Indie Studios

INTERVIEW: Beyond The Sea With “ChaO”
A journalist in Shanghai learns more about the love story between a man and a mermaid in the new anime feature ChaO. GKIDS is releasing the comedy adventure, with some moving dramatic elements, in theaters nationwide this Friday April 10th. Director Yashuhiro Aoki and character designer and supervising animation director Hirokazu Kojima join me for this […]
“LUPIN THE IIIRD: The Movie – The Immortal Bloodline” Arrives On Blu-Ray

“LUPIN THE IIIRD: The Movie – The Immortal Bloodline” Arrives On Blu-Ray

Haylie Baker|
March 29th, 2026
After its theatrical run last January, LUPIN THE IIIRD: The Movie – The Immortal Bloodline heads to homes as it joins several major streaming platforms and is set for a Blu-ray release on July 21st. The film is brought to audiences by GKIDS, with Shout! Studios handling distribution. In the anime and manga industry, Lupin […]
“Labyrinth” Releases In Theatres For A Limited Time

“Labyrinth” Releases In Theatres For A Limited Time

Haylie Baker|
March 26th, 2026
Set to release in theatres for a limited time only this May 10th and 11th is Labyrinth, the first original feature-length anime film from director Shoji Kawamori, best known for his work on Macross and The Vision of Escaflowne. Both Japanese with English subtitles and English dub will be available for viewing for North American […]

Latest in Category: Indie Studios

Gkids To Virtually Release “Marona’s Fantastic Tale”

GKIDS has announced the North American virtual theatrical release of Marona’s Fantastic Tale, from director Anca Damian. Starting June 12th, 2020, the film, which played in competition at the Annecy International Film Festival, and won the Animation is Film Special Jury Prize last year, will be made available at MaronaMovie.com through virtual cinema partner links. […]
Avatar photoJerry Beck|May 22, 2020
Gkids To Virtually Release “Marona’s Fantastic Tale”

Gkids Acquires “Lupin the 3rd: The First”

GKIDS announced that it has acquired the North American distribution rights for the animated feature Lupin the 3rd: The First, a new animated feature from director/screenwriter Takashi Yamazaki (Stand By Me Doraemon, Dragon Quest: Your Story). The “Lupin the 3rd” franchise, from original creator Monkey Punch, began in 1967 and has spanned a variety of […]
Avatar photoJerry Beck|March 26, 2020
Gkids Acquires “Lupin the 3rd: The First”

INTERVIEW: Makoto Shinkai, Director, “Weathering With You”

It’s the summer of 2011. The long-range weather forecast for Tokyo is rain. And it’s not. Going to. Stop. Such is the sad state of affairs in Weathering With You, from Japanese director Makoto Shinkai. His previous work, Your Name, became the first anime not directed by Hayao Miyazaki to earn more than U.S. $100 […]
Avatar photoW.R. Miller|November 5, 2019
INTERVIEW:  Makoto Shinkai, Director, “Weathering With You”

2019: A Sea Odyssey: An Interview with the Makers of “Children of the Sea”

As a young girl, Ruka Azumi had an amazing encounter with the sea life in her father’s aquarium, as they gathered and looked at her through the sea window. Years later, as a 14-year-old junior high student, she crosses paths with two boys, brothers, who are able to breathe and talk underwater, both raised by […]
Avatar photoW.R. Miller|October 31, 2019
2019: A Sea Odyssey:  An Interview with the Makers of “Children of the Sea”

INTERVIEW: Ji Zhau, Co-Director of “The White Snake”

Five hundred years ago in China, during the late Tang dynasty, the Dark General made people catch snakes that somehow energize him with supernatural power. The snake people—demons—don’t like this. So a beautiful young woman, Blanca, tries to assassinate him. She fails. Despite her martial arts prowess, she is subdued. She wakes in a remote […]
Avatar photoW.R. Miller|October 28, 2019
INTERVIEW:  Ji Zhau, Co-Director of “The White Snake”

GKids to Release China’s “White Snake” in November

GKIDS will open White Snake in Los Angeles on November 15 and in New York and select theaters November 29. From Light Chaser Animation, one of China’s premiere animation studios, comes a visually stunning new take on a classic legend. One day a young woman named Blanca is saved by Xuan, a snake catcher from […]
Avatar photoJerry Beck|October 8, 2019
GKids to Release China’s “White Snake” in November

INTERVIEW: “Pompo The Cinephile” Director On Amazing Movie About Movies

Pompo The Cinephile is about young film fanatic and assistant, Gene, who gets the opportunity of a lifetime in Nyallywood when his boss, famed B-movie producer Pompo, selects him to direct a new movie she has written. Pompo’s film is a drama headlined by Martin Braddock, one of the most acclaimed male actors in the […]