Anime News - Reel Anime RETURNS!

REEL ANIME is a film festival unlike any other. While showcasing some of the biggest and best new release anime films, it isn't just for us geeks! Sure, me and my geeky kinfolk are guaranteed to squee but this years line up has something for everyone. 

In previous years we have seen smash hits REDLINE and Evangelion 2.0 but this years line up is even better. Check out the full press release after the jump!

With just over a month until the REEL ANIME festival begins, Madman is proud to announce supporting cinema locations and the launch of the official website.

Showcasing four of the freshest anime feature films this side of Japan, REEL ANIME will screen from September 13 – 26 at the following locations around the country: Dendy Newtown (Sydney), Cinema Nova (Melbourne),Dendy Portside (Brisbane), Dendy Canberra (Canberra), Luna Leederville (Perth), Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas (Adelaide), State Cinema (Hobart), Avoca Beach Picture Theatre (Avoca Beach).

Film information, trailers, location details, session times and more are available on the official REEL ANIME website – www.reelanime.com.

REEL ANIME brings the spectacle of Japanese animation back to the big screen, providing hardcore fans, cinephiles and casual crowds alike the rare opportunity to relish the eye-popping action, masterful storytelling and moving moments that anime has to offer.

Following the sold-out success of the 2008 and 2010 REEL ANIME showcases, the hand-picked suite of cutting-edge films selected for the 2012 showcase are some of the most highly-anticipated amongst fans, and will have something to offer everyone, including:

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

All films in the REEL ANIME program will screen in original Japanese language with English subtitles.