GKIDS Licenses Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust and 5 Centimeters Per Second Live-Action Film

Distribution company GKIDS has announced that it has licensed the cult anime Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust and the live-action adaptation of 5 Centimeters Per Second for North America. The company will present Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust in select screenings with Japanese voice acting this fall, and will then bring it to theaters with a wide release in 2027.

Adapted from Hideyuki Kikuchi's novel in 1985 and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri in 2000, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is considered one of the masterpieces of its genre, with its gothic atmosphere and impressive animation. The film follows the journey of vampire hunter D as he sets out to rescue a kidnapped woman. This license by GKIDS is a significant development for the film's long-waiting fans in North America.

On the other hand, the live-action adaptation of Makoto Shinkai's 2007 anime film 5 Centimeters Per Second will also be distributed by GKIDS. This work, which explores the melancholic love themes that are Shinkai's signature, was released in Japan in 2025 and received acclaim. The release date for the live-action adaptation in North America has not yet been announced, but this move by GKIDS will allow Shinkai's universe to reach a wider audience.

GKIDS has previously held an important position in the anime industry by handling the North American distribution of Studio Ghibli films. These new licenses demonstrate the company's interest in both classic anime productions and new adaptations. The 2027 release of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust will be an opportunity fans have long awaited; additionally, the live-action 5 Centimeters Per Second meeting international audiences will once again prove the universal impact of Shinkai's works.