37 Years Later, Studio Ghibli’s Classic Unveils New Look Ahead of Anime Revival

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Studio Ghibli is incredibly popular, so fans are always excited to hear about new movies or when older favorites return to cinemas. The studio is known for its stunning animation, compelling stories, and emotionally resonant films. While founded in 1985, Ghibli didn’t become instantly successful in Japan. Its popularity grew gradually, really taking off in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The film My Neighbor Totoro (1988) was particularly important, as sales of related merchandise helped secure the studio’s financial future. During those early years, Hayao Miyazaki directed Kiki’s Delivery Service (released in 1989), which later became a beloved fantasy classic and is often shown in theaters again.

GKIDS has been bringing Studio Ghibli classics to IMAX theaters, starting with Princess Mononoke. This March, Kiki’s Delivery Service also had a successful IMAX debut in North America. Toho, the film’s distributor, recently shared new 4K remastered footage on their official YouTube channel to announce a special, limited-time screening in Japan. More information about the re-release, including dates and locations, can be found on the Ekigan website. The new video highlights the impressive quality of the remastered film compared to the standard streaming version.

What Is Kiki’s Delivery Service About?

This charming fantasy film tells the story of Kiki, a young witch, and her cat as they begin a new adventure. It’s a coming-of-age tradition for young witches to set out on their own during a full moon, exploring the world and developing their magical abilities. Kiki has been eagerly awaiting this chance, and she finds herself in a lovely town by the sea.

She quickly discovers that starting over in a new town and finding her place is harder than she expected. Throughout the movie, she battles self-doubt and makes mistakes, but eventually learns to embrace what makes her unique.

Studio Ghibli Doesn’t Have a New Theatrical Film Planned For Now

I’ve been following Studio Ghibli closely since the release of The Boy and the Heron, and I know Miyazaki has already started working on a new film. However, the studio is keeping everything under wraps for now – they haven’t shared any details about it yet. What they have announced is a short promotional film created by Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita for Ghibli Park. It’s scheduled to start playing at the Orion theater inside the Ghibli Grand Warehouse on July 8th. As for other anime releases, nothing’s been confirmed for 2026 so far. But good news for North American fans – the annual Studio Ghibli Fest is happening again this year, kicking off in July and running through October.

GKIDS will continue to partner with IMAX to bring more Studio Ghibli films to the immersive format, following the successful re-release of Kiki’s Delivery Service. These IMAX versions will be carefully overseen by Atsushi Okui, a highly respected animator at Ghibli. Okui has worked on many classic Ghibli films for decades, serving as a cinematographer and director of photography on titles like Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle and The Boy and the Heron, among others.

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2026-05-22 04:10