GKIDS to Screen All You Need Is Kill Anime Film in Multiple Territories

GKIDS announced today that it has acquired the rights for the upcoming All You Need Is Kill anime film for theatrical screening in multiple territories. The company will screen the film in theaters across North America, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival is currently screening the anime film between June 8-14, 2025, as part of the “Midnight Specials” category. 

GKIDS is proud to announce the acquisition of rights to ALL YOU NEED IS KILL from Studio 4°C. 💥

The debut feature of Kenichiro Akimoto, based on the light novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, will premiere at @annecyfestival this week!

Coming soon to theatres.https://t.co/9FyIsQ8FhK pic.twitter.com/rzFqxXKC0w

— GKIDS Films (@GKIDSfilms) June 11, 2025

Kenichiro Akimoto (Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko unit director, Children of the Sea CGI director) is directing the new anime film, with Yuichiro Kido writing the scripts. STUDIO4℃ is in charge of the animation production. 

Meanwhile, the film’s main voice cast is headlined by Ai Mikami as Rita and Natsuki Hanae as Keiji.

An earlier press release for the film’s announcement stated that the new adaptation “recreates the story through a fresh perspective, focusing on Ritaʼs inner journey as a warrior, delving into her loneliness, struggles, and personal growth.”

All You Need Is Kill is inspired by the science fiction action light novel, written by Hiroshi Sakurazaka and illustrated by Yoshitoshi Abe. It was published on December 18, 2004 under Shueisha’s Super Dash Bunko label and is released in English by VIZ Media. It has inspired a 2-volume manga adaptation in 2014 (also released by VIZ) and the 2014 live-action film adaptation titled The Edge of Tomorrow, starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. 

The light novel’s original story followed Keiji Kiriya, who is one of many regular soldiers sent to fight the invading Mimic aliens using the Jacket armor. After ending up in a time loop and experiencing dozens of deaths, Keiji is eventually contacted by Rita, a formidable soldier.  

GKIDS describes the main synopsis of the new All You Need Is Kill film as: 

Set in the year 20XX, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL follows the story of Rita, a resourceful but isolated young woman volunteering to help rebuild Japan after the mysterious appearance of a massive alien flower known as “Darol.” When Darol unexpectedly erupts in a deadly event, unleashing monstrous creatures that decimate the population, Rita is caught in the destruction—and killed. But then she wakes up again. And again. Caught in an endless time loop, Rita must navigate the trauma and repetition of death until she crosses paths with Keiji, a shy young man trapped in the same cycle. Together, they fight to break free from the loop and find meaning in the chaos around them.

Sources: GKIDS Official Twitter, Deadline (Melanie Goodfellow)