The Rarely Screened, Gothic Cult Classic Directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri and Animated by Madhouse Will Return to North American Theatres in New HD Master GKIDS, the Academy Award®-winning producer and distributor of acclaimed and artist-driven animation, announced during its Anime NYC 2026 industry panel its acquisition of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. The animated horror, based ... GKIDS Acquires North American Rights to “VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST”
Since GKIDS is an American company formed in 2008, you have to consider what the average American in 2008 thought about anime. And for the 99% of them, “animes are cartoons, and cartoons are for children.” The company was also formed by someone that ran the International Children’s Film Festival. So that explains that.
Ironically, in Japan, there isn’t much of a distinction between anime and cartoons. They’re both called anime, which is just short for animation or animated work. So for the Japanese, Tetsujin 28, Berserk, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, and Shrek are all “anime.”
GKIDS is currently owned by Japanese film giant Toho.
Since GKIDS is an American company formed in 2008, you have to consider what the average American in 2008 thought about anime. And for the 99% of them, “animes are cartoons, and cartoons are for children.” The company was also formed by someone that ran the International Children’s Film Festival. So that explains that.
Ironically, in Japan, there isn’t much of a distinction between anime and cartoons. They’re both called anime, which is just short for animation or animated work. So for the Japanese, Tetsujin 28, Berserk, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, and Shrek are all “anime.”
GKIDS is currently owned by Japanese film giant Toho.