TL;DR, K2 Pictures announced a theatrical animation of Hiroya Oku’s GIGANT at the Cannes Film Festival. The studio says little else yet; the manga ran 2017 to 2021 and is published in English by Seven Seas.

At the Cannes Film Festival, K2 Pictures announced a theatrical animated adaptation of Hiroya Oku’s GIGANT. The GIGANT anime movie is the company’s first animated feature. No staff, studio partner, or release window was disclosed.

Why it matters: K2 is pushing into adaptations alongside its 2026 live action Look Back. For readers curious now, the manga ran from 2017 to 2021 and is available in English from Seven Seas.

GIGANT anime movie announced at Cannes

During a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, K2 Pictures confirmed a theatrical animated film of Hiroya Oku’s GIGANT. The K2 Pictures announcement framed the project as a feature for cinemas. The Gantz creator’s manga is moving to theaters with animation rather than live action.

No poster or teaser accompanied the reveal.

Details are scarce. K2 Pictures did not share staff, partner studio, casting, or date. The company said this is its first animated film project, aligning the reveal with Cannes, where industry buyers gather for market meetings.

K2 did not indicate whether production has started or if a partner animation studio is already attached.

Context arrived alongside another note. K2 Pictures will also produce and distribute the 2026 live action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Look Back. Nothing about the GIGANT anime movie schedule, staff, or distribution has been confirmed.

The company characterized its Cannes appearance as a formal kickoff for rights conversations rather than a debut of materials.

• Format: a theatrical animation for cinemas, not a TV series or OVA.
• Announced by K2 Pictures during a Cannes Film Festival press conference in France.
• This is K2 Pictures’ first animated film project, confirmed on stage.
• No director, writers, animation studio, or cast members have been named.
• No release window, territory plans, or marketing timeline was shared at Cannes.
• Hiroya Oku wrote the original GIGANT manga serialized in Big Comic Superior.
• The manga ran from December 2017 to September 2021 and totals 10 volumes.
• Seven Seas publishes the English edition, with an official story description available.
• K2 Pictures will produce and distribute the 2026 live action Look Back film.
• Further updates will come from K2 Pictures when partners and dates are ready.
• The announcement did not specify target ratings or intended audience segments.
• Territory distribution for the anime film remains unannounced by the company.

Why K2 Pictures producing GIGANT matters

Putting K2 Pictures in charge shapes expectations. As K2 Pictures GIGANT moves forward, the company’s financing and distribution experience should define scope and release strategy across regions. It is the first animated film from K2, which means fresh production pipelines, new animation partners, and a learning curve distinct from its live action work and international positioning.

Announcing at Cannes puts the studio producing GIGANT in front of global rights buyers and sales agents. That market setting often seeds territory deals long before a trailer exists. The same company producing and distributing 2026’s Look Back shows K2 can carry a title end to end, which matters for theatrical anime and festival positioning.

For audiences, the immediate takeaway is process, not timetable. K2 Pictures first animated film needs a director, animation studio, schedule, and ratings plan before forecasts make sense. To gauge the competitive landscape this movie will enter, browse our top animated movies list and consider how adult-aimed sci fi performs theatrically.

• Unified production and distribution lets K2 align greenlights, marketing beats, and release slots.
• Cannes access enables pre sales talks with distributors across Europe, North America, and Asia.
• As studio producing GIGANT, K2 must pick an animation partner, still unannounced.
• Selecting a director with sci fi action experience will anchor tone and scope.
• Adult themes from the manga may require targeted ratings strategies in some regions.
• The 2026 Look Back run up will test K2’s distribution muscle ahead of release.
• Budget size and format specifics remain unconfirmed, keeping flexibility high for partners.
• Marketing will likely lean on Hiroya Oku’s name recognition and completed ten volume catalog.
• Expect a measured rollout, with staff reveals, key art, then a teaser.
• If pre sales land early, production resources and schedule commitments become clearer.
• K2 Pictures GIGANT will be judged on theatrical legs, not series longevity.

What GIGANT is and where to read it

At heart, the GIGANT manga is a sexy sci fi action story by Hiroya Oku. Seven Seas describes Rei Yokoyamada, a film obsessed teen who meets adult performer Papico just before a bizarre event lets her grow to colossal size. The premise blends romance, tabloid chaos, and city smashing spectacle.

Publication is complete. Hiroya Oku GIGANT ran in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Superior from December 2017 to September 2021, finishing at ten volumes. Seven Seas GIGANT editions are available in English, so readers can start now while the film develops; the summary above follows the publisher’s official description.

As the GIGANT anime movie takes shape, watch for concrete staff news. A director, character designer, animation studio, and release window will set tone and timing. No streaming, territories, or trailer exist yet, so reading the manga remains the cleanest way to understand tone and scale.

• Where to read: Seven Seas print and digital editions in English markets.
• Original magazine: Big Comic Superior, a seinen imprint from Shogakukan.
• Volume count: ten books compile the complete series story.
• Lead characters: Rei Yokoyamada and Papico drive both heart and spectacle.
• Themes: media spectacle, intimacy, sci fi mayhem, and moral trade offs.
• Suggested starting point: volume 1 introduces the pair and the growth twist.
• Seven Seas’ summary frames the tone as sexy sci fi action.
• Next updates to expect: staff hires, key art, teaser trailer, and date.
• Distribution: theatrical details are unannounced and may vary by region.
• Age rating: not confirmed, but adult content suggests targeted releases.
• English availability means newcomers can catch up before theatrical marketing begins.
• Keep an eye on official K2 channels for staff and partner reveals.
• While you wait, browse our best animated movies for more big screen picks.

Source: Crunchyroll