Penguin Highway screenings at Japan Foundation Film Touring Programme. Screening at various locations across the UK in February/March 2019.
We know a lot of you enjoy watching anime on the big screen, and hot on the heels of the exciting news yesterday that Mirai has been nominated for an Oscar, today we want to talk about another film in our catalogue - a film that will be receiving some limited screenings across the UK very soon as part of the annual Japan Foundation Film Touring Programme, that being Penguin Highway.
Some of you may already be aware the film is screening as part of the touring programme thanks to the blog post we published recently putting a focus on various films in the lineup. In case you missed it, give that a read HERE.
Penguin Highway received its UK Premiere last year and those who saw the film came out having thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The Telegraph's review of the film gave it a 4★ rating describing it as "a heart-warming, hormonal mix of Twin Peaks and Studio Ghibli".
ABOUT PENGUIN HIGHWAY
© 2018 Tomihiko Morimi, KADOKAWA / Penguin Highway Production Committee
Synopsis: “Aoyama is a serious 10 year-old boy who records all of his day-to-day experiences in his notebook. One day in May, penguins inexplicably appear in his home town, despite being located a long way from the sea. When Aoyama sees “Big Sis” – a young woman who works at a dentist’s office – drop a soft drink can which inexplicably turns into a penguin, he decides to investigate and resolve the mystery behind these strange events.
Together with his classmates, Aoyama happens upon a strange phenomena which is surely the key to these goings-on. Will their investigation bear fruit, and just how is “Big Sis” linked to these occurrences?”
This film marks the first feature-length film from animation Studio Colorido (Typhoon Noruda), produced in conjunction with Fuji Television. The film’s story is based on a novel written by Tomihiko Morimi, who you might recognise as the author of Night is Short, Walk on Girl, The Tatami Galaxy and The Eccentric Family, while the movie is directed by an exciting young upcoming director in the form of Hiroyasu Ishida and character designs are provided by Yojiro Arai (whose animation credits include Napping Princess and Flip Flappers).
You can watch a subtitled trailer for the film below -
If you want to read more about the film, have a read of this piece by Jonathan Clements at our blog HERE.
WHERE CAN I SEE THE FILM?
The Japan Foundation Film Touring Programme runs from 2nd February - 28th March and will be screening the Penguin Highway in the following locations -
(Please note that at time of writing not all ticket links are up, so we've linked to the appropriate cinema website in its place.)
- 9th February @ London ICA - BOOK TICKETS HERE
- 10th February @ Derby QUAD - BOOK TICKETS HERE
- 21st February @ Sheffield Showroom - BOOK TICKETS HERE
- 23rd February @ Belfast Queen's Film Theatre - BOOK TICKETS HERE
- 24th February @ Leicester Phoenix - BOOK TICKETS HERE
- 27th February @ Dundee Contemporary Arts - BOOK TICKETS HERE
- 9th March @ Colchester Firstsite - BOOK TICKETS HERE
- 14th March @ Kendal Brewary Arts - BOOK TICKETS HERE
- 23rd March @ Nottingham Broadway - BOOK TICKETS HERE
*Update: 4th Feb. 2019 - Above updated with booking links for Dundee & Colchester.
*Update 22nd Feb. 2019 - Nottingham booking link added.
If you're able to get to one of these screenings we hope you enjoy yourselves! Make sure you visit the official website of the Japan Foundation Film Touring Programme for details on the complete lineup of films they're screening.
Signing out~!
Jeremy
Mirai at the Oscars
by Andrew Osmond.
And so, it’s finally happened. For the first time ever, an anime feature film which isn’t made by Studio Ghibli has become an official Oscar nominee – namely Mamoru Hosoda’s toddler’s-view fantasy Mirai. As far as most people are concerned, this is the director’s fifth film, following Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, Wolf Children and Boy and the Beast. Pedants can point to the auteur’s prior work in the Digimon and One Piece universes, though arguably Hosoda’s Digimons only became a “feature” when they were shredded and squashed together in the terrible US Digimon – The Movie. That has a princely 25% on Rotten Tomatoes, by the way. Continue Reading
Books: Fragrant Orchid
By Jasper Sharp.
People often assume that the animated muse in Satoshi Kon’s celebration of Japan’s cinematic heritage, Millennium Actress (2001), was based on Setsuko Hara, the film star who anchored Yasujiro Ozu classics like Tokyo Story, and who retired from the screen for fifty years of self-imposed exile. There is, however, at least one other candidate contributing to Kon’s composite character. Yoshiko Yamaguchi played a controversial role in Imperial Japan’s colony of Manchuria (Manchukuo) in China, and also bowed out from the limelight at the tail end of Japanese cinema’s Golden Age, with her final film, Tokyo Holidays, released in 1958.
First published in Japan in 1987 as Ri Koran: Watashi no hansei (or ‘Half My Life as Li Xianglan”), her memoir Fragrant Orchid: The Story of My Early Life chronicles the intersection between national, cultural, political, domestic and personal life in Imperial Japan and its annexed territory on the Asian mainland during the war years.
[Unboxing] Snow White with the Red Hair Season 1 & 2 Collection. Check out this Ltd Collector's Edition Blu-ray set exclusive to AllTheAnime.com.
From the studio that brought you Fullmetal Alchemist, Eureka Seven and Wolf's Rain to name a few, came the series Snow White with the Red Hair. A visually gorgeous series with a wonderful cast of characters determined to protect the main protagonist, Shirayuki, from a danger that forced to leave her home and help her achieve her dream.
The series has dazzled fans since it aired back in the summer of 2015 (yes, it's been that long) and now we're delighted to bring you a set that combines both seasons of the series into one collection that's currently available to purchase exclusively at our AllTheAnime.com online shop right now!
Read on below for the details on what to expect with this set that is shipping now.
ABOUT SNOW WHITE WITH THE RED HAIR
Season 1 & 2 synopsis: Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Tanbarun, there lived an independent young woman with beautiful red hair. A skilled herbalist by trade, Shirayuki used her knowledge of plants and medicine to heal the people of her city. But when her apple-red hair drew the unwanted attention of the devious Prince Raj, she was left with two options become his unwilling concubine, or leave her home forever. In the dead of night, she cut her hair and escaped to the neighboring kingdom of Clarines where she was found by a kind young man named Zen. The mysterious stranger turned out to be none other than the dashing prince of her newfound kingdom. And with his protection, Shirayuki was finally free to chase her dreams.
Now, she's set her sights on becoming a royal court herbalist and it will take a lot more than poisoned apples, scheming lords, and challenging exams to stand in her way.
You can watch trailers for both seasons, originally published ahead of their respective individual releases, below.
ADDITIONIAL INFORMATION
- Want to know more about the series? Have a read of the piece written at our blog by Andrew Osmond HERE.
WHAT'S INSIDE? WHAT'S ON THE DISCS?
This AllTheAnime.com exclusive set comes packed in a beautiful rigid case. Inside that you'll find two amaray cases that store the series and a 30-page booklet showcasing various key art of the series.
Across the four Blu-ray discs included you get both seasons of the series (24 episodes) with options to watch them with in either English or Japanese with English subtitles. Extras wise you get Episode commentaries, Promotional videos, Commercial collection and Textless Opening & Closing themes.
WHERE CAN I BUY THIS?
We've said it a couple of times but to confirm, this is currently exclusive to our AllTheAnime.com online shop. The product is in stock and shipping now! You can order it in the link below
Also worth noting that this will likely be available to purchase at events we exhibit at too.
PHOTOS OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT
And now it's time for photos of what we've been talking about. You can click on the photos to enlarge them too. Continue Reading
[Unboxing] Assassination Classroom Season 1 & 2 Blu-ray Collection. Check out this limited edition set exclusive to the AllTheAnime.com online shop.
If you're looking for a series that's sure to provide a whole bunch of laughs then Assassination Classroom is a sure to be right up your alley. With all sorts of emotion, and featuring a unique and diverse cast of characters - a cast who have an alien as a their teacher, who is planning to destroy the world before the school year is up - there's plenty to enjoy here.
Back in December we revealed that we would release a special Blu-ray set (that's currently exclusive to our AllTheAnime.com online shop) collecting both seasons of the series. With this set now in stock and shipping, it's the perfect time to bring you a full unboxing of this! If you're not familiar with the series, we'll give you a quick primer into the bargain.
Read on below for all the info.
ABOUT ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM
© Yusei Matsui/SHUEISHA,ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM Committee
Season 1 Synopsis: At Kunugigaoka Junior High School, class 3-E is the lowest of the low. With abysmal test scores and no future prospects, they’ve been given up on and hidden away from the main campus at the top of a deserted mountain. But when a super-powered tentacled creature with a thirst for destruction becomes their new teacher, they’ve got a brand new assignment to get them inspired about school: take him out.
In addition to reading, writing, and arithmetic, the murderous monster behind the lectern will teach his students everything he knows about the assassination game. Should some eager beaver prove to be a Grade-A assassin, he or she will save Earth from extinction – and collect a hefty reward. But they’d better study up, because their saboteur sensei has already taken out most of the moon, and our planet is next on his list!
You can watch trailers for the series (originally published when individual Blu-ray volumes were first being released) below -
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Want to read more about the series? You can read a piece at our blog about Season 1 HERE and another piece about Season 2 HERE.
WHAT'S INSIDE? WHAT'S ON THE DISCS?
This AllTheAnime.com Exclusive release brings both seasons of the series together into one collection. It's presented inside a rigid case, and inside that you'll find an Amaray case containing the first season (22 episodes) over four Blu-ray discs, and another case containing another four Blu-ray discs with the second season (25 episodes). In addition to that you'll also find a 30-page booklet containing character art and key visuals from across both seasons of the series.
On the discs themselves you'll find the following -
Season 1 Discs
- All 22 episodes of Season 1 with English and original Japanese with English subtitles audio options over 4 Blu-ray discs.
- On-disc extras (spread over the four discs) include: Episode commentaries, OVA episode 0 "Meeting Time", Interview with the cast, Clean Opening and Closing title sequences, Top 10 Moments featurette, Textless Opening Song “Jiriki Hongan Revolution” Version 1, Textless Opening Song “Jiriki Hongan Revolution” Version 2, Textless Closing Song “Hello, shooting-star”, Previews for each episode in season 1.
Season 2 Discs
- All 25 episodes of the second season spread over four discs with both English and original Japanese with English subtitles audio options.
- On-discs extras across these discs are: Episode commentaries, "The Many Faces of Koro Sensei", Textless Opening and Endings, Top Ten Moments: Assassination Classroom Season 2, Textless Opening Song: “QUESTION”, Textless Opening Song “Bye-Bye, Yesterday”, Textless Closing Song “Waning Moon”, Textless Closing Song “This Day I Can See You Again”, Previews.
WHERE CAN I ORDER THIS?
We've mentioned it a few times, but to reiterate: this product is currently exclusive to our AllTheAnime.com online shop. You can order it at the link below
It's also worth noting that should you attend an event we are exhibiting at in the future, we'll likely have some units available at those too.
PHOTOS OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT
And now for some photos of the finished product for you. Worth mentioning that you can click on them to enlarge them too. Continue Reading