While most people are aware that GKIDS licenses a whole bunch of anime films, not many may know that they also license live-action films as well. True, anime films like Lonely Castle in the Mirror, Summer Wars, and Your Name. are their typical forte. However, Shin Godzilla is also among the list of films they have to offer.

Thus, it’s no surprise that we’re getting this bit of news. HBO Max and GKIDS are proud to announce that they have struck a streaming deal for GKIDS’s vast library of films. Both animated/anime and live-action, if the title didn’t make that clear. In fact, the first of these films will start streaming on HBO Max on September 1, 2025. The rest will arrive sometime later in 2025 or even in 2026. They don’t mention exactly when, but I assume we will get that info at a later date.

As for which films will we get to see on HBO Max? Well, both them and GKIDS have a full list of films that will start streaming, both soon and not-soon. You can check out that list below:

September 1

Your Name screenshot
  • Children Who Chase Lost Voices (dir. Makoto Shinkai)
  • Fireworks (dir. Akiyuki Shinbo, Noboyuki Takeuchi)
  • Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (dir. Ayumu Watanabe) (North American Streaming Debut)
  • Ghost Cat Anzu (dir. Yôko Kuno, Nobuhiro Yamashita) (North American Streaming Debut)
  • Lonely Castle in the Mirror (dir. Keiichi Hara) (North American Streaming Debut)
  • Love & Pop (dir. Hideaki Anno) (North American Streaming Debut)
  • The Place Promised in Our Early Days (dir. Makoto Shinkai)
  • Your Name. (dir. Makoto Shinkai) (4K Streaming Debut)

Late 2025 or 2026

Shin Godzilla screenshot
  • Angel’s Egg (dir. Mamoru Oshii) (North American Streaming Debut, 4K Streaming Debut)
  • Liz and the Blue Bird (dir. Naoko Yamada)
  • Lu Over the Wall (dir. Masaaki Yuasa)
  • Millennium Actress (dir. Satoshi Kon)
  • Mind Game (dir. Masaaki Yuasa)
  • Perfect Blue (dir. Satoshi Kon) (4K Streaming Debut)
  • Shin Godzilla (dir. Hideaki Anno, co-director Shinji Higuchi) (4K Streaming Debut)
  • Summer Wars (dir. Mamoru Hosoda) (4K Streaming Debut)
  • The Boy and the Beast (dir. Mamoru Hosoda) (4K Streaming Debut)
  • The Colors Within (dir. Naoko Yamada) (North American Streaming Debut)
  • The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (dir. Mamoru Hosoda) (4K Streaming Debut)
  • Wolf Children (dir. Mamoru Hosoda) (4K Streaming Debut)

What do you think about all these films coming to HBO Max via GKIDS? Both anime and not? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.

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