Category > Anime
The good folks from anime distributors Anime Limited have sent us the latest details about their upcoming cinema release of Mirai. Mamoru Hosoda's newest film will receive it's UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival 2018.
Gala screenings will take place on Saturday 13th October 2018 at 15:30 and Sunday 14th October 2018 at 17:45.
Mamouru Hosoda's movies are always excellent and enjoyed by fans. If you can't make it to the BFI in October you can always wait until the national screenings around the UK from 2nd November 2018.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
Anime fans in Wales are in for a treat this September and October as the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival returns for another run of great films. Set to run at Chapter in Cardiff from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September 2018 and Aberystwyth Arts Centre from Saturday 20th to Sunday 21st October 2018.
Japanese animators Tsuneo Goda and Hirokazu Minegishi from dwarf will be in Cardiff for the festival. They're stop motion animation experts. You may have seen their work on NHK World's charming Domo shorts. They'll be there to present a master class and conduct workshops, plus an autographing signing session.
Of course they'll be showing lots of anime on the big screen. They've got an amazing selection of recent anime including the charming Lu Over the Wall (which we've reviewed here), the emotional Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (again you can read our review here), Mary And The Witch's Flower, along with Ghibli classics Arrietty and When Marnie Was There.
There's so much good stuff something for everyone regardless of your taste in anime. If you like a bit more action you can't go wrong with Tokyo Ghoul (the live action version) or Attack on Titan: The Roar of Awakening.
Read More... | Souce: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
Category > Anime
If you're London based and want to know about photography in Japan then you'll be very interested in The Photographers' Gallery's upcoming course on Photography in Japan. Back by popular demand the 6 session course is set to run from Wednesday 12th September until Wednesday 17th October 2018.
Jelena Stojković will introduce the key moments and issues of concern relevant to the history and contemporary photography in Japan.
The course costs £200 (or £180 Members and Concessions).
Read More... | Souce: The Photographers' Gallery
UK based anime fans eagerly awaiting the release of Yuri!!! on Ice will be pleased to hear that Funimation Entertainment have announced that the popular figure skating anime will be released in the UK on Monday 24th September 2018. The fan favourite will be released as a DVD and Blu-ray Combo pack. You can pre-order it from Zavvi.com.
The show charts the trials and tribulations of Japanese figure skater Yuri Katsuki and his Russian coach Victor Nikiforov (himself a champion skater) who aims to get Yuri back in top form. There's a lot more to it of course with rivalry and choreography thrown in for very good measure.
In a case of life imitating art real figure skaters at the 2018 Winter Olympics have even used the music from the show in their performances.
This show is a fan favourite if you don't know about it already watch an episode on Crunchyroll.com to see if it's to your liking.
Read More... | Souce: Funimation Entertainment
The good folks from UK anime distributors Anime Limited have just sent us details of the UK and Ireland Cinema release details of Mamoru Hosoda's latest movie Mirai. Tickets are now on sale!
Mamoru Hosoda's Mirai will open on 100 screens across the UK & Ireland from November 2nd 2018.
-Subtitled screenings on 2nd November 2018.
-Dubbed screenings on 4th November 2018.
Please visit miraifilm.co.uk for more information on subtitled and dubbed screenings. Don't forget to use the hashtag #miraifilm when mentioning the movie too!
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
After announcing a first wave of free film screenings, The Japan Foundation in London have just revealed more for August 2018 in in London.
They've got some great films showing, including an often overlooked aspect of Japanese history in Giovanni's Island, a film featuring a samurai projecting a cat Cat Samurai, plus many more.
Booking in advance is required. As always we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation London
The good folks from the Japan Foundation in London have sent us details of their up coming film season. As is tradition they have a series of screenings called Summer Explorers, but this year it's been so successful they've decided to have a Pre-Summer Explorers! cinema season too. Set to run on Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th and Saturday 11th August 2018 around Central London.
They've got some really good movies including Ghibli classic Only Yesterday, fan favourite Summer Wars by Mamoru Hosoda. Along with other classics such as Beat Takeshi's Kikujiro.
The screenings are free to attend, but booking in advance is required. As always we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation London
Category > Culture
The Embassy of Japan in the UK have have just announced the theme for their manga competition. Theme for this year is "home". The competition has been running each year for more than 10 years now. Just by entering you can learn a lot, but this is certainly a competition worth investing time in. This years first place winner will get a flight to Japan, while second prize will get a laptop and third place will a digital camera from Ricoh UK (like Daido Moriyama we're fans of their GR Series cameras).
The competition has 2 distinct categories the Yonkoma Manga for 11 to 13 year olds where they can submit a 4 panel manga. While the main Manga Jiman is open for anyone 14 and over expects a short story told across 6 to 8 pages.
To check out previous winning entries go here.
Read More... | Souce: The Embassy of Japan in the UK
Category > Anime
BBC Wiltshire isn't the first place you'd think of going to for anime coverage, but now and again it does pay off to check regional news. They've just published a video of a visit to Fosse Farmhouse, the B&B used as the location for anime Kinmoza.
We've covered details of Fosse Farmhouse winning Best B&B Story of the Year for it's Anime Connection and the original story of the location being used for Kinmoza.
Souce: BBC Wiltshire Facebook Page
Category > Anime
UK fans of Osamu Tezuka's less mainstream work will be interested to hear about Third Window Film's upcoming release of Animerama: A Thousand and One Nights / Cleopatra. This forms the world's first blu-ray and remastered release of Tezuka's more erotic movies from the late 60's and early 70's. The double disc set is due out on Monday 18th June 2018 and is rated BBFC 15.
The extras bundled with the film make it even more temping including Audio commentaries for both films by Helen McCarthy (anime expert and author of The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga), plus a new hour long interview with director Eiichi Yamamoto.
You can pre-order the collectors edition on blu-ray and DVD from Amazon.co.uk
Read More... | Souce: Third Window Films
Category > Anime
Anime is always a way of escaping reality, but it's always fun discovering when anime meets reality. We revealed Fosse Farmhouse was used as the real world location for anime Kinmoza. The Cotswold Bed and Breakfast featured as main character Alice's house.
The story behind Fosse Farm was found to be so interesting by the Bed and Breakfast industry it was awarded AA B&B Story of the Year 2018-19 as part of the Bed and Breakfast Awards.
The panel were impressed by B&B owner Caron's cross cultural adventures promoting British Culture in Japan.
Of course you can buy Kinmoza! Season 1 on Blu-ray from Amazon.co.uk in the UK or Amazon.com for the US.
Season Two - titled Hello! Kinmoza! is available to pre-order from Amazon.co.uk in the UK or buy now from Amazon.com in the US.
You can also get the original manga from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.
Don't forget to read our feature about Fosse Farm and Kinmoza.
Read More... | Souce: AA B&B Awards
Anime fans in the UK looking for something to watch on the cinema on Friday 4th May 2018 (yes, Star Wars day), will want to head to a cinema near them to catch a screening of Mary and the Witch's Flower. Produced by Studio Ponoc, founded by Studio Ghibli veterans Yonebayashi and Yoshiaki Nishimura the film is clearly made in the Ghibli mould. The film is adapted from The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart.
As always we've highlighted this on The Otaku Calendar, so you can keep up to date with screenings and release dates. It even shows in your Google / iOS Calendars if you like too via iCal Feed.
Read More... | Souce: Mary and the Witch's Flower Film Website
Category > Events
Fans of Japanese Culture in London looking for something to do at the end of September will be very excited to hear about the Japan Matsuri 2018. The regular festival held at Trafalgar Square brings Japanese Culture in the form of performances, stalls, street food and other entertainment to anyone who get to Central London on Sunday 30th September 2018. The event lasts from 10am to 8pm and is free to attend.
Of course September is a while away, so you might not remember, which is why we've added it to the Otaku Calendar which forms an easy to to keep track of all your otaku events.
Souce: Japan Matsuri
The good folks from Anime Distributors Anime Limited have sent us details about Mamoru Hosoda's latest film Mirai which will receive it's World Premiere at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival in May as part of Directors' Fortnight. Significantly this is the first Japanese animation to ever to receive a world premiere on the Croisette.
The film will receive a UK cinema release later in 2018 via Anime Limited and their cinema partners National Amusements.
We've covered Anime Limited's acquisition of Mirai before.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Press Releases
Readers heading to London will be interested to hear about Japan House. The new venue is set to open on Kensington High Street in 2018. It forms the London hub of an international project to spread the word about how awesome Japan is.
"JAPAN HOUSE is a project which aims to nurture a deeper understanding and appreciation of Japan in the international community, by creating a number of hubs from which to showcase and communicate Japan as a country of countless charms, able to enrich the rest of the world."
"Each hub features an exhibition space, a multi-purpose space with theater facilities, a retail space, food and drink, books, online connectivity, and a cafe space".
To find out more visit their website and sign up to their mailing list, follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to find out more.
Read More... | Souce: Japan House
Category > Anime
Isao Takahata, the co-founder of the legendary Studio Ghibli, has passed away in Tokyo at the age of 82. The animation director who worked alongside fellow director and studio founder Hayao Miyazaki was an integral part of the studio as well as being one of the major directors throughout its history. Among his many personal accomplishments were the animated films My Neighbours the Yamadas, Pom Poko, Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday and the Oscar-nominated The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Anime
UK based Studio Ghibli fans can catch 4 Miyazaki classics over Easter 2018. Film4 will be showing:
My Neighbour Totoro - Monday 2nd April (1.05pm) & 8th Sunday April (11am)
Kiki's Delivery Service - Tuesday 3rd April (12.50pm) Monday 9th April (11am)
Howl's Moving Castle - Wednesday 11th April (12.40pm)
Spirited Away - Thursday 12th April (12.35pm)
All screenings on the free to air channel will be dubbed in English, with a screenings of Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away shown on later slots on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th April in Japanese with English subtitles.
Film4 have a lovely habit so showing Ghibli Films during school holidays and such screenings of these amazing movies often get many people into anime. We suggest you catch these delightful films.
If you fancy watching some Ghibli on the big screen in London this year, the BFI will be screening some classic Ghibli titles this May.
Souce: Film4
Category > Anime
London based anime fans will want to get over to the BFI in May 2018 to catch an Anime Weekender.
They'll be screening a range of titles including the soon to be released Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, along with the box office giant Your Name. One Your Name screening will be on IMAX, we caught it on the colossal screen last year and suggest you can catch it if you can.
There's so much good stuff in this season, including the charming Lu Over the Wall. We saw it last year and loved it.
Tucked away on the listings (and easily missed) is a complete run down of the BFI Animation 2018 Season. This includes a delightful screening of Ghibli Classics My Neighbour Totoro and two screenings of Spirited Away, plus a screening of Princess Mononoke.
Satoshi Kon's masterpiece Paprika will also be shown.
Fans keen to see Akira can also catch two screenings of 30th anniversary screening: Akira, including one on IMAX.
History buffs and historic anime fans alike will be interested in Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors a World War II propaganda film thought to be destroyed after the war.
Basically we suggest you catch one of these fantastic films on the big screen. Nothing beats watching a great anime film on a huge cinema screen. We also suggest you book early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: BFI
Category > Culture
London based readers looking to get some theatrical culture into themselves will want to head to the Barbican from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th February 2018 to catch Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui / Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon: Pluto.
The play is based on Naoki Urasawa's manga Pluto, which itself is based on Tezuka's Astroboy. The play combines elements of manga, traditional Japanese Bunraku puppetry, elaborate design and media projection.
It's only running at the Barbican for a few days, so if you're interested we suggest you book now to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: Barbican
Category > Features
The restaurant scene in London is vibrant. No matter what you like to eat, there's a restaurant that caters for you. Japanese cuisine is no different. There are all kinds of Japanese places to eat, from cheap and cheerful Japanese home-style cooking to the decadent, creative and experimental nuvo cuisine.
Recently we discovered Ichibuns, a Japanese inspired restaurant like no other. Influenced by Hokkaido cuisine, it's a Japanese Rock and Roll American diner from the creative minds of Robin Leigh (who is best known for the legendary Nobu and Busaba Eathai) and Endo Kazutoshi (of Zuma).
On hearing about this we didn't really know what to expect. On visiting it was clear that Ichibuns is something a bit special.
The first thing that hits you is the design, which is a love letter to Japanese popular culture. When you walk in, the faces of popular shonen manga character stare down at you from the entrance. There are pages of manga all over the ceiling and Pachinko machines on the wall. You start looking and there's all sorts of interesting Japanese memorabilia like Oni (demon) masks on the walls, and adverts from old times. The staircase wall is made of whole telephone book sized weekly editions of manga. The eclectic style works because it isn't a restaurant designed by someone trying to copy Japanese concepts, it was designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Tokyo’s Studio Glitt.
After eating there we wanted to know more about this place. It's like a portal into Japan. We don't normally do articles on restaurants, but were intrigued and eager to know more about this place. So we got in touch with Brendan Fong, Executive Chef at Ichibuns to find out more.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Glasgow based anime fans looking for a premiere film screening will want to go to the Glasgow Film Festival on Sunday 4th March 2018 to catch Maquia: When The Promised Flower Blooms. This is the International Premiere. It'll be coming to cinemas nationwide in March 2018 thanks to the good folks at Anime Limited.
The fantasy anime marks Mari Okada’s directorial debut you may be familiar with her other work she wrote The Anthem of the Heart and the screenplay for Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea. The Anime is produced by P.A. Works who created one of the Otaku News Team's favourite anime series The Eccentric Family.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
UK based fans of Japanese cinema looking for something to watch next year will be interested in The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme. It's set to run from 2nd February to 28th March 2018 around the UK. The theme for this season is (Un)true Colours - Secrets and Lies in Japanese Cinema.
The film programme also includes the anime Sword of the Stranger, which is really worth catching on a nice big cinema screen. If not you can always get it on blu-ray.
There's a great selection of films likely to suit anyone's tastes including Sing My Life a fantasy tale about a 73 year-old grandmother who is magically transformed back to her 20 year old self, so she can pursue her dreams of becoming a singer and make up for her regrets.
While if you fancy something a bit more violent there's also The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji a Yakuza story from director Takashi Miike.
Film screenings like this frequently sell out, so we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
The good folks from Anime Limited are releasing Masaaki Yuasa's latest film Lu Over The Wall in cinemas across the UK on Wednesday 6th December 2017. You can find a screening near you by visiting LuOverTheWallMovie.co.uk.
We recently interviewed the director asking him about the film and his other feature Night Is Short, Walk On Girl.
If you're curious about the Lu Over The Wall then read on to enjoy our spoiler free review.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
UK readers looking for some violent samurai action based on a great manga will want to look around cinemas near them on 8th December 2017 as that's when Blade of the Immortal hits screens around the UK. The film is directed by Takashi Miike, you may have heard of many of his other films like Ichi the Killer and The Happiness of the Katakuris.
The Blade of the Immortal movie is based on the manga with same name, it follows the adventures of Manji who is cursed with immortality until he can kill 1,000 evil men. The film covers the first 2 story arcs of the manga.
To find a screening near you visit BladeOfTheImmortal.co.uk.
Read More... | Souce: BladeOfTheImmortal.co.uk
Category > Features
UK Anime fans can catch the Satoshi Kon Classic Perfect Blue at UK Cinemas Nationally on 31st October 2017. Visit perfectbluemovie.co.uk to find a screening near you.
We sent James and Lee to review the movie. Our editor found them after the screening rocking back and forth in the corner of the room, muttering about perception of reality and something about an unreliable narrator, he didn't care that this movie freaked them both out, he just wanted his 500 word review. So after some special counselling involving a unicorn chaser of both seasons of K-On (plus the movie) we managed to get a coherent review. Although they are still on edge a bit when they see J-Pop Idols for some reason...
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
UK anime fans will be pleased to hear that the clever folks at Anime Limited have realised that Perfect Blue would make the perfect Halloween night screening. The psychological thriller doesn't just mess with the protagonist, it also messes with your mind in the late great Satoshi Kon's debut film.
The film will screen (and make you scream) for one night only, the night of Halloween on Tuesday 31st October 2017. To find a screening near you visit perfectbluemovie.co.uk.
Traditionally at Christmas time at Otaku News we watch another Satoshi Kon film Tokyo Godfathers to get into the Christmas Spirit. We hope this becomes some kind of Halloween tradition from Anime Limited.
Read More... | Souce: Perfect Blue Movie UK Website
Category > Features
Cult anime director Masaaki Yuasa was in the UK recently, being eager to quiz him about his two upcoming films Night is Short, Walk On Girl which hits cinemas on 4th October 2017 (visit the official website to find a screening near you) and Lu Over the Wall on 6th December 2017.
Rather than just send anyone to interview this great director, we wanted to send someone we knew who is one of Masaaki Yuasa biggest fans. So we sent Katy.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Events
London based fans of Japanese culture looking for something to do on Sunday 24th September 2017 will want to head to the Japan Matsuri. The festival is set to run from 10am until 8pm at Trafalgar Square.
The event has a central stage with performances all day long, plenty of Japanese food stalls selling hot street food to eat while you're there, plus lots of other stalls selling Japanese goodies. The event is free to attend, no booking is required. Just turn up and enjoy the celebration of Japanese Culture.
Souce: Japan Matsuri
We've just been sent details about Lu over the Wall from the good folks at Anime Limited. The new movie from director Masaaki Yuasa features a heartwarming and magical mermaid tale.
The film will be at the BFI London Film Festival Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th October 2017. You can read more about it on the BFI LFF Website. Tickets will be on sale from Monday 14th September 2017. We advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
The film will be shown nationwide around the UK on Wednesday 6th December 2017.
Masaaki Yuasa's trade mark style includes quick fire dialogue, eccentric and eclectic mix of style story and animation. You may have seen his work before on the cult The Tatami Galaxy.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Features
As I leave Cineworld Leicester Square, trying to pull together the memories of what I had just watched, I smile and sense a melancholic joy well up inside of me. Watching Your Name reminded me of all the subconscious thoughts, moments and dreams we might have all forgotten through the motions of everyday life, an inevitable cycle of the human mind... and yet there I was, trying not to let go of what I had just seen, trying to fathom the beauty of the film’s meaning and put it into words. Makoto Shinkai had done it again!
But I'm not here to review the film today (you can read our earlier, spoiler-free review here). Instead, I'm here to talk about the experience of watching the world’s first anime to be released in IMAX format!
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Events
Fans of 1980's manga in London will want to head over to Orbital Comics from Tuesday 1st to Monday 14th August 2017 to catch an exhibit of original 80's Manga artwork. They'll be showing selected manga originals from the 1980’s slice of life manga series Dokudami Tenement for the first time in the UK.
This is to celebrate the release of the first volume of Dokudami Tenement in English from Black Hook Press. They'll also have a special limited edition Aizoban print for sale during the length of the exhibition.
Read More... | Souce: Orbital Comics
Category > Events
Fans of cult Japanese Cinema and anime in general will be very pleased to hear the news from Manga Entertainment UK that they'll be releasing the new Godzilla Movie - Shin Godzilla across the UK on Thursday 10th August 2017. It's co-directed by Hideaki Anno who is most famous for creating Neon Genesis Evangelion, (but is also know as being a massive tokusatsu fan) and Shinji Higuchi (director of Toho’s 2015 Attack on Titan live action movies). The film was a box office smash in Japan in 2016.
Hideaki Anno's involvement in the film is a perfect choice, as someone who has had giant monsters smash cities before in previous work (even his student films have this element) to join forces with Shinji Higuchi who used traditional tokusatsu speical effects combined with CGI to create the Attack on Titan Live Action movies.
Shin Godzilla literally translates as New Godzilla and will be screened nationally across the UK. To find a screening near you and book tickets, visit shingodzillamovie.co.uk.
Read More... | Souce: Shin Godzilla Movie UK Website
Fans of Japanese Cinema in London are in luck, for the Japan Foundation will be hosting a special summer film programme all about food. Over two Saturdays in London, they'll be filling the cinema screens with Japanese movies to get your mouth watering.
This is the third year in a row the Japan foundation have hosting free movies for all, so they've called it Summer Explorers 3. The movies are all free to attend, but booking is required. To book visit www.jpf.org.uk.
Part One is on Saturday 15th July 2017 at the Prince Charles Cinema which will be showing Oyster Factory and Akanezora.
While Part Two is on Saturday 22nd July 2017 at 195 Piccadilly and features Silver Spoon, There Is No Lid on the Sea and A Drop of the Grapevine.
As always we suggest booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation
Category > Events
London based fans of Japanese Culture looking for something to do on Saturday 24th June 2017 will want to head over to Spitalfields to celebrate Okinawa Day 2017. The free event is set to run from 10am to 6pm with a mixture of traditional Okinawan culture including folk music, karate performances and Eisa dancing.
Souce: Okinawa Day 2017
Category > Features
In an interesting move from Studio Ghibli, rather than look just in Japan for the talent to direct a new animated movie the fabled studio looked around the world to find someone suitable. They found Michaël Dudok de Wit. The movie they made together was The Red Turtle.
We caught up with the director for an exclusive interview.
The film is set for release at UK cinemas from Friday 26th May 2017.
We know you're wondering Is the movie any good? Well read our review and find out!
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Events
If you're in London and looking for some Japanese Culture on from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th July 2017 you should head over to Hyper Japan to indulge yourself in the festival. It's got something for everyone, street food, cosplay, chiptunes and traditional Japanese crafts. The event will be at The Tobacco Dock,
Read More... | Souce: Hyper Japan
Category > Anime
In This Corner Of The World UK and Ireland Cinema Release Details
The good folks from Manga Entertainment UK have just sent us details about their feature film In This Corner Of The World, which is set to appear in competition at the prestigious Annecy Festival in June.
UK readers will be also keen to hear Manga Entertainment will be releasing the film in cinemas around the UK and Ireland from Wednesday 28th June 2017. You can find a screening near you by visiting www.inthiscornerfilm.co.uk.
We're massive fans of the directors other feature film Mai Mai Miracle so are very excited about this release.
Read More... | Souce: Manga Entertainment UK
Category > Events
Cultured anime fans who'll be in London this summer will want to head over to Southwark Playhouse to catch the return of their stage adaptation of Kiki's Delivery Service. The run will last from Thursday 10th August 2017 to Sunday 3rd September 2017.
The play is based on the book that was also turned into the much loved Studio Ghibli feature film. Last year we caught up with the Southwark Play House's Artistic Director and CEO Chris Smyrnios for an exclusive interview to find out more about the play during it's first run.
Read More... | Souce: Southwark Playhouse
Category > Anime
Anime fans who can get to London from the end of May to the start of September will want to head over to House of Illustration who will be hosting an exhibition on Anime Architecture: Backgrounds of Japan.
Visitors will be treated to the background artwork from classic sci-fi anime feature films including Ghost in the Shell (1995), The Patlabor: The Movie (1989) and Metropolis (2001), by Mamoru Oshii and Atsushi Takeuchi.
House of Illustration is the UK’s only public gallery and education space dedicated solely to illustration so is the ideal place to run an event on anime artwork. It's located a short walk from Kings Cross and St Pancras Stations. The exhibition is set to run from 26th May to 10th September 2017. It's closed on Mondays. There is an £8.25 admission charge, this will give you access to all 3 galleries.
Read More... | Souce: House of Illustration
Anime fans in UK and Ireland looking for a dose of anime at a cinema near them will be excited to hear that Manga Entertainment UK will be releasing In This Corner of the World on 28th June 2017.
We haven't seen the film yet, but we admit we're very interested in it. They got our attention when they said it's directed by Sunao Katabuchi who also directed the outstanding Mai Mai Miracle, which was launched as a Kickstarter by Anime Limited. Manga Entertainment UK revealed that they had secured global distribution rights for In This Corner of the World in June last year.
They'll be exclusive preview screenings on Wednesday 28th June 2017 with further select cinemas from Friday 30th June 2017.
Read More... | Souce: Manga Entertainment UK
Category > Anime
We're all talking about A Silent Voice this week. This is the second of two reviews of the emotional roller-coaster anime film arriving in UK Cinemas on Wednesday 15th March 2017. Although Lee and I saw the same film we both came out with different opinions of the title. Rather than just mash it into one review, we've published both reviews for you to compare and contrast.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Anime
As we've said before anime film A Silent Voice will hit UK cinemas on Wednesday 15th March 2017. Fresh from the success of Your Name, the folks at Anime Limited are distributing this title in the UK and Ireland. We could have written one review, but after heated discussion our editor and I interpreted the movie differently, so we're going to publish both reviews.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
The good folks from Anime Limited (aka All The Anime) have just revealed the details for the UK and Ireland wide screenings of A Silent Voice. They've already said that the film will be screened around the UK and Ireland on Wednesday 15th March 2017 and select cinemas on Friday 17th March 2017.
They've now launched ASilentVoice.co.uk for you to find a screening near you. This include Showcase Cinemas, PictureHouse, ODEON, VUE, Cineworld and other independent locations.
Depending on demand there is a chance that their could be more screenings, but Anime Limited "... strongly encourage you to watch this the first chance you have as it might be your only opportunity to do so." We definitely agree with them. This is not a film you'd want to miss and it's best experienced on a big cinema screen. As always we strongly advise booking tickets for this film early to avoid disappointment.
We've seen this film and can confirm it's an emotional roller coaster. It'll play with your emotions. It's got everything good anime should have, an engaging story, it's well animated and it doesn't pull the heart strings, it yanks at them, then it makes you laugh with just the right amount of comic relief at the right time. You should watch this gem of a title on the big screen while you have the chance.
The showings will be in Japanese with English subtitles only, as no English dub exists yet.
Read More... | Souce: All The Anime
Category > Anime
The good folks from Anime Limited have just announced that they're partnering with anime streaming service Crunchyroll to bring Studio Khara’s new title Dragon Dentist to the UK, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
The first part of the two part Dragon Dentist will be available on Crunchyroll on Saturday 18th February at 21:45 UTC / GMT.
It was originally part of the Japan Animator Expo.
The title is by Hideaki Anno's Studio Khara, it's best know for doing Rebuild of Evangelion movies. Just so you know, this story focuses on a dentist for dragons, rather than a dragon that is a dentist.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Ghibli fans in the UK will want to set a date in their diaries (or use the Otaku Calendar) for Friday 26th May 2017 as that's when The Red Turtle gets a UK cinema release. The Michael Dudok De Wit film is co-produced by Studio Ghibli. The film contains no dialogue and follows "the milestones in the life of a human being".
As you'd expect it's beautifully animated, heart-warming and emotional. This is one of those movies we suggest you catch on the big screen while you. We know May is far away now, but this is the first we've heard about the UK release from Studio Canal.
Read More... | Souce: Studio Canal
Category > Events
The image of Hokusai's Under the wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave), is undoubtedly one of the most famous images to come from Japan. We know our readers love Japanese culture, so it makes sense you'll want to see more of the great Hokusai's work. The British Museum will be running an exhibition called Hokusai beyond the Great Wave. It's set to run from Thursday 25th May to Sunday 13th August 2017.
The exhibition supported by Mitsubishi Corporation will showcase outstanding examples of Hokusai's work, including landscapes (including Mount Fuji of course), flora and fauna, along with demons, ghouls and other monstrous yokai.
The British Museum tell us "The exhibition will include prints, paintings and illustrated books, many of which are on loan from Japan, Europe and the USA. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these extraordinary works together."
This is indeed a rare chance to catch a glimpse of some amazing artwork. Entrance for British Museum Members is free, while tickets for adults cost £12, with under 16s getting in free. With an event like this we strongly advise booking in advance to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The British Museum
The good folks from the Japan Foundation in London have sent us details of their up coming Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme. The film programme will tour 15 cities around the UK. It starts at the ICA in London on Friday 3rd February 2017.
Anime fans will want to catch A Silent Voice at the ICA on Sunday 5th February 2017. If you haven't seen it already, it's one of those films you should try to enjoy in a cinema!
The tour will be showcasing a selection of films old and new! As always with screenings like this, we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
Category > Events
Anime fans in London looking for something fun to do in the new year will be interested to hear about the Japan Foundation's Latest Talk on Anisong - The Musical World of Anime.
The talk is set to run on Wednesday 18th January 2017 from 6:45pm at Foyles Bookshop on Charing Cross Road. Featuring a talk by Dr Rayna Denison, lecturer at the University of East Anglia, the event will trace anime music’s brief historical journey while examining the impact it has had upon the anime industry and its viewers.
Following on from the talk, there will be a special performance by Aya Ikeda, the songstress behind the themes of the very famous anime series Pretty Cure (aka PreCure) a "magical girl" anime, as well as the opportunity to sing along too!
The talk is free to attend, but booking is required. We suggest booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation London
The good folks from Anime Limited have just sent us details about their Your Name screening. The film has grossed £108,372 at the UK and Irish Box Offices across 104 screens. They tell us it breaks the record for a single day gross and is the widest ever screen release for an anime film.
During the campaign the film received positive praise from the mainstream press including Mark Keromode who gave it a great review on his film show and on his film column
If you've missed the movie you can find a screening of Your Name by going to YourNameTheMovie.co.uk, alternatively you can see if there will be another screening near you via the on-demand cinema platform Our Screen.
You can read our review of the movie and our interview with director Makoto Shinkai.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Features
Makoto Shinkai's latest movie Your Name is due for a UK wide cinema release on Thursday 24th November 2016. You can find a screening near you by visiting YouNameTheMovie.co.uk.
We saw the the movie before it started to climb at the Japanese box office and become one of the highest grossing movies of all time in Japan.
We also interviewed the director Makoto Shinkai asking him lots of interesting questions about the movie.
Now the question you're asking, is the movie actually any good? Well wonder no more. We wrote this review before the hype picked up. So read on to get thoughts on the film!
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Events
While Makoto Shinkai is in London promoting is latest smash hit move Your Name, it might be a good time to remind UK readers that they can catch it nationwide on a special one day screening on Thursday 24th November 2016. You can check the official Your Name Movie UK Website to find a screening near you. We suggest you book early to avoid disappointment.
We don't say smash hit lightly either, it's grossed more than $100 million USD at the Japanese box office and is on track to be the 5th highest grossing movie in Japanese box office history.
If you're a fan of Makoto Shinkai, you might not be aware of the special artbook, A Sky Longing for Memories: The Art of Makoto Shinkai. It's a lavish full colour artbook which is packed with art from many of the movies he directred, with hundreds of background from 5 Centimeters per Second, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, Voices of a Distant Star, and a TV advertisement for the Mainichi Newspaper. It doesn't feature Your Name, as it was published before the film was released, it does however feature a section on software and techniques behind CoMix Wave’s animation, which. This English also features an interview with Makoto Shinkai and other key members of his studio. You can buy the book from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com.
If you're already a fan, you should already be aware of The Place Promised in Our Early Days / Voices of a Distant Star Twin Pack on Blu-ray and DVD. That's due out on Monday 21st November 2016. It's in full collectors packaging along with another artbook. You can pre-order this from Amazon.co.uk.