GKIDS Acquires North American Rights to 'Okko's Inn' From Director Kitaro Kosaka Theatrical Release Set for April 2019
NEW YORK (December 17, 2018) - GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of animation for adult and family audiences, announced it has acquired the North American distribution rights for the animated feature OKKO'S INN, the new feature film from Studio Ghibli veteran animator Kitarō Kōsaka. The film world premiered at the 2018 Annecy International Film Festival, and additionally played at Animation is Film this past October. GKIDS will release the film theatrically next year in both its original Japanese language and a new English dubbed version.
OKKO'S INN follows Okko, who goes to live with her grandmother in the countryside after losing her parents. While she prepares to become the inn's next caretaker, Okko discovers there are playful ghosts who live there. However, only she can see them.
The all-rights deal was negotiated by David Jesteadt of GKIDS and Haruko Watanabe of GAGA Corporation.
"From the moment we saw Okko's Inn at Annecy, we knew this was a film we wanted to share with audiences nationwide," said David Jesteadt, president of GKIDS. "Director Kitarō Kōsaka has made a film of effortless warmth and generosity of spirit, and that feels more necessary than ever."
SYNOPSIS
After losing her parents in a car accident, Okko goes to live in the countryside with her grandmother, who runs a traditional Japanese inn built on top of an ancient spring said to have healing waters. While she goes about her chores and prepares to become the inn's next caretaker, Okko discovers there are spirits who live there that only she can see - not scary ones, but welcoming ghosts who keep her company, play games and help her navigate her new environment. The inn's motto is that it welcomes all and will reject none, and this is soon put to the test as a string of new guests challenge Okko's ability to be a gracious host. But ultimately Okko discovers that dedicating herself to others becomes the key to taking care of herself. The latest feature from famed anime Studio Madhouse and director Kitarō Kōsaka, who was a key animator on numerous classic films at the venerable Studio Ghibli, seamlessly blends immersive, idyllic landscapes with the storybook charm of Okko's beloved ghosts. Okko's Inn delivers a rare ghost story that - despite several floating characters - is firmly grounded in the trials and joys of humanity.
ABOUT GKIDS
GKIDS is a producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. Since 2010, the company has scored an astounding ten Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and CHiCO & Rita in 2012, Ernest & Celestine in 2014, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea in 2015, Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There in 2016, My Life as a Zucchini in 2017, and The Breadwinner in 2018. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world's most coveted animation collections with titles Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and others. GKIDS also produces the ANIMATION IS FILM, an annual LA-based film festival. ANIMATION IS FILM embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of their work to the fullest range of expression of which medium is capable of.
OKKO'S INN follows Okko, who goes to live with her grandmother in the countryside after losing her parents. While she prepares to become the inn's next caretaker, Okko discovers there are playful ghosts who live there. However, only she can see them.
The all-rights deal was negotiated by David Jesteadt of GKIDS and Haruko Watanabe of GAGA Corporation.
"From the moment we saw Okko's Inn at Annecy, we knew this was a film we wanted to share with audiences nationwide," said David Jesteadt, president of GKIDS. "Director Kitarō Kōsaka has made a film of effortless warmth and generosity of spirit, and that feels more necessary than ever."
SYNOPSIS
After losing her parents in a car accident, Okko goes to live in the countryside with her grandmother, who runs a traditional Japanese inn built on top of an ancient spring said to have healing waters. While she goes about her chores and prepares to become the inn's next caretaker, Okko discovers there are spirits who live there that only she can see - not scary ones, but welcoming ghosts who keep her company, play games and help her navigate her new environment. The inn's motto is that it welcomes all and will reject none, and this is soon put to the test as a string of new guests challenge Okko's ability to be a gracious host. But ultimately Okko discovers that dedicating herself to others becomes the key to taking care of herself. The latest feature from famed anime Studio Madhouse and director Kitarō Kōsaka, who was a key animator on numerous classic films at the venerable Studio Ghibli, seamlessly blends immersive, idyllic landscapes with the storybook charm of Okko's beloved ghosts. Okko's Inn delivers a rare ghost story that - despite several floating characters - is firmly grounded in the trials and joys of humanity.
ABOUT GKIDS
GKIDS is a producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. Since 2010, the company has scored an astounding ten Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and CHiCO & Rita in 2012, Ernest & Celestine in 2014, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea in 2015, Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There in 2016, My Life as a Zucchini in 2017, and The Breadwinner in 2018. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world's most coveted animation collections with titles Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and others. GKIDS also produces the ANIMATION IS FILM, an annual LA-based film festival. ANIMATION IS FILM embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of their work to the fullest range of expression of which medium is capable of.
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