The streaming service Tubi has entered into a content partnership with the acclaimed animation studio GKIDS.
Later this month, Tubi will be releasing celebrated feature films from GKIDS, including Academy Award-nominated Ernest Celestine and A Cat in Paris. Another feature of this GKIDS and Tubi partnership is the release of the Goya Award-winning film Nocturna. Additional titles will also be available this year from the studio. This deal with GKIDS studio is the latest addition to Tubi’s selection of animated content.
Most notably, GKIDS has licensed Hosoda’s latest animated movie Belle (a modern reimagining of Beauty and the Beast). The film debuted in Japan in July 2021 and North America in January 2022. Belle tells the story of Suzu Naito, a teenager in rural Japan who aspires to be a famous singer but is limited by her trauma. However, her life changes when she joins the virtual social network U and creates a digital alter ego named Bell. Her newfound stardom not only gives her billions of fans but also brings her into contact with one of U’s most notorious users, The Dragon.
Belle is one of Hosada’s highest-grossing movies in the US. It earned $2 million during its opening and became one of the highest-grossing movies in Japan for 2021.
A Merging of Two Companies: GKIDS and Tubi
Studio GKIDS is the producer and distributor of award-winning animation for both adults and families. Since 2010, the company has racked up 12 Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for many Studio Ghibli films, such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. Most recently, the company has licensed the Neon Genesis Evangelion series after the previous licensing contract expired.
The streaming platform Tubi has more than 40,000 movies and television series for more than 250 countries. The platform gives both fans and casual viewers entertainment for free, with or without an account. The service s available on browsers, apps on mobile devices, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, and most television consoles.