Anime Limited & Plaion Pictures Announces Acquisition of The Last Blossom

Date: 2025 April 29 20:06

Posted by Joe

The good people from Anime Limited have sent us details of their latest acquisition The Last Blossom. They've acquired the rights for for the UK & Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, and Switzerland.

It's the story of a man's life and love from the creators of ODDTAXI, director/character designer Baku Kinoshita and writer/original creator Kazuya Konomoto with the film produced by Studio CLAP the animation studio behind Pompo the Cinéphile and The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes.

To be honest Anime Limited had us at ODDTAXI. The anime series came out of nowhere and promplty became a fan favourite for it's quirky story and fun engaging characters.
Looking at the teaser trailer for The Last Blossom we can see similarities in the character designs from ODDTAXI.

As for Studio CLAP, we really loved Pompo The Cinephile. So we'll have to keep an eye out for when Anime Limited release The Last Blossom.

Full Story

Press release as follows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Anime Limited & PLAION Pictures Announce the Acquisition
Of
THE LAST BLOSSOM

Selected for Annecy International Animation Film Festival


©Kazuya Konomoto /The Last Blossom Production Committee

The story of a man's life and love from the creators of ODDTAXI set for Autumn 2025 release in Japan

London, UK, 28 April 2025 - Anime Limited and Plaion Pictures, in partnership with PONY CANYON, have acquired rights to The Last Blossom (HOUSENKA) for the UK & Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, and Switzerland. The film will be released in the territories theatrically, followed by a home video release.

The story of a man's life and love from the creators of the unpredictable hit anime series "ODDTAXI", director/character designer Baku Kinoshita and writer/original creator Kazuya Konomoto, comes a brand-new theatrical anime film produced by CLAP Animation Studio, the internationally acclaimed animation studio known for Pompo the Cinéphile and The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes. The film is set to premiere in Japan in autumn 2025, with international release details to be announced.

A gripping tale of love from a master storyteller, an elderly man, a lifer awaiting death in solitary confinement, is visited by a talking flower-Housenka-who whispers, "What a pathetic life." Through their "conversation," the man begins to reflect on his past. What miraculous reversal awaits this dying yakuza?

Selected for the Feature Film Competition at Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the project was previously featured in Annecy 2024's "Work in Progress" program, where the director Kinoshita appeared alongside the producer and the CEO of CLAP Ryoichiro Matsuo, and concept artist Michinoku Toge. The team gave fans an early look at the film's vision, and now complete, The Last Blossom will make its long-awaited world premiere at Annecy.


©Kazuya Konomoto /The Last Blossom Production Committee

WATCH THE TEASER TRAILER HERE

Synopsis:
"What a pathetic life it's been."

An elderly inmate serving a life sentence awaits a lonely death in his solitary cell-until a voice calls out to him. It belongs to a balsam flower, Housenka, that speaks like a human.

Through their "conversation", the old man begins to reflect on the life he's led.

The Last Blossom opens in cinemas in Japan in Autumn 2025, with international release details to be announced.

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About Anime Limited:

Founded in 2012, Glasgow-based Anime Limited is a subsidiary of PLAION PICTURES and represents Japanese animation interests in the UK, France, and beyond. With a thoughtfully curated lineup of films, series, and soundtracks, Anime Limited has earned its title of Europe's favourite anime distributor. Whether through fan-centric cinema runs, beautifully packaged collector's editions, or sharing the best of anime music on vinyl, We offer bespoke experiences for all fans for titles such as Attack on Titan, BELLE, Cowboy Bebop, JUJUTSU KAISEN, Neon Genesis Evangelion, One Piece Film: RED, Spy x Family CODE: White, Your Name, and Weathering with You.