GKIDS is providing a second chance for audiences to experience The Last Blossom (Housenka) on the big screen. The distributor announced that the original anime film will return to theaters on October 13, 2026, the same day it arrives on digital home video platforms. This move follows a rocky theatrical debut in late August, where technical issues with the digital cinema package (DCP) resulted in misaligned subtitles and the cancellation of several scheduled screenings.
At the time of the initial August 30–31 release, GKIDS acknowledged the subtitling glitch and issued a public apology to affected moviegoers. The company noted that while they managed to distribute a corrected version of the film to some theaters by the second day, many venues were unable to update their systems in time, leading to widespread cancellations. The upcoming October 13 screenings are intended to rectify these presentation issues and fulfill the company's commitment to the theatrical experience.
Directed by Baku Kinoshita with a script by Kadzuya Konomoto—the duo behind the acclaimed ODDTAXI—the film follows a former yakuza reflecting on his life from his prison cell. The animation was produced by Studio CLAP, known for Pompo: The Cinéphile and The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes. The film previously made the festival rounds, including a spot in the Feature Film Competition at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, before its initial Japanese release in October 2025.
