GKids, which is primarily known for putting on the New York International Film Festival, has acquired theatrical rights to 13 Studio Ghibli films.  The deal covers theatrical rights, but Disney retains all home video rights, which is important since the Ghibli films, especially those directed by Hayao Miyazaki, are among the bestselling anime releases in the history of North American home video. 

 

The deal with GKids covers 13 Studio Ghibli films produced from 1984-2002. According to Variety, GKids will kick off its program of theatrical releases with 10 and 25-year anniversary screenings of Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky respectively at the New York Film Festival.  GKids is also planning limited theatrical releases for some Ghibli films, which have never been distributed to U.S. theaters. O ne of the films that hardcore anime fans are most interested in seeing distributed here in Isao Takahata’s brilliant 1991 film, Omohide Poro Poro (Only Yesterday), which is based on the manga by Hotaru Okamoto and Yuko Tone, which because it is in the Ghibli context, a more mature, realistic drama written for adults, may not be at the top of GKid's list of priorities. Nevertheless the deal is good news for kids and for anime fans in that Ghibli classics could receive occasional theatrical runs in major markets and at festivals.

 

The agreement between GKids and Studio Ghibli will not affect new films, which Disney (as long as John Lasseter is at Pixar) will continue to adapt for the American market and distribute.  The next Ghibli film that Disney is releasing here is The Secret World of Arrietty, which is based on Mary Norton’s YA fantasy novel The Borrowers, and which will be debut here in February.