio Ghibli collaborator Joe Hisaishi, this critically-acclaimed film is now available digitally, as a Blu-ray™ and DVD combo pack, and on DVD from GKIDS and Shout! Factory.

All editions of the release will include a number of bonus features, including an interview with director Ayumu Watanabe and CGI director Kenichiro Akimoto, an interview with composer Joe Hisaishi, a behind the scenes featurette, animatic sequences, and more. The Blu-ray™ and DVD Combo pack will also include the exclusive “Turep – Looking for Children of the Sea,” a feature-length pseudo-documentary from the creators of Children of the Sea that explores the legends that inspired the film and engages with its larger themes. Framed as a search for a lost brother with an affinity for the sea, this journey takes a young woman through old videotapes, conversations with marine and anthropological experts, and eventually, a small island nation far from Japan. Fans can take a deeper look inside the release through the GKIDS Unboxing by visiting the GKIDS Blog.

Synopsis:

When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad worked. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora, who were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. As the kids get caught up in the mystery behind the sudden worldwide disappearance of the ocean’s fish, they uncover cosmic connections that will change them forever.

GKIDS Cancels the Children of the Sea Anime Film’s Theatrical Screenings in August 2020

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

GKIDS has announced that it has canceled its theatrical screenings of the Children of the Sea (Kaijū no Kodomo) anime film in August 2020. The company stated that it is prioritizing the safety of fans, and hopes to screen the film in theaters in the future. The screenings were scheduled for August 11 and 13, 2020 through Fathom Events after a previous delay.

GKIDS and Shout! Factory will still release the film on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on September 1, 2020. All home video releases will include bonus features such as an interview with director Ayumu Watanabe and CGI director Kenichiro Akimoto, as well as a separate interview with composer Joe Hisaishi. The Blu-ray Disc and DVD combo pack release will also include the exclusive “Turep – Looking for Children of the Sea” pseudo-documentary.

Source: ANN

Details on GKIDS’ Weathering With You Collector’s Edition Release

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

GKIDS has announced the contents of their Collector’s Edition release of the Weathering With You anime film, which is scheduled to be released on November 17, 2020.

The film itself will be presented in 4K UHD with English, French and Japanese audio with English, Spanish and French subtitles, an additional Blu-ray disc including the companion feature-length documentary “The Making Of Weathering With You,” as well as the film’s soundtrack on CD. A 104-page perfect bound book, a mini poster, and decal sticker round out the bonuses, all packaged in a collector’s hard case.

Additional bonus features on the feature film’s Blu-ray disc include an interview with director Makoto Shinkai, the companion “Weather Front” featurette, a talk show interview with Makoto Shinkai and journalist Yumiko Udo, director filmography featurette, along with trailers and TV spots. The Weathering With You Collector’s Edition will have an MSRP of $79.98 and pre-orders are available now from Shout Factory at a special 20% discount of $63.99.

Source: Crunchyroll

Studio Ghibli Steelbooks for My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke Out October 20, 2020 from GKIDS and Shout! Factory

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Studio Ghibli and GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory, will release My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke, from the Studio Ghibli library of films, on October 20, 2020 in limited edition SteelBook packaging with striking new art. Each SteelBook will house a Blu-ray and DVD combo pack, presenting the film alongside hours of bonus features and a booklet with stunning art and statements from the filmmakers.

With this release, two films from one of the world’s most coveted animation collections can come home to collectors in limited edition SteelBook packaging for the first time in North America.

My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke now join Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in a series of SteelBook releases from the Studio Ghibli collection of films.

My Neighbor Totoro

From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away and Ponyo, and Academy Award®-winning* director Hayao Miyazaki, comes a classic tale of magic and adventure for the whole family.

When Satsuki and her sister Mei move with their father to a new home in the countryside, they find country life is not as simple as it seems. They soon discover that the house and nearby woods are full of strange and delightful creatures, including a gigantic but gentle forest spirit called Totoro, who can only be seen by children. Totoro and his friends introduce the girls to a series of adventures, including a ride aboard the extraordinary Cat Bus, in this all-ages animated masterpiece from Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki which features the voices of Tim Daly, Lea Salonga, and real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, in one of their earliest roles.

Bonus Features:

  • Feature-Length Storyboards
  • Original Theatrical Trailers
  • Behind the Microphone
  • Textless Opening and End Credits
  • Creating My Neighbor Totoro
  • Creating the Characters
  • The Totoro Experience
  • The Locations of My Neighbor Totoro
  • Producer’s Perspective: Creating Ghibli
  • 8-page Booklet with Producer’s and Director’s Statements

Princess Mononoke

From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, comes an epic masterpiece that has dazzled audiences worldwide with its breathtaking imagination, exhilarating battles, and deep humanity.

Inflicted with a deadly curse, the young warrior Ashitaka heads west in search of a cure. There, he stumbles into a bitter conflict between Lady Eboshi, the proud people of Iron Town, and the enigmatic Princess Mononoke, a young girl raised by wolves, who will stop at nothing to prevent the humans from destroying her home and the forest spirits and animal gods who live there. Featuring the voices of Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Billy Bob Thornton.

Bonus Features:

  • Feature-Length Storyboards
  • Original Theatrical Trailers
  • TV Spots
  • Princess Mononoke in USA
  • Behind the Microphone
  • 8-page Booklet with Producer’s and Director’s Statements

GKIDS Licenses Studio Ghibli’s Earwig and the Witch Anime Film

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

GKIDS has announced that it has licensed Studio Ghibli and Goro Miyazaki’s first CG feature Earwig and the Witch, an anime adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones’ novel of the same name. The company will release the film in theaters in North America in early 2021.

Goro Miyazaki is directing the movie as the studio’s first full 3D CG feature, and Hayao Miyazaki is credited for the movie’s planning and development. Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki is producing. French distributor Wild Bunch International is serving as the film’s international sales agent.

Source: ANN

GKIDS Licenses the Inu-Oh Anime Film

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

GKIDS has announced that it has licensed Masaaki Yuasa’s Inu-Oh, the musical anime feature film of Hideo Furukawa’s Heike Monogatari: Inu-Oh no Maki (Tales of the Heike: Inu-Oh) novel, for North American distribution. The company plans to release the film theatrically in 2021.

GKIDS describes the film’s story as:

Inu-Oh is born with unique physical characteristics, and the horrified adults cover every inch of his body with garments, including a mask on his face. One day, he meets a boy named Tomona, a blind biwa player, and as Tomona plays a delicate song of tangled fate, Inu-Oh discovers an incredible ability to dance.

Inu-Oh and Tomona become business partners and inseparable friends, using their creative gifts to survive on the margins of society, as song after song gain them notoriety and propel them to stardom. Through the songs, Inu-Oh mesmerizes his audiences on stage, and gradually begins to transform into someone of unequaled beauty. But why is Tomona blind? Why was Inu-Oh born with unique characteristics? It is a story about the friendship of Inu-Oh and Tomona, who dance and sing to get to the truth and break each other’s curse.

Inu-Oh is screening in the Work in Progress program at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival’s online event, which is running from June 15-30, 2020.

Source: ANN