GKIDS Brings Shoji Kawamori’s Original Anime Labyrinth to U.S.

GKIDS has secured North American distribution rights to Labyrinth (Meikyū no Shiori), the first original feature-length anime film directed by veteran creator Shoji Kawamori. The screenings, scheduled on May 10-11, 2026, will include both subtitled and dubbed versions.

The movie debuted at the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2025, before it started global rollout with its UK premiere in November 2025. Labyrinth premiered in Japan on January 1, 2026.

Shoji Kawamori is known for his work in the mecha genre, with popular works such as Macross and The Vision of Escaflowne. The film blends Kawamori’s experience on mecha and concurrent issues of digital media and focuses the narrative on smartphone culture and digital identity.

The narrative centers on high school student Shiori Maezawa, who becomes trapped inside her smartphone, replaced by a charismatic doppelganger. The movie depicts Shiori's journey to reclaim both her identity and place in the real world.

Production Details of Kawamori’s Labyrinth Movie

Kawamori directed Labyrinth as his first original theatrical feature-length production. Sanzigen produced the movie with Risa Ebata overseeing the character designs.

The voice cast of the movie includes some debut voice acting performances. The protagonist, Shiori, is voiced by Suzuka, a member of Atarashii Gakkō! pop group, marking her debut. Similarly, Takuto Teranishi, from the boy group Timelesz, also makes his debut, voicing Suguru Kagami in the movie.

Other notable characters of the movie, such as Komori and Kirara Kurashina, were voiced by Taizō Harada and Aoi Itō, respectively. Soyogi Soyogi, a voice synthesis software from a voice AI project, has also been used in Labyrinth.

Kazuki Ōshima, Ken Teraizumi, and Masako Iwamoto are attached as producers. Sound and music of the movie were overseen by industry veterans such as Fumiyuki Go (Sound Director), Bit Grooove Promotion (Sound Production), and Yoshio Tamamura (Music Producer). The pop group Atarashii Gakkō! has also sung the theme song of the movie, Sailor, Sail On.

GKIDS has built a reputation as a leading North American distributor of international animated works, from The Boy and the Heron to restored anime classics. With Labyrinth’s limited U.S. screening, GKIDS will understand whether Western audiences embrace diverse animated narratives beyond established franchise.