‘Your Name,’ ‘Mind Game,’ ‘Ghost Cat Anzu’ Among 20 Titles Coming To HBO Max Under New GKIDS Licensing Pact

HBO Max and GKIDS are deepening their already strong relationship with a new agreement that will bring 20 animated and live-action features to the platform, including multiple North American streaming premieres and several upgraded 4K restorations.

The streamer already holds the exclusive U.S. rights to Studio Ghibli’s library through GKIDS, but this expanded pact greatly broadens its reach into Japanese animation beyond Ghibli’s walls. The lineup spans cult favorites, modern hits, and long-unavailable gems from directors such as Makoto Shinkai, Mamoru Hosoda, Hideaki Anno, Satoshi Kon, Masaaki Yuasa, Naoko Yamada, and Mamoru Oshii.

The first group of films will arrive on September 1, featuring several titles that have never before been streamed in North America. Premium subscribers will also have access to select titles in 4K for the first time.

Available September 1:

• 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

A second wave will roll out through late 2025 and 2026, including long-requested cult classics, major award winners, and 4K restorations.

Coming later in 2025 and 2026:

• 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

Specific premiere dates for the second wave will be announced later.

“HBO Max’s continued partnership with GKIDS indicates our commitment to bringing world-class Japanese animation and original films to our audiences,” said Royce Battleman, EVP, Global Content Acquisitions at Warner Bros. Discovery. “This deal, which introduces masterpieces and fan favorites to streaming for the very first time, allows us to continue delivering premium films to our subscribers and solidifies HBO Max’s position as a leading destination in the space.”

“We are excited to continue the relationship with HBO Max and to bring this exciting package to US streaming audiences. HBO Max’s focus on award-winning, genre-defining essential programming is a perfect match for the type of outstanding filmmaking that GKIDS champions,” said Dave Jesteadt, GKIDS’ President.

The agreement was negotiated by Liz Bannan Atcheson, VP of Content Acquisition for HBO Max, and Eric Beckman, GKIDS’ Founder and CEO.