GKIDS Acquires NA Rights for Poignant Wartime Anime 'Cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood'

GKIDS announced it has acquired all North American rights to the anime film cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood, a moving wartime drama that originally aired as a television special in Japan last year. The deal covers theatrical release in both subtitled and dubbed formats, with English-subtitled and English-dubbed screenings beginning September 4. The film will make its North American festival premiere in July at JAPAN CUTS in New York.

Directed by Yukimitsu Ina in his feature debut, the project comes from animation studio SASAYURI, founded by former Studio Ghibli animator Hitomi Tateno. It features key animation contributions from industry legends Akihiko Yamashita and Shinji Otsuka, with a stirring original score by kensuke ushio. The story adapts Machiko Kyo’s manga and follows two girls at an all-girls school on a peaceful island whose lives are upended when war arrives and they are tasked with nursing wounded soldiers in a hidden cave hospital.

The acquisition highlights growing international interest in thoughtful, adult-oriented anime features beyond mainstream action and fantasy titles. GKIDS, known for championing high-quality Japanese animation including Studio Ghibli works, plans to reveal home entertainment details later this year. The film’s blend of personal drama, historical weight, and exceptional animation pedigree positions it as a standout release for North American audiences seeking something more contemplative this fall.