streaming service HBO Max adds renowned anime classics to its library, among them an unseen one, potentially stirring sentimental upheavals for viewers
In an exciting development for anime fans, HBO Max has announced its partnership with GKIDS to bring a diverse collection of classic and new anime titles to its platform. This slate, featuring works by renowned directors such as Makoto Shinkai, Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Hosoda, Naoko Yamada, Masaaki Yuasa, and others, includes 20 key films, many of which will be available for streaming from September 1, 2025, with the rest releasing throughout late 2025 and early 2026.
Titles Releasing on September 1, 2025
Some of the titles that will be available on HBO Max on September 1 include:
- Children Who Chase Lost Voices (Makoto Shinkai)
- Fireworks (Akiyuki Shinbo, Noboyuki Takeuchi)
- Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (Ayumu Watanabe) - North American streaming debut
- Ghost Cat Anzu (Yôko Kuno, Nobuhiro Yamashita) - North American streaming debut
- Lonely Castle in the Mirror - North American streaming debut
- Love & Pop
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (Makoto Shinkai)
- Your Name (Makoto Shinkai)
Titles Releasing Throughout Late 2025 and Early 2026
Notable titles that will be released later in 2025 and early 2026 include:
- Angel’s Egg (Mamoru Oshii) - North American and 4K streaming debut
- Liz and the Blue Bird (Naoko Yamada)
- Lu Over the Wall (Masaaki Yuasa)
- Millennium Actress (Satoshi Kon)
- Mind Game (Masaaki Yuasa)
- Perfect Blue (Satoshi Kon) - 4K streaming debut, previously only on VOD
- Shin Godzilla (Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi) - 4K streaming debut, live-action
- Summer Wars (Mamoru Hosoda) - 4K streaming debut
- The Boy and the Beast (Mamoru Hosoda) - 4K streaming debut
- The Colors Within - North American streaming debut
- The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Mamoru Hosoda) - 4K streaming debut
- Wolf Children (Mamoru Hosoda) - 4K streaming debut
This slate includes both classic masterpieces like Perfect Blue and Angel’s Egg, as well as modern hits such as Your Name and Liz and the Blue Bird. Several titles will debut on North American streaming platforms for the first time, and some will be available in 4K UHD for the first time ever on HBO Max.
A Guide to the Best Anime for Your Streaming Queue
With this partnership, HBO Max is demonstrating its commitment to bringing world-class Japanese animation and original films to its audiences. This will be the first time Angel’s Egg is easily available to watch since its release, marking its first time on streaming. Mamoru Oshii's Angel's Egg, a dreamy post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy, will join the lineup.
Other titles like Mind Game, The Girl Who Lept Through Time, Summer Wars, Millennium Princess, and Perfect Blue will be available on HBO Max in late 2025 and early 2026. Lonely Castle in the Mirror, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, The Colors Within, and Ghost Cat Anzu will have their North American streaming debut on HBO Max.
Specific release dates for the mentioned titles will be announced at a later date. Until now, Perfect Blue has only been available on VOD, and Angel's Egg was previously available only on DVD and VHS in Japan. The upcoming releases on HBO Max promise to offer a rich and diverse selection of anime for fans to enjoy.
Starting September 1, a variety of classic anime movies will be available on HBO Max, making it an excellent time for both new and long-time anime enthusiasts to subscribe and start building their streaming queues.
- The upcoming releases on HBO Max include a variety of classic and new anime titles, such as Children Who Chase Lost Voices, Love & Pop, and Your Name, which will be available for streaming starting September 1, 2025.
- HBO Max will also introduce several titles for the first time on North American streaming platforms, including Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, Lonely Castle in the Mirror, The Colors Within, and Ghost Cat Anzu.
- Additionally, in late 2025 and early 2026, notable titles such as Angel’s Egg, Liz and the Blue Bird, Lu Over the Wall, Millennium Actress, Mind Game, and Perfect Blue will be released on HBO Max, with some debuting in 4K UHD for the first time ever.
