At AnimeNYC, GKIDS revealed that the animated films The Colors Within from Science SARU and Naoko Yamada, and Ghost Cat Anzu by Shinei Animation and Miyu Productions, will be released in North American theaters in winter 2024.
The Colors Within centers on Totsuko, a high school girl with the ability to see the emotional colors of others, who meets a woman with a unique color and a boy forming a band.
The film, directed by Naoko Yamada and with a script by Reiko Yoshida, premiered at the Annecy International Film Festival and will be released in Japan on August 30.
GKIDS has acquired the film’s distribution rights for several regions, including North America and Latin America.
Ghost Cat Anzu follows the story of an 11-year-old girl named Karin who is left at her grandfather’s home by her father.
Miyu Productions)
Her grandfather, a monk in a small Japanese town, asks a mischievous ghost cat named Anzu to watch over her. Initially, the strong-willed characters clash, but their relationship gradually evolves.
The film, which blends 2D digital animation with rotoscopy, features an impressive cast including Mirai Moriyama as Anzu and Noa Gotō as Karin.
Directed by Yōko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita, the film also screened at the Annecy Animation Festival and has been recognized for its innovative animation techniques.
Both films have already garnered attention at international film festivals, with The Colors Within winning Best Animation Film at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
With Ghost Cat Anzu also receiving praise for its unique blend of animation styles and heartfelt story, GKIDS’ acquisition of these films for North American release highlights their potential appeal to a wide audience.
