Ever since its founding in 2008, GKIDS has been the primary North American distributor of animation from around the world. From the traditionally-animated fantasy works of Cartoon Saloon to the magical, awe-inspiring anime films of Studio Ghibli, they've released many of the greatest animated movies ever made.
Almost all of their films have received "Fresh" ratings from review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, and a select few have even earned perfect or near-perfect percentage scores. These are the best of the best, the movies that made GKIDS the cinematic icon it is today.
My Life as a Zucchini - 98%
My Life as a Zucchini follows Icare, a young boy who is sent to an orphanage after the death of his alcoholic mother. He befriends a kind police officer and finds camaraderie and friendship with the other children at the orphanage.
Co-written by Portrait of a Lady on Fire director Céline Sciamma, My Life as a Zucchini received praise from critics for its warmth, maturity, and emotional depth. It was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, one of few stop-motion films to achieve that honor.
Song of the Sea - 99%
The second film in Tomm Moore's Irish Folklore Trilogy, Song of the Sea follows a boy named Ben who finds out his mute little sister Saoirse is a Selkie, a seal that can change into a human. Thrust into a mystical world of adventure and danger, Ben and Saoirse must work together to find their way back home.
Song of the Sea's timeless story and unique animation made it a hit with critics and audiences. Many fans have (rightfully) compared it to the fantastical works of Disney and Studio Ghibli.
Wolfwalkers - 99%
Tomm Moore's Wolfwalkers follows Robyn, a young hunter-in-training whose father has been appointed to wipe out the pack of wolves living in the forest around an Irish town. But when Robyn encounters the free-spirited Mebh, a girl who transforms into a wolf at night, she realizes there's more to this forest than she may have thought.
Wolfwalkers came six years after Song of the Sea and became animation studio Cartoon Saloon's most acclaimed film to date. Like every other Cartoon Saloon film, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Approved for Adoption - 100%
An animated drama based on the life of co-director Jung Henin, Approved for Adoption follows a Korean boy adopted into a Belgian family after the Korean War. As he grows older, he begins to question his cultural identity and attempts to rediscover his lost roots.
Approved for Adoption interweaves animation with archival footage to create an experience like no other. Hailed by critics as an intelligent, poignant look at adoption and family, it is one of several GKIDS films to receive a perfect critics score from Rotten Tomatoes.
Mind Game - 100%
Acclaimed Japanese animator Masaaki Yuasa first found success with his 2004 adaptation of the manga series Mind Game. Crossing between several different animation styles, Mind Game tells the story of 20-year-old Nishi and his increasingly bizarre journey to heaven and back.
An experimental masterpiece that quickly became a hit with international audiences, Mind Game bends the limits of what animation can do at every turn. Praised by prestigious animation directors such as Satoshi Kon and Bill Plympton, it's a must-see movie for any fan of the surreal.
On-Gaku: Our Sound - 100%
On-Gaku! Our Sound tells the story of three directionless high-schoolers who find joy and fulfillment in the world of rock-and-roll and decide to start a band. The only problem is that none of them have any musical talent, but that doesn't matter to them anyway.
An uproarious comedy about the joy of making something as a team, whatever the limitations, On-Gaku! Our Sound was a hit with critics. Its creative art style and unique sense of humor easily make it one of GKIDS' most one-of-a-kind releases.
Okko's Inn - 100%
Okko's Inn is a lighthearted but tear-jerking anime film about a girl who moves into her grandmother's inn in the countryside after her parents' death. There, she meets a group of friendly spirits who train her to become an innkeeper.
Directed by Kitarō Kōsaka, an animator who worked on many of Studio Ghibli's earliest films, Okko's Inn is another GKIDS title to have earned not even one negative review. It's the perfect family movie for fans of Ghibli, with a charming, sentimental storyline and incredibly endearing characters.
Sita Sings the Blues - 100%
In Sita Sings the Blues, animator Nina Paley gives an autobiographical account of her separation from her husband as they begin to grow apart after he accepts a job in India. This story is accompanied by a parallel narrative taking elements from Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic, and focussing on the goddess Sita.
Though it received a mixed response from Hindu organizations for its portrayal of the Ramayana and several of its key figures, Sita Sings the Blues was ultimately a critical success. Paley's blending of several art styles across the film's 80-minute-runtime was particularly praised.
Only Yesterday - 100%
Grave of the Fireflies director Isao Takahata further proved his status as one of animation's most talented directors with Only Yesterday. The film follows a woman whose trip to her hometown brings back memories of her childhood and causes her to question if her life turned out the way her younger self would have wanted it to.
One of the studio's first forays into more adult-oriented stories, Only Yesterday is an underrated Studio Ghibli movie that's an incredibly important part of their illustrious filmography. Interestingly, it wasn't available in the U.S. until 2016, when GKIDS released the film in theaters for its 25th anniversary.
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya - 100%
Isao Takahata's final film, the whimsically-animated fantasy The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, is based on a centuries-old story. A bamboo cutter discovers a baby inside a glowing bamboo stalk, and he and his wife raise her as their child. She rapidly grows into a young woman whose wealth and beauty attract a variety of overconfident suitors.
Considered one of the finest achievements of both Takahata and Studio Ghibli overall, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a heartbreakingly beautiful animated fable. It's fitting that such a perfect work was also the most expensive Japanese movie ever, with a budget of nearly $50 million.