A Studio Ghibli Veteran's New Movie Is Only 3 Months Away, And It's Beyond Gorgeous
A summer changed by war
Adapted from Machiko Kyo’s 2009 manga, Cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood follows San and Mayu, two schoolgirls living on a secluded island. Their peaceful summer ends when war reaches their community.
Ghibli artists behind the film
The animation studio SASAYURI was founded by former Studio Ghibli animator Hitomi Tateno. Her credits include My Neighbor Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle, bringing decades of experience to the project.
Veteran animators Akihiko Yamashita and Shinji Otsuka also worked on the film. Yamashita is known for Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron, while Otsuka’s credits include Kiki’s Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke.
Release dates and Ghibli legacy
The film premiered in Japan on March 30, 2025. GKIDS is bringing it to U.S. theaters on September 4, 2026, with a Blu-ray release scheduled for January 19, 2027.
Other filmmakers and studios have carried forward elements of Ghibli’s hand-drawn artistry and storytelling. Studio Ponoc, founded by former Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, made Mary and the Witch’s Flower, while films from Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai and Studio Colorido offer other approaches to everyday wonder and coming-of-age stories.
Key points
- Cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood follows San and Mayu as war reaches their island community.
- Former Ghibli animator Hitomi Tateno founded the film’s animation studio, SASAYURI.
- The film is set for a U.S. theatrical release on September 4, 2026.
- Its Blu-ray release is scheduled for January 19, 2027.