Studio Ghibli's 4K Restorations to Premiere in IMAX as Large Format Exhibitor Partners with GKids

GKids and Imax have announced a collaboration to bring newly restored 4K versions of Studio Ghibli films to North American theaters in 2026. This news follows the successful Imax re-release of Hayao Miyazakis Princess Mononoke, which became one of the highest-grossing vault releases in the formats history.

The upcoming Studio Ghibli film under this agreement is scheduled to hit Imax screens early next year, with additional details to be revealed soon. The Imax versions are being created from fresh 4K restorations, supervised by Studio Ghiblis Atsushi Okui, who has contributed to nearly every major studio project since 1993. Okui most recently served as Director of Digital Imaging on Miyazakis Academy Award-winning The Boy and the Heron, which was also Studio Ghiblis first film to be shown in Imax.

Eric Beckman, CEO of GKids, commented, We are excited to expand our partnership with Imax for more Studio Ghibli releases. Experiencing Ghiblis visually stunning and emotionally rich stories in Imax offers fans an unparalleled cinematic experience. Each films picture and sound are being carefully restored in 4K, and we look forward to sharing these enhancements with audiences across North America.

Rich Gelfond, CEO of Imax, added, Studio Ghibli has earned a reputation for extraordinary storytelling and a loyal global following. Partnering with GKids to present some of its most beloved films in Imax allows us to bring these works to audiences on a large scale. As animation continues to grow as a cultural and box office powerhouse, Imax remains uniquely positioned to deliver this experience worldwide.

GKids manages the North American distribution of Studio Ghibli films across theaters, home video, digital platforms, and streaming. The company has released recent Ghibli films in theaters nationwide, including The Boy and the Heron, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, When Marnie Was There, and From Up on Poppy Hill. Since 2017, GKids has organized the annual Ghibli Fest, a monthly nationwide program showcasing Studio Ghibli films in over 1,000 theaters.

The collaboration between Imax and GKids began in 2021 and has included multiple titles, starting with The Boy and the Heron.

Author: Jackson Miller