Film distributor GKIDS used its Anime Expo 2026 panel to announce four new home video releases, all aimed squarely at collectors. The reveal came during the distributor’s annual Anime Expo panel in Los Angeles, an event that has increasingly become a showcase for physical media news alongside traditional anime streaming announcements. The lineup includes a Blu-ray remaster of Hideaki Anno’s live-action debut Love & Pop alongside three yet-to-be-named collector’s editions of what it calls “beloved films.”
The company, best known for handling the North American home video distribution of Studio Ghibli’s catalog, also confirmed that each of the new editions was “built specifically for collectors,” signaling elaborate packaging, bonus materials, and likely premium disc formats.
GKIDS Doubles Down on Physical Media
At a time when many studios are pulling back from physical releases, GKIDS continues to invest in deluxe editions that cater to an audience hungry for tangible ownership. The Anime Expo reveal fits the distributor’s long-running strategy of releasing limited-run, feature-packed sets that often sell out quickly.
While no release dates were shared during the panel, the commitment to high-quality packaging and supplementary content mirrors recent efforts from boutique labels that view the collector’s market as both durable and lucrative.
Love & Pop Gets a Blu-ray Remaster
For completists of director Hideaki Anno’s work, the headliner is a new Blu-ray remaster of Love & Pop, the 1998 live-action film that marked Anno’s first foray outside animation. Anno is, of course, best known in gaming-adjacent circles for Neon Genesis Evangelion, a franchise that has spawned video games, pachinko machines, and endless merchandise, yet Love & Pop stands apart as a raw, experimental movie. Shot with a handheld style and adapted from a Ryu Murakami novel, the film has long been discussed more than seen outside Japan, making a remastered disc a notable addition to any Anno shelf.
GKIDS did not specify whether the Blu-ray will be standard HD or a 4K UHD release, although the panel’s focus on collector-grade presentations leaves the door open for an upgraded format.
Three Collector’s Editions of Beloved Films
The three unnamed collector’s editions are bound to spark speculation. Given GKIDS’ library, the titles could range from Ghibli staples to works by Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai, or Satoshi Kon. The distributor stressed that each edition has been designed with collectors in mind, suggesting features such as hardcover art books, steelbook cases, or extensive behind-the-scenes content.
Without specifics, the announcement serves more as a future-proofing promise than an immediate buying trigger. The panel did not confirm whether these editions would represent new films or upgraded versions of existing releases.
GamerHeadlines Takeaway
GKIDS’ Anime Expo announcements reinforce the idea that physical media still matters for niche audiences willing to pay for premium packages. While the exact list of films and release windows will determine the level of excitement among anime fans, the move is a welcome one for collectors who prefer ownership over streaming access. When the titles are finally named, these sets could become some of the most desirable anime discs of the year.
