Following the success of this year’s IMAX release of “Princess Mononoke," IMAX and GKIDS continue their partnership with multiple studio Ghibli titles planned for 2026
GKIDS, the producer and distributor of artist-driven and award-winning animation from around the world, and IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX), an innovator in entertainment technology, announce an expanded partnership to bring further 4K Studio Ghibli restorations to North American theaters in 2026 and beyond. The announcement comes after the highly successful IMAX release of “Princess Mononoke,” which is the second-highest grossing vault release ever for IMAX. The next Studio Ghibli title to be released under the agreement will debut in IMAX in 2026, with more details to come.
The IMAX versions of the films are being created from new 4K restorations directly overseen by Studio Ghibli’s own Atsushi Okui, who has been involved in nearly every major Studio Ghibli project since he first started in 1993. Okui’s most recent credit with Studio Ghibli was as Director of Digital Imaging on Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning feature “The Boy and the Heron,” which was also the first Studio Ghibli film to screen in IMAX.
“GKIDS is thrilled to extend our relationship with IMAX for more Studio Ghibli releases,” said Eric Beckman, CEO of GKIDS. “As a company, GKIDS is a champion of the shared theatrical experience – and what better way for fans to experience the unparalleled visual beauty, immersive worlds, and deeply humanistic storytelling of Studio Ghibli than in IMAX. The original picture and sound elements are being lovingly and meticulously restored in 4K by Studio Ghibli and we are beyond excited to be able to share the results with North American audiences.”
“Studio Ghibli has long been synonymous with exceptional storytelling and a devoted global fanbase, and we’re ready to build on our strong foundation with the studio as we partner with GKIDS to bring some of its most celebrated titles to IMAX,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. “As animation continues to thrive as a box office and cultural force, IMAX is poised to meet that demand at scale as the industry’s only truly global platform for cinema.”
GKIDS handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films across all theatrical, home video, digital, and streaming platforms. The company has released Studio Ghibli’s most recent films in theaters nationwide, including the Academy Award-winning “The Boy and the Heron,” the Academy Award-nominated “The Tale of The Princess Kaguya,” the Academy Award-nominated “When Marnie Was There,” “From Up on Poppy Hill” and more. Since 2017, GKIDS has produced the annual Ghibli Fest, a monthly nationwide theatrical program of Studio Ghibli film screenings in over 1000 theaters across the country. IMAX and GKIDS have been partnered since 2021 on a wide collection of titles, including the groundbreaking 2023 title “The Boy and The Heron.”
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture, and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you’ve never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX systems to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, making IMAX’s network among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of September 30, 2025, there were 1,829 IMAX systems (1,759 commercial multiplexes, 10 commercial destinations, 60 institutional locations) operating in 89 countries and territories. Shares of IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code “1970”.
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