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Manga Jiman 2020 Online Launch Event

Date: 2020 June 30 19:58 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

UK based aspiring artists will want to watch the online launch event for the latest Manga Jiman Competition.
The details for the competition will be streamed at 7pm on Wednesday 1st July 2020. Previous winners Katja Hammond, Shangomola Edunjobi and Tori Jones will join the stream for a chat as well.

The manga competition is run by the Embassy of Japan in the UK. The competition often marks rising stars in the UK industry and is a great place to showcase talent.

The live stream is free and you can register here.

You can see more details about the previous 2019 Competition here.

The Embassy have also just posted some fun quizzes on Japan, so give it a go if you want to test your Japanese knowledge!

Souce: Embassy of Japan in the UK

Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2020 Special Online Screening Event

Date: 2020 June 24 20:09 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

With social distancing still in place across the UK virtual events are proving to be a popular alternative. Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival have just sent us details of their 2020 offerings, which include a free online screening event on Saturday 25th July 2020 at 11am and 6pm (UK time).

They've got a line-up of fun films that range from stop motion to 2D and it's all for free. All people have to do is go to the Kotatsu Festival YouTube channel at either 11am or 6pm to watch the films.

Animators include current names like Miho Yata and Arisa Wakami and veteran animator Fusako Yusaki. So why not tune in on Saturday morning or evening to enjoy some insight into animation?

Cloud Matsuri Reminder

Date: 2020 May 29 20:49 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

While lock down has impacted events for anime fans around the globe there is a good range of virtual events cropping up. Up this weekend is Cloud Matsuri. Set to run online from Saturday 30th to Sunday 31st May 2020, the event will play host to top Japanese industry figures along with UK based and US anime firms.

You can access all the streams for the event for free with details to do so via Cloud Matsuri's website.

Multiple MCM Comic Con Events Cancelled for 2020

Date: 2020 May 19 20:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

We've just received a press release from the good folks over at ReedPOP, the group behind MCM Comic Con events. They've told us that due to the COVID-19 virus multiple MCM Comic Con Events are cancelled. The upcoming MCM Comic Con events in Birmingham, London, Manchester and Scotland are affected.

At this stage it's uncertain when the next MCM Comic Con event will be. This doesn't just impact ReedPOP itself, but it's exhibitors. We are aware of a many specialist small business that make the majority of their income from events like MCM Comic Con. If there's a stall like that you enjoy buying stuff from that's normally at your favourite geek event, check out their website and maybe buy something from them. Every little helps.

Mizuki Kiyama's Bath House of Whales wins Lotte Reiniger Award in Stuttgart

Date: 2020 May 17 19:13 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

On Sunday, 10 May 2020 at the closing award ceremony of the 27th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), this year's Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award for Animated Film - named after the German-born silhouette animator who made the earliest surviving animated feature, and awarded to the jury's choice of the best graduation film by a film student - was awarded to Japanese animator Mizuki Kiyama for her graduation film Bath House of Whales (くじらの湯 Kujira no yu, 2019), produced at Tokyo University of the Arts.

Kiyama, who now stylizes her name as Kiyamamizuki (キヤマミズキ), animated and directed the 7-minute-long short in paint on glass; it was produced by Oscar-nominated indie animator and Tokyo University of the Arts professor Koji Yamamura, along with Yuichi Ito, Mitsuko Okamoto and Taruto Fuyama.The festival has now finished, but the short is still available to view officially on the YouTube channel of Osaka-based organization Knowledge Capital.

Her name was previously written as 木山瑞嬉, and while going by this rendering she made independent shorts including the 5-minute Futatsume (ふたつめ, 2016), 1-minute Metatarō (メタ太郎, 2017) - both on her Vimeo channel - and 3-minute On the way home (かえりみち Kaerimichi, 2018) and worked for Science SARU as an animator and digital animator on episodes of Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!.

The Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award includes €10,000, sponsored by MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg. The jury at this year's festival comprised Jon Frickey (who made the Japanese-co-produced Cat Days, featured in this year's Best of Animation program), Waltraud Grausgruber, Ben Mitchell, Cécile Noesser and Gerben Schermer.

Japanese productions that have won awards at Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film before include Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea in 2010, Makoto Shinkai's The Garden of Words in 2014 and Mamoru Hosoda's Mirai in 2019, all of which won the AniMovie Award for the best animated feature film screened at the festival.

Thanks to Otaku News reader Jordan Scott for bringing this to our attention!

Souce: Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film

Cloud Matsuri - A Virtual Convention

Date: 2020 May 15 12:31 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

It's the start of convention season, while events are inevitably being postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19 online events are becoming a sensible alternative and Anime Limited are stepping up with their buddies to launch Cloud Matsuri.

The virtual convention is set to run on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st May 2020. The event is completely free.

The show will feature exclusive interviews and talks with special guest from the world of anime and more.

They're hinting that there will be more guests to announce, but the line up they're showing us at the moment is fantastic with Eunyoung Choi - CEO & Executive Producer, Science SARU (most recently responsible for the fabulous Keep Your Hands off Eizouken). Eiji Inomoto President & Founder, Studio Orange. The CG specialists created Land of the Lustrous and Beastars. Shuzo Shiota president of Polygon Pictures (who are involved in Knights of Sidonia and AJIN: Demi-Human to name a few). They'll also have Yasuhiro Kamimura CEO of GroundWorks Co., Ltd who will talk about his career to date and share stories with managing the Evangelion brand.

Drawing Kimono: Online Session with Kutsuwada Chie

Date: 2020 May 12 21:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

While events in the UK have had to be postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19, some event runners have switched to online sessions as an alternative. Japan House London will be running a Drawing Kimono: Online Session with Kutsuwada Chie. It's set to run on Friday 15th May 2020 at 14:00 to 15:00 UK time. Booking is required, but the event is free.

Kutsuwada Chie is a Brighton based Japanese artist who will show people attending the online session how to draw a male figure wearing a kimono.

BFI Japan 2020 Over 100 Years of Japanese Cinema

Date: 2020 May 05 20:04 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

UK readers will be very interested to hear that the BFI have just announced a fantastic new season called BFI Japan 2020.

Starting with Akira Kurosawa and other classics in May, they'll then run different themes every month until October with some J-Horror (just in time for Halloween). We you know you'll want to watch some anime too, which is why they'll be showing anime in July, this will include films from Hayao Miyazaki, Mamoru Hosoda and the late great Satoshi Kon, plus some other top tier titles too.

There is pretty is much something for everyone during this fantastic season. Currently catering for the audience at lockdown at home they aim to bring cinema to you via their BFI Player and BFI YouTube.

When the cinemas reopen (which the BFI anticipates will be late 2020 or early 2021) the BFI will also re-release the Akira Kurosawa classic Seven Samurai, along with monthly seasons at the BFI Southbank in London.

Additionally the BFI will be releasing some DVDs and Blu-ray features too including Ozu's Tokyo Story, The Flavour of Green Tea Over Rice, Toshio Matsumoto's Funeral Parade of Roses, along with a Takeshi Kitano Blu-ray boxset featuring Sonatine, Violent Cop and Boiling Point.

International Manga Competition - 14th Japan International Manga Award

Date: 2020 April 04 13:13 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

Are you artistic? Well, with so many people at home right now, it is the perfect time for another manga competition. The application for the 14th Japan International Manga Award. The competition is organised by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The deadline is 19th June 2020. Entries can be posted to us at the Embassy in London. If you're outside the UK you can submit entries to your local Embassy of Japan. Entrants to the Manga Jiman Competition are encouraged to enter.

Souce: 14th Japan International MANGA Award

Manga Jiman Competition 2019 Winners

Date: 2020 February 26 22:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

It's that time of year again! Recently the Embassy of Japan in the UK revealed the winners of the prestigious Manga Jiman Competition 2019. The competition often marks rising stars in the UK industry too. Competition prizes range from an amazing two flights to Japan for the 1st place winner, to lovely A3 scanners for second place and so.

This years first place went to Tori Jones for A Heart of Gold or Some Other Metal, while Alexandra Cook took second place with Kiyomi's Prequel. Third place went to Mina Ghosh with The Last Day of Uther Adriss.

Many of the shortlisted artists were first time entrants, showing that the competition has endured for the 13 times it's been run.

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising Review

Date: 2020 February 23 15:28 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising is the latest cinematic offering for the My Hero Academia series. It hits cinemas around the UK and Ireland on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th February 2020. Of course you want to know is it any good? Well read on to find out!

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Windowology: New Architectural Views from Japan at Japan House London

Date: 2020 February 05 21:46 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Fans of Japanese culture in London will want to head over to Japan House London to experience the Windowology: New Architectural Views from Japan exhibition. It's set to run from Thursday 16th April to Sunday 28th June 2020. Admission is free.

The exhibition explores the architectural side and also the abstract and meaning of windows. Of course they've also got a window into manga, with the classic manga Sazae-san being displayed. They've selected some great strips on the themes of windows too! Sazae-san is one of Japan's most popular manga series. It's presented in the classic yonkoma (4 panel) strip style.

So why not visit Japan House London to get a view on this exhibit!

The Garden of Words Stage Production To Hit London This Summer 2020

Date: 2020 January 22 21:05 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Culture

While everyone is talking about Makoto Shinkai's latest smash hit Weathering With You, we can't help but wonder what the next Makoto Shinkai offering will be. Whole Hog Theatre have got in touch with to reveal that they'll be performing a stage adaptation of The Garden of Words.

The official stage production is set to run from 16 July - 15 August 2020 at Park Theatre in Finsbury Park, London.

Whole Hog Theatre are not new to adapting anime, having run a mesmerising stage version of Princess Mononoke.

We're excited to see what creative ideas Whole Hog Theatre will bring to life.

The Japan Foundation - Touring Film Programme 2020 Screening Details

Date: 2019 December 27 19:28 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

UK Fans of Japanese are in for a great treat. The Japan Foundation have just revealed the line up for their Touring Film Programme 2020. The theme for this year is Happiness is A State of Mind: Joy and Despair in Japanese Cinema. Films will be screened all around the UK from 31st January to 29th March 2020.

There's plenty of excellent films to choose from too:

My Love Story!!
Our Meal for Tomorrow
Her Sketchbook
A Banana? At This Time of Night?
Organ
The Actor
Little Nights, Little Love
Jesus
Another World
Bento Harassment
My Dad is a Heel Wrestler
Lying to Mom
Shadowfall
And Your Bird Can Sing
Sea of Revival
The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps
Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler
Ten Dark Women
I Go Gaga, My Dear
Ride Your Wave

Anime fans will be interested in Ride Your Wave from director Masaaki Yuasa (Lu Over The Wall, Night is Short, Walk on Girl and DEVILMAN crybaby). It's a tale of romance with a twist.

If you've caught the anime of Kakegurui on Netflix you're sure you be interested in the live action version which will be screening at the festival.

If you've seen the anime or read the manga of My Love Story!! You can also catch the live action version. Takeo looks like his jumped directly out of the anime/manga version!

To find a screening near you visit https://www.jpf-film.org.uk for more details.

One Piece Stampede UK Cinema Release Details

Date: 2019 December 19 21:33 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

2019 isn't over yet, but Manga Entertainment UK have started to look forward to 2020 and revealed that they'll be releasing the One Piece Stampede Movie in cinemas around the UK on Sunday 2nd February 2020. The screenings of the latest One Piece cinema outing will be at select cinemas for one day only, both subbed and dubbed.

To find out more and to register your interest on the booking site visit onepiecefilm.co.uk.

Jonathan Ross on Anime, Manga and Japanese Toys

Date: 2019 November 06 21:54 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Press Releases

The geek event that was MCM Comic Con London October 2019 has ended. One of of the anime highlights was Jonathan Ross introducing two anime shows for Crunchyroll.

During the event, he revealed that he got mistaken for a cosplayer at San Diego Comic-con. He also admitted he enjoyed anime with yokai eating, erm certain parts of people (we'll leave the rest to your imagination).

The good folks from anime streaming service Crunchyroll interviewed Jonathan Ross and he shared his love of anime and Japanese toy lines.

Jonathan Ross to Host Crunchyroll Anime Premiere at MCM Comic Con London

Date: 2019 October 21 20:52 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

It's geek super event MCM Comic Con London this weekend. Anime streaming service Crunchyroll have just revealed that Jonathan Ross will host the UK Premiere of brand new anime at MCM Comic Con London. The premiere is for two anime titles - In/Spectre and Somali and the Forest Spirit.

The screening will be at the Main Stage, Friday 25 October 2019 from 5pm to 7pm.

It's well known that Jonathan Ross is an anime fan. He's made a few shows about manga and going to Japan. Plus he commissioned creepy-artist artist Junko Mizuno to create the logo for his production company Hotsauce TV.

The Garden of Words the Stage Play by The Whole Hog Theatre Company

Date: 2019 October 14 21:34 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

UK based Theatre Company Whole Hog Theatre have just revealed details of their latest production The Garden of Words. Based on the anime of the same name by director Makoto Shinkai. The play will be performed in London at Park Theatre from 15th July to 15th August 2020.

It will also be performed in Tokyo with Japanese Animation stage production specialists, Nelke Planning (Sailor Moon stage production).

Curiously the performance promises to be an interdisciplinary adaptation visually emotive story using puppetry, movement and projection art. Performed in English with occasional Japanese. The Whole Hog Theatre Company are not new to anime adaptations, having performed Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke on stage. While Princess Mononoke naturally lends itself to puppetry, The Garden of Words could have been done as conventional play. So we're very interested to see what Whole Hog have up their sleeves.

Anime and manga being adapted for the stage seems to be an on going trend in the west, with Kiki's Delivery Service being adapted by Southwark Playhouse and Urasawa's Pluto getting a performance at London's Barbican.

While popular franchises are frequently adapted for the stage in Japan by theatre companies such as Nelke Planning.

We're excited to see what Whole Hog do and suggest you book tickets soon to avoid disappointment.

Digital Art Exhibition at Japan House London

Date: 2019 October 14 20:07 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

As autumn fades into winter and the evenings get darker Japan House London have been thinking ahead. They've just announced details a new exhibition to brighten things up. WOW: City Lights and Woodland Shade is set to run at Japan House from Thursday 21 November 2019 until Sunday 22nd March 2020.

The two installations by WOW looking at both the urban future and timelessness of rural Japan.

The installation will offer mesmerising digital displays, images of Tokyo by night projected in a mind-bending 360-degree reimagining of Japan's capital city by night. Plus POPPO is an excursion into the folk art of Japan's countryside.

The exhibition is suitable for all ages and is free to attend.

Geiko and Maiko Guest Appearances at Japan House London

Date: 2019 October 13 19:13 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

As far as images of Japan goes, you can't get more Japanese than an image of Geisha. The traditional Japanese entertainers will be making an appearance at Japan House London on Friday 18th October at 12:30 to 13:30.

You'll get a rare chance to meet Geiko (aka Geisha) and Maiko (apprentice Geiko). They'll perform signature dances and also take part in a conversation with Japan House.

The event is free to attend.

Promare UK and Ireland Cinema Screening Details

Date: 2019 October 12 19:07 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

UK based fans of Studio Trigger are in for a treat. Anime Distributors Anime Limited have just announced they've acquired the rights to Promare.

Studio Trigger are responsible for TV series Kill la Kill and Little Witch Academia, director Hiroyuki Imaishi was also behind GAINAX's Gurren Lagann. Promare marks the studio's first theatrical outing.

On Tuesday 26th and Thursday 28th November 2019 there will be screenings at select cinemas around the UK and Ireland.

If you're lucky enough to be in Scotland and and get to the Glasgow Film Theatre on Sunday 13th October 2019, you can get to the UK premiere! There will also be a Promare Special Events Screening at Edinburgh on Saturday 19th October 2019, with major creative talent behind this film. Plus there's also a screening at the Edinburgh Filmhouse on Monday 21st October 2019.

Directors Shinichiro Watanabe and Motonobu Hori to Attend MCM Comic Con London as Anime Guests of Honour

Date: 2019 October 11 20:32 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

It's October. Which means it's almost time for MCM Comic Con London. The massive geek event is set to to run from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th October 2019 at the ExCel Centre in London.

They've just announced two very special anime guests of honour. First up we have Shinichiro Watanabe, best known for the major anime series Cowboy Bebop, but he's also done some other great shows including Terror in Resonance, Samurai Champloo, along with Kids on the Slope. You can also see his latest show Carole & Tuesday on Netflix. Shinichiro Watanabe is credited as the supervising director / chief director of the show.,

Guest number two is Motonobu Hori who is the director of Carole & Tuesday. The show marks his directorial debut, while he's worked on n key animation, animation direction and storyboards for a wealth of anime, including Napping Princess, Berserk: The Golden Age Arc, and episodes of Psycho-Pass in the past.

Both guests will be hosting an Anime Guest of Honour panel at the Centre Stage on Saturday, 26th October from 11:15AM, and will also be attending free signing sessions on both Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th October from 14:30-15:30.

As always we're very excited about this as it's a great chance to see some top talent from the anime industry. We look forward to find out what insights from anime production they'll reveal at this panel.

Japan Matsuri in London - Sunday 29th September 2019

Date: 2019 September 25 20:46 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Fans of Japanese culture in London this weekend will want to head to the Japan Matsuri in Trafalgar Square. Now in it's 11th year the free event is set to run from 10am to 8pm on Sunday 29th September 2019. As always there'll be lots to see and do. Including a watching expert martial arts demonstrations, Japanese music and dance performances.

One of the main draws is always Japanese street food. We've also been told that Japanese fast food favourite MOS burger will be making their UK debut. There's always so much good Japanese food there it can be hard to choose what to eat! Yakisoba! Sushi! Hmmm. It's hard not to drool thinking about food while typing this!

There's also a great family activity tent will teach parents and kids alike manga, calligraphy, origami
and more.

This year's Matsuri marks the official opening of the Japan-UK Season of Culture - an exciting and varied programme of events taking place until the end of 2020.

Hatsune Miku Expo 2020 Europe Tour - London Details

Date: 2019 September 17 20:12 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London based fans of virtual pop idol Hatsune Miku will want to head to the O2 Academy Brixton on Saturday 11th January 2020 for the London leg of the Hatsune Miku Expo 2020 Europe Tour. This will be her second European tour. Miku will start the tour in London then will jet off to Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam and Barcelona.

Tickets for the vocaloid sensation start at £45.00 and go up to £125.00 for VIP. Tickets are on sale now at livenation.co.uk and ticketmaster.co.uk.

Imaginary Solutions - Performance in London This November

Date: 2019 September 15 19:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

London based culture vultures will be interested to hear about Imaginary Solutions. It's an upcoming collaboration between the Tokyo-based Butoh dancer/martial artist Takahiro Tomatsu, and the acclaimed London-based experimental music ensemble ARCO, led by composer performer Neil Luck. The performance is set to run on Friday 15th November 2019 at The Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury. Tickets are £8 or 6 for concessions.

The performance is an official event of the Japan-UK Season of Culture 2019-2020.

Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2019

Date: 2019 September 07 11:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Fans of anime who can get to Cardiff or Aberystwyth are in for a treat as the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Film Festival returns for it's 2019 run. As you'd expect they've got a great line up of films, plus other events including an Anime-Themed Disco, a Masterclass with stop motion animators Takeshi Yashiro & Satoshi Akutsu.

Movie wise they've got some great titles that are worthy to catch on the big screen including Birthday Wonderland, Penguin Highway and A Silent Voice. They'll also be showing Tamako Love Story as a nod to KyoAni and their recent tragedy.

The festival is set to run in Cardiff at Chapter from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October 2019 and at Aberystwyth Arts Centre Saturday 19th to 20th October 2019.

Anime Film Festival in London September 2019

Date: 2019 August 12 20:11 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

Anime fans in London looking for a day of films can't wrong by heading over to the first The Anime Film Festival. It's set to run on Saturday 7th September at Picturehouse Central in London's West End. They've got a sterling line up of films that should all really be enjoyed on the big screen.

All films will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles.

They'll be showing the following:

Mirai (PG): 2.20pm
Penguin Highway (12): 4.30pm
your name. (12): 7.00pm
Redline (15): 9.15pm

They're all good films so it really depends what you're after.
If you haven't caught Your Name on a cinema screen yet, now is your chance. We've also got a soft spot for the fantastic Mirai. While Penguin Highway offers an eccentric and unexpected adventure (with penguins of course). Redline on the other hand just offers sheer intense action! So take your pick!

You can get tickets for individual films, double bills or whole line up.

Manga Artist Talk with Keiko Takemiya in London

Date: 2019 August 09 20:17 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Manga fans in London are truly being spoilt with all the guests and events currently available over the last couple of months. This trend is continuing with a Special talk event with legendary manga artist - Keiko Takemiya. Known for her shojo manga, pioneer of the Boys' Love genre and author of the iconic manga including To Terra... and The Poem of Wind and Trees. Comic book expert Paul Gravett will be talking to Keiko Takemiya from 2:30pm to 4:30pm on Sunday 25th August 2019 at Foyles Charing Cross Road.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A and an opportunity for books to be signed bring them along with you!

This exclusive UK event is in partnership with Japan Foundation London.

The event costs £8 per person or £5 for students and Foyalty members.

AmeCon returns in August 2020 with AmeChibi

Date: 2019 August 06 20:36 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

UK anime fans looking for a nice little convention to attend in the summer of 2020 are in luck. The good folks at AmeCon have announced that they'll be running AmeChibi at Northampton Park Inn on Friday 7th to Sunday 9th August 2020. It's called AmeChibi as it's smaller than their usual university campus events, running in a hotel instead. This means it'll have a different more cosy atmosphere than the larger events.

Registration for AmeChibi 2020 will open on Tuesday 1st October 2019. Pricing details have yet to be revealed.

The last smaller format AmeChibli was held in 2015 and registration sold out in 6 hours. So we advise you to book early on Tuesday 1st October 2019 if you're keen to go.

Souce: AmeCon

Manga Symposium in London August 2019

Date: 2019 August 02 20:06 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Manga fans in London looking for an academic taste into the world of manga will be very pleased to hear about the Manga Symposium: What is Manga? Exploring Japanese Manga and Visual Narratives. The day long event gathers a range of manga academics at The British Library, Knowledge Centre Theatre. It's set to run on Friday 23rd August 2019 from 10:00 to 17:30.

Tickets cost £15 for adults or £8 for students under 18s and other concessions. We can think of nothing better than spending a learning about manga. Visit https://www.bl.uk/events/manga-symposium to book tickets.

Anime's Human Machines London Barbican Screening Details

Date: 2019 August 01 21:11 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Anime fans in London are in for a treat. The Barbican have got anime expert Helen McCarthy to curate a season of anime screenings. Anime's Human Machines is set to run from Thursday 12th to Monday 30th September 2019.

Each screening will have a special introduction by Helen McCarthy. They've also got super mecha designer Shôji Kawamori. Anime fans will best know him for his mecha designs in Macross. He also co-directed Macross Plus. Other famous designs include a series of Dicalone toys for Japanese toy company Takara. This was a collection of transforming robots. Hasbro licensed these toys and rebranded them as Transformers. Mr Kawamori designed a certain truck called Convoy who was rebranded as Optimus Prime!

Shôji Kawamori will be introducing the Ghost in the Shell Movie (the 1995 animated version), at the Barbican on Wednesday 18th September 2019 at 20:45. Kawamori did some of the mechanical design for this film too!

This season has a whole host of awesome films that are all really worth watching on the big screen (Helen's spoilt us for choice). We suggest booking early to avoid disappointment.

They'll also be showing the mind bending Paprika, Patlabor the Movie, Mamoru Hosoda's Summer Wars, plus a few other awesome films.

Not content with just films, they've got a couple of drawing workshops too!

AmeCon - Live Stream for Next AmeCon Event Details

Date: 2019 August 01 18:47 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

UK based anime fans looking for a convention to go to will be pleased to hear that AmeCon will be announcing details of their next event. On Saturday 3rd August 2019 they'll have a livestream at 8:30pm along with a Q&A.

From what we can gather, they'll be announcing when and where the next AmeCon will be, along with when it opens for registration.

To be the first to find out tune in on either Facebook or YouTube.

You can also submit questions to them in advance via Facebook or @AmeCon on Twitter.

AmeCon is one of the UK's largest Japanese animation, comics and culture conventions. It's run by fans for fans.

Souce: AmeCon

Origami Soundscapes / The Crane - Avant-garde Performance in London this August

Date: 2019 July 23 20:53 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

Fans of Japanese culture in London looking for something a bit different this August are in luck. We've just been sent details about an Anglo-Japanese Theatre/Opera/Live Art Production Origami Soundscapes / The Crane. It's set to run at the arcola theatre in East London on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th August 2019. The Friday showing will be at 20:00, while there will be two showings on Saturday at 15:00 and 20:00.

The performance folds origami and music together in a multi-media opera installation exploring classical Japanese traditions with a uniquely avant-garde twist. You can always check out the trailer to get more of an idea.

This is supported by Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and has been recognised as an Official Event of the Japan-UK Season of Culture 2019-2020.

It will be sung in English and Japanese without subtitles.

Tickets range from £12 to £22.

Our Road to Recovery: An Anime Studio in Fukushima - Talk at Japan House London

Date: 2019 June 27 19:57 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Japan House London have been hosting a lot of great events for anime and manga fans recently. Continuing with this trend they'll be hosting Our Road to Recovery: An Anime Studio in Fukushima. The talk is by Asao Yoshinori of Gaina (formally called Fukushima Gainax). The talk is set on run on Tuesday 2 July 2019 and has two sessions the first at 15:30 to 17:10 and the second at 18:30 to 20:00 (which is followed by a drinks reception).

In this event, Asao Yoshinori explores the role that animation has played in the recovery and revitalisation of Fukushima and introduces a screening of two of his studio's representative works that have been specially subtitled in English for this event at Japan House.

The event is free to attend, booking is required.

Okko's Inn UK Cinema Screening Details

Date: 2019 June 26 20:27 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from anime company Manga Entertainment UK have announced that Okko's Inn will be screened in select cinemas around the UK.

The film is directed by Kitaro Kosaka of anime studio Madhouse. The fantasy follows the adventures of Okko a girl who after losing her parents in a car accident moves in with her grandmother in the countryside. Okko's grandmother runs a traditional Japanese inn. Okko then discovers that the inn is inhabited by spirits only she can see.

The film is pitched as having storybook charm. It'll hit cinemas around the UK at select cinemas on Sunday 14th July 2019.

If you can make it to screening near you ticket holders will also receive a free, exclusive postcard featuring character artwork - available on a first come, first served basis while stocks last.

This is Manga - The Art of Urasawa Naoki

Date: 2019 June 10 21:00 | Posted By: Guest Contributor

Category > Anime

In the window of Japan House in Kensington, a standee of a schoolboy with a baseball cap and backpack beckons. "Hey! Come look at this!" a speech bubble by his head says, inviting you to join him and his two friends inside. The characters have been drawn in the distinctive style of legendary mangaka Urasawa Naoki, and their invitation is for THIS IS MANGA - THE ART OF URASAWA NAOKI, which is open to the public until 28 July 2019.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

An Interview with Urasawa Naoki a Master of Manga

Date: 2019 June 09 21:53 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Japan House London are currently hosting a manga exhibition of Urasawa Naoki's work. His manga is hugely popular with his books having sold over 127 million copies in Japan alone. He's responsible for manga including Monster, 20th Century Boys, Pluto (the re-imagining of Tezuka's Astroboy).

Urasawa himself was in London to set up the exhibition and also was a guest at events run by Japan House, such as QAs and a few live drawing sessions. Urasawa's live drawing performances aren't like anything else we've seen before. The multi award winning manga artist is also a singer/song writer who has released two albums and performed songs that have gone on to be on the live action versions of some of his manga. His live performance at Japan House started with him singing and playing one of his songs on guitar, then he activated his loop pedal so the guitar tune continues and walks over to a drawing desk and draws for everyone to see on a projected screen. Once he finished drawing he returned to his guitar to finish the song!

We caught up with the manga master at Japan House London to hear what he had to say about the exhibition.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Manga Exhibition at The British Museum a Review

Date: 2019 June 03 21:27 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The British Museum have just opened the largest Manga Exhibition outside of Japan. Naturally being keen manga fans we were curious. What was it all about? Was it any good? We were invited by The British Museum to check out the new exhibition and find out for ourselves.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

This is Manga - The Art of Urasawa Naoki in London

Date: 2019 June 03 19:49 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Manga

Japan House London have just sent a reminder that manga artist Urasawa Naoki is in town. He's best known for manga such as Monster, 20th Century Boys, Master Keaton, and Pluto (his adaptation of Tezuka's Astroboy).

He's in London to promote his exhibition This is Manga - The Art of Urasawa Naoki. The exhibition has a wide varity of his artwork on display, from his early childhood drawings to now. It includes a lot of original pages from his manga where you can see all the original details of his art. Along with huge prints of some of his amazing work. The exhibition is free is to ender and is set to run from Wednesday 5th June to Sunday 28th July 2019 at Japan House London in Kensington.

As Urasawa-san is in London he's also hosting a few events including a booking signing on Friday 7th June 2019 (from 16:00 to 17:00), but places are limited. On the same Friday Urasawa will be also hosting a live drawing live signing session All Talking All Singing All Drawing! Urasawa Naoki Live in Concert, this is set to run from 18:30 to 20:00. It's also free, but booking is essential.

Japan House London will also have wide selection of merchandise for sale at their shop. This includes his manga, plus t-shirts, mugs, plastic wallets and other goodies.

Their restaurant Akira have also teamed up with Urasawa to create a Yawara themed dish of fish and chips, with deep fried, bread-crumbed eel topped with umeboshi (pickled plum) tartare sauce, lime and egg yolk shavings. A Monster cocktail will also be available which is made with Dewa no Sato sake from Yamagata Prefecture, Czech spirit Becherovka, ginger liqueur, peppercorns, lime juice, fresh ginger and cloves topped with a white chocolate liqueur foam sprinkled with matcha!

Legend of Zelda Manga Duo Akira Himekawa to Visit London this Weekend for MCM Comic Con London and Forbidden Planet Signing

Date: 2019 May 22 19:23 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London based fans of Zelda are in for a treat this weekend as Legend of Zelda manga duo Akira Himekawa will be in town for MCM Comic Con London and a special signing at Forbidden Planet (which is handy if you can't make it to MCM over the weekend).

The London branch of the Sci-Fi super store Forbidden Planet will be playing host to the manga duo for a special signing event. The signing event is on Friday 24th May from 6pm to 7:30pm. It's free, but you do need to get a wrist band from Forbidden Planet first in order to attend. No wrist band, no entry. To find out how to get a wrist band visit Forbidden Planet's website for details.

Akira Himekawa will also be at the MCM Comic Con London and attending the event throughout the weekend for signings and panels with manga publisher VIZ. Akira Himekawa's featured spotlight panel will take place on Saturday on the Main Stage at 14:15 and includes a special announcement of new titles, a live drawing session and awesome trivia questions for prize giveaways.

My Brother's Husband Manga Artist Tagame Gengoroh in Conversation with Book Curator Haba Yoshitaka at Japan House London

Date: 2019 May 16 20:03 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

London based fans of manga artist Tagame Gengoroh are in for a treat! On Wednesday 22nd May 2019 Japan House London will be hosting Tagame Gengoroh in conversation with book curator Haba Yoshitaka.

The event forms part of their new library display LGBTQ+: Diversity in Manga. Artist Tagame Gengoroh is a superb pick for the event having created the manga My Brother's Husband, a tender story about a single dad meeting his estranged brother's husband.

While My Brother's Husband is known to be a sensitive story Tagame's other work doesn't shy away from more mature and gritty renditions of gay life.

We're very excited about this event, as it's rare you'll get a chance to see a talk like this in London.

The event is free to attend, but booking is essential. As always we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.

Manga UK's MCM London Fundraiser

Date: 2019 May 08 20:20 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from Manga Entertainment UK are getting ready for the May run on MCM Comic Con London. So to get things moving they've set up a fundraiser for the event. This time around they'll be supporting Mermaids the charity that supports gender variant and transgender children, young people and their families.

If you'd like to help you can buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a nice selection of Dragon Ball Super / Dragon Ball Z goodies.

Director Yuichiro Hayashi to be Anime Limited's MCM London Guest of Honour

Date: 2019 May 03 21:21 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Events

It's May which means it's almost time for the first MCM Comic Con London of 2019! As is tradition, they've got an anime guest of honour lined up to share great insights about the anime industry. For May 2019 anime director Yuichiro Hayashi will be Anime Limited's guest of honour. The director is best known for GARO the Animation and Kakegurui. He's also be involved in 2012 CGI anime production of 009 Re:Cyborg.

Yuichiro Hayashi will be taking to the Centre Stage on Saturday of MCM Comic Con London to discuss his roles as series director, storyboard artist and episode director over the years, among his involvement in major anime productions.

Anime Limited will also be running panels on the Friday and Sunday. No doubt they'll reveal some interesting information about up coming licenses. We're very excited as they've always got something interesting up their sleeve.

Kakegurui is currently showing on Netflix, so you can catch the series before catching the director in person.

MCM Comic Con London is set to run at the London ExCel Centre from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th May 2019.

WIRED in Conversation with Urasawa Naoki in London June 2019

Date: 2019 April 13 11:07 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

London manga fans are in for a massive treat this June as Japan House London will be hosting WIRED in Conversation with Urasawa Naoki. The event is set to run on Wednesday 5th June 2019 from 18:30 to 21:30. The talk is ticketed and costs £10. We strongly advise you to book early to avoid disappointment.

Urasawa is known for many excellent manga works including Yawara!, Monster, Pluto and 20th Century Boys. We've already booked tickets to this event and we know a lot of our other readers are very excited about this. It's rare for manga artists to give talks in the UK and it's exceptional that an artist like Urasawa Naoki will be running a live drawing session and explaining his thought process.

Japan House London will also be hosting This is Manga - the Art of Urasawa Naoki from 5th June to 28th July 2019. This exhibit is free introduces Urasawa's ideas from inception through development, with more than 400 original drawings and storyboards on display. Japan House recently ran this exhibit in the US at Japan House Los Angeles.

Manga Jiman 2018 Competition Results

Date: 2019 February 25 21:28 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

Since 2007 the Japanese Embassy in the UK have been running an annual competition Manga Jiman where you get to demonstrate your skills as a manga artist. The Embassy always takes the competition seriously hosting an excellent awards ceremony and offering generous prizes in conjunction with their sponsors such as return flights to Japan, laptops and digital cameras. 2018 was no different and as always the quality of entrants is high.

Last week at the Japanese Embassy in London they announced the winners. Elizabeth Garwood took first place with A.R.C - 01, Aamir Zaheer won second place with his entry Genie's New Lamp and third place was award to Karen Jiyun Sung with New Home.

You can see all the winners at the Japanese Embassy in the UK in London until Thursday 28th March 2019. It's Open weekdays 09:30 - 17:30, closed weekends. Entry is free, but photo ID is necessary to gain access to the embassy. If you're in London and have the time to pop in it's worth checking out the artwork to see the current crop of up and coming UK based manga artists.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly Breaks £1M Box Office

Date: 2019 February 18 21:19 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks from Manga Entertainment UK have just announced that their latest cinema offering Dragon Ball Super: Broly has broken the £1 million box office mark. This significant milestone means that only Spirited Away has achieved a greater UK box office.

You can still catch the movie in a cinemas around the UK or you could pre-order it on DVD or Blu-ray.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly IMAX UK Screening Details

Date: 2019 January 25 19:35 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

UK fans of Dragon Ball Super, will be very excited to hear about the Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie. The good folks at Manga Entertainment UK have gone all super saiyan and have told us the movie will be now be screening on giant IMAX screens around the UK from Friday 25th January 2019. If you're into the anime adaptation of Akira Toriyama's smash hit then you'll want to find out if your nearest IMAX is showing this shonen anime feature film.

Just a quick word of warning, some keen fans have been very enthusiastic about sharing their movie experience on social media. This is a good thing. However please don't take photos (or video footage) during a cinema screening as this can get you removed from the venue. If you want to share your love for this movie, please take a photo by the movie poster, or of your ticket (maybe covering your seat number) or by the screening listings cinemas have.

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2019 Details

Date: 2019 January 08 21:48 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

It's 2019 and a new year marks a new cinema season from The Japan Foundation. This year The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2019 has the theme of People Still Call It Love, covering Passion, Affection and Destruction in Japanese Cinema.

The screenings will kick off at the ICA in London, then go around the UK. As always they've got an exceptional amount of Japanese cinema to indulge in, whatever you fancy chances are you'll find something you like and discover something new and exciting for your films to watch this year.

Anime fans will want to book tickets for Penguin Highway, the quirky award winning story from the mind of Tomihiko Morimi who also wrote the lovely The Night is Short, Walk on Girl and the fabously enjoyable tanuki family comedy-drama The Eccentric Family. This movie is directed by Hiroyasu Ishida and features a town coping with the sudden unexpected influx of penguins. Just by the description alone it sounds a lot like a story from Tomihiko Morimi.

There are 18 films in total to enjoy, so check out the tour programme and find something that takes your fancy.

As always we advise you book early to avoid disappointment.

One Cut of the Dead UK Cinema, DVD and Blu-ray Release Details

Date: 2018 December 11 21:40 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from Third Window Films have something special lined up for UK fans of clever Japanese horror movies. For those wanting to start the new year with a scream they'll be showing One Cut of the Dead in select cinemas around the UK from 4th January 2019.

The live action comedy horror movie tells the ghoulish story of a film crew who happen to encounter some zombies while filming, blood ensues. The film starts off with a non-stop one-take 37 minute shot, making it a bit clever to say the least.

The movie also hits Limited Edition Blu-ray and DVD on Monday 28th January 2019.

Manga Exhibition at The British Museum in 2019

Date: 2018 December 05 21:05 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime

The good folks at the British Museum have just announced a major manga exhibition set to run during 2019. Called Manga マンガ it will explore the phenomenon of manga, and will be the largest exhibition of the art form ever to take place outside of Japan.

Why is the British Museum hosting a manga event? Well, it's not a secret, they've hosted events related to manga before such as Hokusai beyond the Great Wave, plus even had manga set at the Museum in the form of Professor Munakata's British Museum adventure. Speaking to some staff there we know they're massive manga fans too.

Many of the objects at the exhibition are loans coming to the UK for the first time. At the moment they're tight lipped about what exactly will be there as they want to keep it a surprise, but the official graphics used with the announcement includes Golden Kamuy's Asirpa. So we're guessing they will have some of Noda Satoru's work. We know very little else about the exhibit yet, but they do tease other things on a blog post accompanying the event. Pikachu himself was also present at Museum for the announcement.

The British Museum normally deliver something special, so we know we'll be in for a cultural treat when the exhibition runs next year.

The event is set to run from 23rd May - 26th August 2019 at Room 30 in the British Museum. The event is ticketed and costs £19.50 for adults, while free for under 16s, plus a 2 for 1 ticket deal for students on Fridays. Members of the British Museum can get in for free. So head to London!

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes UK and Ireland Screening Reminder

Date: 2018 November 29 21:33 | Posted By: Joe

Category > Anime > Film

A quick reminder for UK and Ireland based fans of My Hero Academia. The movie My Hero Academia: Two Heroes hits cinemas (pun intended) on Tuesday 4th December 2018. Some cinemas have done extra runs of the film, but we suggest you book now at a cinema near you to avoid disappointment. Check out MyHeroAcademiaMovie.co.uk to find a screening near you.

We can confirm there will be screenings of the movie dubbed in English and in Japanese with English subtitles.

Souce: Manga Entertainment UK

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