Studio Ghibli's beloved classics are set to take center stage on the massive IMAX screen in 2026, with several highly-anticipated 4K restorations making their way to the largest theaters in the US.
Atsushi Okui, a veteran of Studio Ghibli who has overseen the restoration process for many of its films, is at the helm once again. Okui's involvement on this year's IMAX release of "Princess Mononoke" was a significant one, marking a milestone for the beloved animated epic. His work on 2023's "The Boy and the Heron," which became the first Ghibli title to be showcased in IMAX, set the stage for what promises to be an exciting year ahead.
For fans of Studio Ghibli who have been eagerly awaiting more opportunities to experience their favorite films on the big screen, there is some welcome news. GKids, the US distributor responsible for bringing many Japanese animation classics to American audiences, has announced plans to release several 4K restorations in IMAX format next year.
While details are still scarce, it appears that each subsequent title will be released individually, with no word on how many films can be expected to make the journey. A possible indicator of what's to come is a notable anniversary date, which might just coincide with the release of "Castle in the Sky," marking 40 years since its initial outing.
Among these upcoming restorations, it's worth noting that one title is likely to garner more attention than others – a certain Ghibli film released relatively recently has fans already holding their breath. As we get closer to the start of 2026, anticipation will only grow for those eager to experience another Studio Ghibli classic in all its 4K glory on the grand IMAX screen.
Atsushi Okui, a veteran of Studio Ghibli who has overseen the restoration process for many of its films, is at the helm once again. Okui's involvement on this year's IMAX release of "Princess Mononoke" was a significant one, marking a milestone for the beloved animated epic. His work on 2023's "The Boy and the Heron," which became the first Ghibli title to be showcased in IMAX, set the stage for what promises to be an exciting year ahead.
For fans of Studio Ghibli who have been eagerly awaiting more opportunities to experience their favorite films on the big screen, there is some welcome news. GKids, the US distributor responsible for bringing many Japanese animation classics to American audiences, has announced plans to release several 4K restorations in IMAX format next year.
While details are still scarce, it appears that each subsequent title will be released individually, with no word on how many films can be expected to make the journey. A possible indicator of what's to come is a notable anniversary date, which might just coincide with the release of "Castle in the Sky," marking 40 years since its initial outing.
Among these upcoming restorations, it's worth noting that one title is likely to garner more attention than others – a certain Ghibli film released relatively recently has fans already holding their breath. As we get closer to the start of 2026, anticipation will only grow for those eager to experience another Studio Ghibli classic in all its 4K glory on the grand IMAX screen.
The prospect of witnessing Studio Ghibli's iconic films reimagined on the massive IMAX screen is nothing short of exhilarating! 
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't already itching to experience "Princess Mononoke" in this format – Okui's involvement in this year's release has set a high bar for the upcoming 4K restorations. The fact that GKids is tackling each title individually, much like they did with "The Boy and the Heron," suggests a level of dedication to preserving these cinematic treasures for future generations. 
One can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over as we approach the 40th anniversary of "Castle in the Sky" – it's hard not to wonder which other gems will be dusted off and re-released in IMAX glory next year...
I'm kinda hyped about this but also a bit worried 
. Like, I've seen some of these restorations and they look AMAZING 
but what if it's just a bunch of overpriced re-releases? 
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Ghibli films and all, but IMAX is pricey even for the most die-hard fans 
. Can't wait to see how they handle the release though! 
! I mean, who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned Studio Ghibli film fest on the massive IMAX screen? It's like they're giving us the ultimate treat for all the fans out there who've been waiting patiently to see their favorite classics in a whole new light.
The guy knows his stuff, and I'm sure he's going to bring some serious magic to these 4K restorations. I've seen "Princess Mononoke" in IMAX before, and let me tell you, it was a total game-changer.
I mean, have you seen the restorations of "The Boy and the Heron" recently? It's like a whole new film! And now they're doing it for all their classics... it's a dream come true for any Ghibli fan 
I'm especially excited to see how "Princess Mononoke" will look on the IMAX screen. The animation is already so stunning, but with 4K restoration and the big screen, it's going to be breathtaking 
And can you believe they're releasing individual restorations? That means we might get more of our favorite films than we thought 
It's going to be a whole new level of epic! I'm literally counting down the days until 2026, and I hope they announce more titles soon. "Castle in the Sky" would be AMAZING to see on that huge screen after all these years 
) and i have no doubt he'll bring some magic to the princess mononoke imax release next year... fingers crossed it happens soon 
atsushi okui is the man, he's done such amazing work on their restorations 
i mean, have you seen "the boy and the heron" in imax? 
and now they're gonna bring even MORE classics to the biggest screen possible? 
what about spirit of adventure? 
i need those 4k restorations ASAP!! 
I mean, who needs all that fancy 4K and IMAX tech when you can just watch Hayao Miyazaki's masterpieces on the tiny TV at home? It's not like people want to see their favorite childhood films on the big screen anymore. And what's with these "individual releases" thingy? Can't they just put all the classic Ghibli movies in a big box set or something? I don't get why everyone's so excited about this...
I'm low-key freaking out thinking about it 
. Bring it on 2026!