Just yesterday, June 13th, GKIDS made its own history at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival in Annecy, France, with 4 new titles, 3 co-produced titles, and a 4K restoration for a 40th anniversary of Angel’s Egg. The North American studio known for elevating bold and talented artists brought its A-game for Annecy, upholding the company’s commitment to the best animation around the world.

“As GKIDS has evolved, our mission has remained the same: to champion the best animation from around the world from the most exciting talent. We’re proud to have that mission illustrated at this year’s Annecy,” GKIDS’ Director of Acquisitions and Development, Rodney Ulner, remarked.

“While these films are each unique works of art, they give us hope that the broader animation landscape is as vibrant as ever. A GKIDS film is an intimate, emotional French gem, an action-packed, futuristic epic from Japan, an imaginative world from emerging talent in Hong Kong and everything in between. We’re thrilled these titles can be showcased at this festival and look forward to bringing them to audiences in the future.”

This latest artistically daring and diverse showcase is detailed below:

All You Need Is Kill

Acquired from Warner Bros. Japan, and animated by the Japanese animation house Studio 4°C, this action sci-fi premiered for the first time at Annecy in the Midnight Specials section. Based on the light novel of the same name by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, the distribution rights for this new film were secured for North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.

The story of All You Need Is Kill follows and re-follows Rita through her repeated deaths in a timeloop, unable to even save herself from a massive alien flower unfurling monsters upon Japan. More alone than ever, the trauma of dying over and over threatens to break Rita, until she meets Keiji, also trapped just like she is. Together, they try to survive and even free themselves from the loop, and find a reason to live on when the world comes crashing down.

Another World

Published by Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd., and acquired by GKIDS, the fantasy drama premiered in the Midnight Specials section as an Official Selection. Based on the popular novel SENNENKI) by Saijo Naka, the film stands as the latest Hong Kong animated feature to be invited to Annecy since 2003 with My Life as McDull.

Another World follows the spirit guide Gudo as he helps the departed pass to reincarnation. But the unresolved rage and grief of just one child threatens the world with a hidden curse. Gudo must embark on a journey with Yuri to prevent calamity, and embrace the kind and cruel world that would inflict every horror and joy upon someone so young.

Chao

Announced prior to its debut at Annecy, Studio 4°C and GKIDS continue their long standing relationship with yet another collaboration with the romantic comedy Chao. The animated title full of heartfelt romance premiered world-wide as an Official Selection in Competition at Annecy.

Stephan finds himself, a normal, polite officer worker, suddenly proposed to by a princess from the mermaid kingdom. His life no longer makes sense as he finds himself now living with the chaotically sincere Chao, and her genuine love for him begins to reach his heart. Through the emotional barriers he’s set up between himself and others, love finds a way.

Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain

Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain (Amélie et la Métaphysique des tubes) premiered world-wide last month, and began the lineup of GKIDS-acquired titles for Annecy. The visually stunning and deeply emotional film exemplifies the talent GKIDS curates, as a film unafraid to tell its own unique story.

Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain follows Amélie, for whom the world is a complex yet untroubled mystery—until she tastes chocolate for the first time, unlocking her endless curiosity. At the same time, Amélie bonds closely with Nishio-san, her family’s housekeeper, while discovering the marvels of nature and uncovering the hidden truths of her family’s lifestyle living in post-war Japan as foreigners.

100 Meters

The sports drama 100 Meters was first announced last year before its Work-in-Progress session at Annecy, and now made its premiere in the Annecy Presents section. Based on the manga by Uoto, and alongside an anime adaptation, the film will be released in North American theatres this October by GKIDS, with the choice of the original Japanese language or a new English version. The domestic release in Japan comes a little sooner, on September 19th.

The naturally gifted track star Togashi finds himself teaching a new transfer student lacking technique, but full of passion. Komiya’s drive only compounds with the lessons Togashi imparts on him, and years later, his goal to win no matter what puts them head-to-head as rivals.

Allah Is Not Obliged

A powerful and brutally honest title based on the novel by Ahmadou Kourouma, the GKIDS co-produced animated film premiered world-wide as an Official Selection in Competition at Annecy. Allah Is Not Obliged, or Allah Is Not Obliged—”to be fair about all the things he does here on Earth,” as the main character entitles it—delves into the tribal warfare of West Africa with the ten-year-old orphan Birahima’s witty and insightful commentary.

In the wake of his mother’s death, Birahima is thrust into tribal warfare while travelling to Liberia in search of his family. He regales his own story with great irony of the life of a child soldier, fighting on one side then the next, growing up quickly. Birahima learns to survive as a grimian and witch doctor in this violent, hostile world, that has lied and lied to him.

Sunny

GKIDS continues its investments into original, stylized stories, evident in the stop-motion film Sunny being co-produced with dwarf studios. Currently in development and based on the autobiographical manga by Taiyo Matsumoto, it was presented at the MIFA market’s “Japanese Feature Animations in Progress” panel.

Director and writer of the feature film, Michael Arias described the film, “Taiyo Matsumoto’s ‘Sunny’ is a soulful adventure about kids who face the odds with imagination and innocence – part Dickens, part Fellini, and all heart.”

Angel’s Egg

Last but certainly not least, presented in Annecy Classics was the 4K restoration of Angel’s Egg, first released direct to home video in 1985 and now re-released for its 40th anniversary in stunning quality. GKIDS will release the restored film in Japan nation-wide, with the film’s internationally acclaimed director, also known for Ghost in the Shell, Mamoru Oshii, supervising the return.

A young girl protects and cares for a large egg, an “angel’s egg,” her greatest treasure in a sunken, underwater city. But when a gun-toting stranger appears, his intent to find the bird he saw in his dream leaves him at odds with her. Just when it seems something like trust is beginning to develop between them, the boy crushes her egg.