GKIDS today announced it has acquired the North American distribution rights for the animated feature Children Of The Sea. GKIDS will release the film theatrically in both Japanese and English language versions. The film is the latest feature from Japan’s STUDIO4°C (known for Tekkonkinkreet, MFKZ, Mind Game, Animatrix, Batman: Gotham Knight, and others), and is directed by Ayumu Watanabe, with a score by award-winning composer and longtime Studio Ghibli collaborator Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro). Children Of The Sea is adapted from the manga of the same name by author Daisuke Igarashi, which won the Excellence Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival. The all-rights deal was negotiated by Eric Beckman for GKIDS and Ayumi Inoguchi for STUDIO4°C.

“We have been super-excited about Children Of The Sea since the first six-minute clip blew us away over a year ago. I am thrilled to be working once more with the incomparable STUDIO4°C and can’t wait to bring this film to North American audiences. The film is nothing short of spectacular.” said GKIDS founder and CEO Eric Beckman

“We have succeeded in expressing a celebration of life through the highest quality of beautifully detailed Japanese traditional hand-drawn animation. This coupled with a beautifully detailed musical score from Joe Hisaishi, one of the most appreciated musicians worldwide, we hope will bring audiences even closer to the film. After more than 5 years since the start of pre-production, it is my pleasure that this very special film will finally be released. With the help of our trusted North American partners at GKIDS, I sincerely hope that the film will greatly resonate with North American audiences.” said the producer and CEO of STUDIO4°C, Eiko Tanaka.

On February 27th, TOHO released the Japanese teaser trailer (above) and announced a June 7th Japanese theatrical premiere date. A North American theatrical release will take place in 2019.

SYNOPSIS
When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. Ruka’s dad and the other adults who work at the aquarium are only distantly aware of what the children are experiencing as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the oceans’ fish.