Held between the 13th and 26th of December, Madman Entertainment will be holding Reel Anime 2012 in select cinemas around Australia. This is an event they hold every alternate year which attempts to bring anime theatrical films to a wider audience and showcase the spectacle of Japanese animation on the big screen. The company today released the official website for the event HERE which highlights the four films they have up on offer along with initial cinema screening details.
Here is a bit of information on each of the four titles:
Berserk – The Egg of the King
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.
In this first film from The Golden Age Arc trilogy, Guts’ actions in combat capture the attention of Griffith, charismatic leader of the Band of the Hawk mercenaries. Griffith soon moves to recruit Guts into their ranks despite protest from second in command, Casca, whose skill and fiery temper is matched only by loyalty to her comrades. Yet despite a slew of victories and successes, Guts begins to question Griffith’s true purpose, whose ambition may lead them all to a horrible fate.
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. The award winning Studio 4C (Mind Game, Spriggan) bring Berserk to the screen with cutting-edge animation, intricately detailed swordplay and a gripping storyline.
Children Who Chase Lost Voices
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.
From Up on Poppy Hill
Set in Yokohama, From Up On Poppy Hill is a high school love story that take place in the year before the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics. As the country 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.
Wolf Children
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.
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In addition, Madman Entertainment have anounced screening details for this films, namely the cinemas which they will be held at. For more information on individual cinemas I strongly suggest visiting their event website – the following cinemas have been confirmed to be taking part:
- Dendy Newtown – Sydney
- Cinema Nova – Melbourne
- Dendy Portside – Brisbane
- Dendy Canberra – Canberra
- Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas – Adelaide
- Avoca Beach Picture Theatre – Avoca Beach
- State Cinema – Hobart
- Luna Leederville – Perth
Personally I was hoping for a few more cinemas to be taking part, similar to the number which screened Arrietty earlier on in the year. BUT either way, keep an eye on the official event website for more information and do check out any films you are interested in seeing. As I have already had the priviledge of viewing Children Who Chase Lost Voices, I will certainly be considering going to see From Up on Poppy Hill and Wolf Children.
