Studio Ghibli fans in the U.K. and Ireland are set for a major big-screen revival as Kiki’s Delivery Service leads a new Imax rollout of the studio’s most beloved films.
Distributor Gkids has secured U.K. and Ireland rights to Studio Ghibli’s 23-title film library, covering theatrical, home entertainment, TV, and digital releases. The initiative begins with an Imax release of Kiki’s Delivery Service on August 21, marking the start of a wider re-release strategy for Ghibli classics across the region.
The Studio Ghibli catalog includes Oscar-winning titles Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron, along with Oscar-nominated films Howl’s Moving Castle, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, The Wind Rises, and When Marnie Was There. Fan-favorites such as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo, and Castle in the Sky will also return to cinemas and home platforms.
Following Kiki’s Delivery Service, additional Imax releases are already planned, including The Secret World of Arrietty and Whisper of the Heart. Gkids will further expand the rollout with new 4K Studio Ghibli remasters starting in fall 2026, alongside a full home video relaunch of the library.
In the U.K. and Ireland, Gkids will partner with Anime Limited, a Glasgow-based distributor recently acquired by Toho Global, Gkids’ parent company. The collaboration builds on previous joint releases including Arcane, Perfect Blue, and Neon Genesis Evangelion, with both companies also handling the upcoming release of Godzilla Minus Zero.
The deal was negotiated between Eric Beckman of Gkids and Vincent Maraval of Goodfellas, Studio Ghibli’s international sales agent. While Gkids will manage theatrical and home distribution, Goodfellas retains streaming rights in the region, currently licensed to Netflix.
“Gkids is delighted to extend our relationship with Studio Ghibli into the U.K. and Ireland, and to have this opportunity to reintroduce these incomparable films to audiences old and new,” said David Jesteadt, president of Gkids.
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“We are very happy to be working together with Gkids to bring the renowned Studio Ghibli library to U.K. and Irish audiences,” added Vincent Maraval, president of Goodfellas.
Founded by Miyazaki Hayao, Takahata Isao, and Suzuki Toshio, Studio Ghibli is one of the most influential animation studios in the world. The studio has won two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and was recently honored with an Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
The renewed spotlight on Kiki’s Delivery Service also comes as the property expands into live action. A television adaptation based on Eiko Kadono’s original novels is currently in development, marking the first live-action series inspired by the Ghibli film.
