GKIDS Acquires North American Theatrical Rights to Labyrinth Releasing in Theaters for Two Nights Only, May 10–11

Legendary Animator Shōji Kawamori's Original Feature Directorial Debut Starring SUZUKA from ATARASHII GAKKO!

NEW YORK, NY (February 5, 2026) – GKIDS, the Academy Award®-winning producer and distributor of acclaimed and artist-driven animation from around the world, announced today it has acquired all rights for North America to Labyrinth, the first original feature-length anime film directed by Shōji Kawamori (Macross, The Vision of Escaflowne). The animated feature will release in theaters for two nights only in Japanese with English subtitles and English-dubbed from May 10–11.

Labyrinth stars globally popular girl group ATARASHII GAKKO!'s Suzuka as “Shiori Maezawa” in her voice acting debut, joined by Taizō Harada as “Komori” and Takuto Teranishi, from the boy group timelesz, in his debut acting role as “Suguru Kagami”. Fans of ATARASHII GAKKO! can also look forward to their performance of the film's theme song “Sailor, Sail On,” with additional music by yonkey.

Director: Shōji Kawamori

Screenwriter: Taishi Hashimoto

Studio: SANZIGEN

Runtime: 115 minutes

Rating: Not Rated

©Labyrinth Film Partners

Synopsis:

Shiori is a typical high school student who dreams of online stardom, but struggles to capture attention. After an embarrassing video of her goes viral, she gets trapped in her smartphone and replaced by a charismatic alter ego. As the doppelganger charms the internet and devises a nefarious plot to replace mankind with brainrot, Shiori must partner with other online outcasts to stop her digital counterpart and reclaim her life in the real world.

Labyrinth is the first original feature film from legendary creator Shōji Kawamori, who is known for his electrifying fusion of pop music with science fiction. Featuring the voice of SUZUKA from music sensation ATARASHII GAKKO!, Kawamori's latest film is a wildly imaginative adventure about finding oneself while navigating the perils of social media.

About GKIDS:

GKIDS is the Academy Award–winning curator, producer, and distributor of artist-driven, globally inspired cinema dedicated to connecting North American audiences with distinctive stories from around the world. Widely celebrated for its leadership in the “animation is film” movement, the studio has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape for feature animation in the U.S. and internationally for nearly two decades. GKIDS represents the work of many of the world's most acclaimed animation filmmakers, including Makoto Shinkai (your name., Weathering With You), Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress), Tomm Moore (Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers), Mamoru Hosoda (Mirai, Wolf Children), and serves as the North American home of Japan's legendary Studio Ghibli.

This year's Academy Award nominations mark the studio's milestone of 15 Academy Award nominations overall with a first nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling with Kokuho, and a 14th nomination in the Best Animated Feature category with Little Amélie or the Character of Rain. The studio took home a win in the category in 2024 for Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron.

Building on this legacy, GKIDS recently expanded into live-action film, applying the same thoughtful curation and innovative distribution strategies to filmmaker-driven projects reflecting diverse global perspectives and bold creative ambition. GKIDS also produces the popular, annual, nationwide Ghibli Fest, and is the founder and producer of the LA-based ANIMATION IS FILM festival, the premier U.S. showcase for global feature animation.

In addition to Kokuho, upcoming theatrical releases include the highly anticipated Godzilla Minus Zero, the follow up to director Takaski Yamazaki's Academy Award-winning Godzilla Minus One; and Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, the latest Aardman feature in the beloved Oscar-nominated film series. In addition to the Oscar-nominated Little Amélie and the Character of Rain, recent theatrical releases are the box office hit Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, Mamoru Oshii's cult classic Angel's Egg, and the critically acclaimed All You Need Is Kill, alongside groundbreaking television series such as DAN DA DAN, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Arcane: League of Legends. @GKIDSFilms