GKIDS has announced that Whisper of the Heart and The Secret World of Arrietty will receive 4K remaster screenings in North American IMAX theaters this coming April and May. The anime films from Studio Ghibli will be screened in both the original Japanese language with subtitles and in English language dub.
The 4K remaster screenings of Whisper of the Heart and The Secret World of Arrietty will be released exclusively in IMAX theatres in the U.S. and Canada on April 21, 2026 and May 19, 2026.
Whisper of the Heart was directed by the late Yoshifumi Kondo, with Hayao Miyazaki (The Boy and the Heron director) writing the screenplay. It was released in Japan on July 15, 1995. Ticket information for the 4K remaster screenings can be found here.
GKIDS describes the main synopsis of Whisper of the Heart as:
A chance encounter with a mysterious cat sends Shizuku, a girl with her head in the clouds, on a quest for her true talent. Together with Seiji, a boy determined to follow his dreams, and enchanted by The Baron, an antique cat figurine who guides her to listen to the whispers of her heart, Shizuku embarks on a life-changing adventure that takes her beyond the boundaries of her imagination. Based on a screenplay and storyboards from Hayao Miyazaki, WHISPER OF THE HEART is a precious gem in the Studio Ghibli catalog, directed by veteran animator Yoshifumi Kondo.
The Secret World of Arrietty was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi (When Marnie Was There, Mary and the Witch’s Flower), with a screenplay written by Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa. It was released in Japan on July 17, 2010. Ticket information for the anime film’s 4K remaster screening is available here.
The main synopsis of The Secret World of Arrietty is described by GKIDS as:
In a secret world hidden beneath the floorboards, tiny people called Borrowers live out of sight of humans. But when brave Arrietty is out gathering supplies, she is discovered by Shawn, a human boy, and they begin to form a friendship that blossoms into a heartwarming adventure. This sumptuously animated and heartwarming story features the voices of Bridgit Mendler, David Henrie, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Moises Arias and Carol Burnett.
Both releases follow the 4K remaster screenings of Kiki’s Delivery Service, which will begin on March 13, 2026.
GKIDS previously screened a 4K remastered version of Princess Mononoke in North American IMAX theaters last March. In December 2025, both companies announced a partnership to screen more 4K restorations of Studio Ghibli films throughout 2026, with Atsushi Okui (The Boy and the Heron director of photography) supervising the 4K remasters.
Source: press release
