Madman Entertianment’s biennial Reel Anime event has now been concluded for a while in Australia – but those in New Zealand may be wondering if they would also see the four films on offer on the big screen. The company have announced there is now less than a month until the Reel Anime festival hits Wellington and Christchurch.
Reel Anime will screen from the 6th to 9th of December in Wellington (Reading Cinemas, Wellington) and Christchurch (Hoyts Cinemas, Westfield Riccarton). All films in the Reel Anime program irrespective of international releases will screen in their original Japanese language with English subtitles.
The four titles on offer are as follows:
FROM UP ON POPPY HILL
From an original story by Hayao Miyazaki, the latest Studio Ghibli film is a high school love story that takes place in the year before the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Yokohama, 1963. As Japan begins to pick itself up from the devastation of the Second World War, the new generation struggles to move towards a prosperous future whilst trying not to lose the essence of their past. The film’s rich and vibrant animation captures the entrancing beauty of Yokohama’s harbour and lush surrounding hillsides and, with a soundtrack that draws inspiration from the finest music of the time, perfectly captures the thrills of young romance and the hope of a new dawn.
STUDIO: STUDIO GHIBLI
DIRECTOR: GORO MIYAZAKI
WOLF CHILDREN
A box office smash in Japan, Wolf Children is the new film from Mamoru Hosoda, the director of previous REEL ANIME favourites, Summer Wars and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
When Hana falls in love, it feels like a fairy tale. She starts a family and produces two beautiful children – Yuki (Snow), a girl, and Ame (Rain), a boy. But the family harbours a secret – their father is a ‘Wolf-Man’, half human and half wolf, and has passed his affliction on to his children. The family try to reside discreetly in a quiet corner of the city, but their joyful life is shattered when their father passes away. To live peacefully, Hana must make the difficult decision to move Yuki and Ame to a small town and surround them with nature.
STUDIO: CHIZU
DIRECTOR: MAMORU HOSODA
BERSERK – THE EGG OF THE KING
Based on Kentaro Miura’s bestselling manga series – which has sold over 30 million copies worldwide – Berserk: The Golden Age Arc trilogy takes the franchise into a bold and exciting new direction, with cutting-edge animation, intricately detailed swordplay and a gripping storyline.
An epic action-adventure tale set against a dark, European-inspired medieval fantasy world, Berserk – The Egg of the King follows the story of Guts, a lone mercenary renowned for his ferocity and unmatched in a fight – especially when armed with his imposing sword, a towering blade as tall as he. His destiny is to eventually become ‘The Black Swordsman’ and he will face untold horrors in battle.
STUDIO: STUDIO 4°C
DIRECTOR: TOSHIYUKI KUBOOKA
CHILDREN WHO CHASE LOST VOICES
Visually stunning and emotionally resonant, Children Who Chase Lost Voices is the new film from award-winning filmmaker, Makoto Shinkai (Voices of a Distant Star, 5 Centimetres per Second).
Having lived a lonely life ever since her father’s passing, Asuna spends her days listening to the otherworldly sounds of a crystal radio, left to her as a memento. Exploring the mountains near her home, Asuna is attacked by a strange beast. A mysterious stranger steps in to save her life, however their acquaintance is tragically cut short when the boy is killed. But when Asuna discovers a gateway to another world, she is overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him again. Alongside a band of friends who hold feelings of hope for their lost ones, Asuna undertakes a journey into a land of legends.
STUDIO: COMIX WAVE
THE DIRECTOR: MAKOTO SHINKAI
