Mamoru Hosoda (細田 守) is a Japanese filmmaker and animator whose work has a way of pulling at the heartstrings while delivering breathtaking visuals. He started out at Toei Animation, making a name for himself with Digimon Adventure: Our War Game! and One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island, before moving to Madhouse in 2005. But it was when he struck out on his own in 2011, founding Studio Chizu, that his signature storytelling style really flourished.

After a short stint with Toei, he began working with Madhouse and writer Satoko Okudera (奥寺 佐渡子) on what are (in my opinion) some of the most beautiful anime films of all time. From the time-traveling whimsy of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time in 2006 to the emotionally rich Wolf Children in 201), Hosoda has a knack for blending fantasy with deep emotion that explore themes of love, family, and identity in a way that feels both personal and universal. His most recent film BELLE (which was written and directed by Hosoda himself) was inspired by Beauty and the Beast and crossed over 64 million dollars.

In 2018, his eighth film, Mirai, earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, solidifying his place as one of animation’s most respected voices. Whether diving into digital worlds, supernatural legacies, or the trials of growing up, Hosoda’s films always leave a lasting impact.

Now – through G KIDS – many of these films are getting their first their 4K ultra release in English.

While his most recently film BELLE is currently available, the sci-fi fantasy will soon be joined by Summer Wars and Wolf Children.

Releasing on 1 April, the 2009 the sci-fi epic Summer Wars follows Kenji Koiso is a shy but brilliant eleventh-grade math whiz who unexpectedly finds himself caught in the middle of a family gathering—and a digital catastrophe. When his classmate, Natsuki Shinohara, invites him to her great-grandmother’s 90th birthday celebration in Ueda, Kenji thinks he’s just playing along as her pretend boyfriend. But things take a wild turn when he’s falsely accused of hacking OZ, a massive online world that connects everything from social networks to real-world infrastructure. Produced by Madhouse, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and grossed over $18 million.

You can pre-order the steelbook directly through Amazon.

Summer Wars made waves both in Japan and internationally, earning several major nominations and awards. It was the first Japanese animated film to compete at Switzerland’s Locarno International Film Festival, where it was up for the 2009 Golden Leopard. Though it didn’t win, Swiss critics called it the best film in competition. It went on to claim the Gertie Award for Best Animated Feature at the Sitges Film Festival and was honored by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for its impact on digital media.

Following Summer Wars on 29 April, Wolf Children will join the Steel book library. It was the first Hosoda film I’d ever seen and I absolutely fell in love with it – and his unique brand of story telling.

In Tokyo, college student Hana falls for a mysterious man who reveals himself to be a wolf, and together they have two children, Yuki and Ame. After his sudden death, Hana struggles to raise them alone, hiding their ability to shift between human and wolf forms. When their wild nature draws unwanted attention, she moves to the countryside, working tirelessly to rebuild an old house and grow their own food. With the help of a gruff but knowledgeable farmer, Nirasaki, she learns to survive and gradually finds support in her new community.

You can pre-order the steelbook directly through Amazon.

Wolf Children wasn’t just a hit with audiences—it swept up awards left and right. It won Animation of the Year at both the 2013 Japan Academy Prize and TAF 2013, along with the Mainichi Film Award for Best Animation Film in 2012. Internationally, it claimed the Silver Mirror and Audience Award at Norway’s Oslo Films from the South festival and took home an Audience Award at the 2013 New York International Children’s Film Festival. Its success even extended to home media, earning the 2014 Best Anime Disc award from Home Media Magazine, proving its staying power long after its theatrical run.

You can read my review of Belle here. Reviews of both Summer Wars and Wolf Children will follow.

More anime soon so…

Stay Tuned!