Veteran Japanese film producer Muneyuki Kii has assembled a bold new venture to shake up Japan’s traditionally sclerotic and risk-averse approach to movie financing. The executive, formerly a lead producer at Tokyo-based studio Toei, revealed the launch Thursday of K2 Pictures, a mini-studio that aims to bring a more direct, Hollywood-style model of film funding to Japan’s industry.
The new company will launch a content fund — dubbed the “K2P Film Fund I” — to finance both live-action and animated Japanese features. K2P also has lined up an impressive roster of Japanese directors to collaborate with on its first slate, including Palme d’Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters), local industry mainstay Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, 13 Assassins), Shunji Iwai (Love Letter), Miwa Nishikawa (Sway), Kazuya Shiraishi (The Devil’s Path) and leading anime studio Mappa, known for mega-hits like Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and Attack on Titan.
Kii...
The new company will launch a content fund — dubbed the “K2P Film Fund I” — to finance both live-action and animated Japanese features. K2P also has lined up an impressive roster of Japanese directors to collaborate with on its first slate, including Palme d’Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters), local industry mainstay Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer, 13 Assassins), Shunji Iwai (Love Letter), Miwa Nishikawa (Sway), Kazuya Shiraishi (The Devil’s Path) and leading anime studio Mappa, known for mega-hits like Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and Attack on Titan.
Kii...
- 5/10/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Inspired by the annual “Manga We Want To See Animated” ranking in Japan, a Twitter user conducted a similar poll to find the most desired manga adaptations among Western audiences.
The poll, conducted over a two-week period in February, invited fans to cast their votes for manga series yet to receive an animated adaptation.
Notably, titles already slated for anime production or those with existing adaptations were excluded from consideration.
Here are top 25 manga western fans are most eager to see animated:
25. Kaoru Hana Wa Rin To Saku by Saka Mikami 24. Gokurakugai by Yuto Sano 23. I Am A Hero by Kengo Hanazawa 22. Chi No Wadachi by Shuzo Oshimi 21. Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint by Sing Shong, Umi, and Sleepy-C 20. Ruri Dragon by Masaoki Shindo 19. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes by Hideyuki Furuhashi 18. I Sold My Life For Ten Thousand Yen Per Year by Shoichi Taguchi 17. Jagaaan by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Kensuke Nishida...
The poll, conducted over a two-week period in February, invited fans to cast their votes for manga series yet to receive an animated adaptation.
Notably, titles already slated for anime production or those with existing adaptations were excluded from consideration.
Here are top 25 manga western fans are most eager to see animated:
25. Kaoru Hana Wa Rin To Saku by Saka Mikami 24. Gokurakugai by Yuto Sano 23. I Am A Hero by Kengo Hanazawa 22. Chi No Wadachi by Shuzo Oshimi 21. Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint by Sing Shong, Umi, and Sleepy-C 20. Ruri Dragon by Masaoki Shindo 19. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes by Hideyuki Furuhashi 18. I Sold My Life For Ten Thousand Yen Per Year by Shoichi Taguchi 17. Jagaaan by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Kensuke Nishida...
- 5/6/2024
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
Eiichiro Oda has always been one to take inspiration from other sources and inspire others at the same time. Starting One Piece decades ago, he has seen the advantage of witnessing eras change and evolve with time. There are many famous mangakas who are openly giddy about the ideas that have come to fruition because of Oda’s contributions to the anime and manga industry.
Luffy in One Piece
Many of those include Gege Akutami (Jujutsu Kaisen), Yuki Tabata (Black Clover), and Kohei Horikoshi (My Hero Academia). In this widespread range, there was one particular comment made by Takehiko Inoue that struck Oda in the best way possible. So much so that it became an inspiring moment in return, making him want to write and draw more of One Piece.
Eiichiro Oda’s Had a Fanboy’s Dreams Come True
Eiichiro Oda, during a talk with Takehiko Inoue in 2009 to...
Luffy in One Piece
Many of those include Gege Akutami (Jujutsu Kaisen), Yuki Tabata (Black Clover), and Kohei Horikoshi (My Hero Academia). In this widespread range, there was one particular comment made by Takehiko Inoue that struck Oda in the best way possible. So much so that it became an inspiring moment in return, making him want to write and draw more of One Piece.
Eiichiro Oda’s Had a Fanboy’s Dreams Come True
Eiichiro Oda, during a talk with Takehiko Inoue in 2009 to...
- 5/4/2024
- by Adya Godboley
- FandomWire
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa and Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama are two of the biggest names in the anime and manga world. The two series have inspired many mangakas and have been a source of entertainment for millions of fans. But what many people don’t know is that the two masterpieces share an interesting connection.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
The intriguing similarity between the two is that the mangakas of both series, Toriyama and Arakawa, drew inspiration from animals for their creations. A big part of Dragon Ball, The Great Ape, is inspired by monkeys, and in the case of Fullmetal Alchemist, the Law of Equivalent Exchange is inspired by Arakawa’s experience while working on the farm with animals.
Both creators have mentioned their love for animals and how it led to them creating some of the most inspirational manga in history.
Akira Toriyama’s Love for Pets...
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
The intriguing similarity between the two is that the mangakas of both series, Toriyama and Arakawa, drew inspiration from animals for their creations. A big part of Dragon Ball, The Great Ape, is inspired by monkeys, and in the case of Fullmetal Alchemist, the Law of Equivalent Exchange is inspired by Arakawa’s experience while working on the farm with animals.
Both creators have mentioned their love for animals and how it led to them creating some of the most inspirational manga in history.
Akira Toriyama’s Love for Pets...
- 5/3/2024
- by Tarun Kohli
- FandomWire
Goku, the protagonist of Dragon Ball and one of the strongest characters in the anime world, is known for a lot of things. From his goofy attitude to his never-ending hunger to fight strong opponents, Goku has developed quite a distinctive personality for himself. But one thing that makes him iconic is his unique hair.
Goku’s Super Saiyan Hairstyle
Goku’s hairstyle is one of the most popular traits of the character. His different Saiyan forms have had different hairstyles, and fans have loved all of them. These hairstyles also became a depiction of his various power-ups in the Dragon Ball universe. His style became so iconic that Akira Toriyama started using it with other Saiyan characters too.
However, Toriyama once revealed that Goku’s unique hair is not just a fashion statement or a power depiction, but it helps him compensate for a major factor in the Dragon Ball manga.
Goku’s Super Saiyan Hairstyle
Goku’s hairstyle is one of the most popular traits of the character. His different Saiyan forms have had different hairstyles, and fans have loved all of them. These hairstyles also became a depiction of his various power-ups in the Dragon Ball universe. His style became so iconic that Akira Toriyama started using it with other Saiyan characters too.
However, Toriyama once revealed that Goku’s unique hair is not just a fashion statement or a power depiction, but it helps him compensate for a major factor in the Dragon Ball manga.
- 4/29/2024
- by Tarun Kohli
- FandomWire
Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is a name that you are bound to mention in the context of top shonen anime. Naturally, he is a huge inspiration to the future generations of mangakas. But it turns out that Toriyama himself is not very satisfied with various inspired works.
In a 2018 interview, Akira Toriyama and Takehiko Inoue, the author of Slam Dunk, opened up about prospects in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine and shared their thoughts on up-and-coming mangakas.
“Have pride and add a little originality” – Akira Toriyama Akira Toriyama | Source: egames.news
The 33rd issue of the Weekly Shonen Jump 2018 magazine was a special feature celebrating the magazine’s 50th year anniversary. It featured an interview with Akira Toriyama and Takehiko Inoue, who were asked to say some words for new authors aiming for Shonen Jump’s publication.
Toriyama sensei jumped at the opportunity to talk about the time he...
In a 2018 interview, Akira Toriyama and Takehiko Inoue, the author of Slam Dunk, opened up about prospects in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine and shared their thoughts on up-and-coming mangakas.
“Have pride and add a little originality” – Akira Toriyama Akira Toriyama | Source: egames.news
The 33rd issue of the Weekly Shonen Jump 2018 magazine was a special feature celebrating the magazine’s 50th year anniversary. It featured an interview with Akira Toriyama and Takehiko Inoue, who were asked to say some words for new authors aiming for Shonen Jump’s publication.
Toriyama sensei jumped at the opportunity to talk about the time he...
- 4/12/2024
- by Aaheli Pradhan
- FandomWire
Gkids said it had an announcement today that is not an April Fools' gag, and the distributor came through with news regarding the home video release of The First Slam Dunk . The anime film from director and Slam Dunk creator Takehiko Inoue is coming to Blu-ray in North America on June 25, and more information on a planned Collector's Edition version will be revealed soon. For now, the standard edition is up for pre-order. Bonus features include: Sticker Pack Trailers & Teasers Behind the Starting Line-up: English Dub Featurette Color Commentary with the English Dub Team Related: The First Slam Dunk Anime Film Wins 29th Amd Chairman Award The First Slam Dunk opened in Japan on December 3, 2022. The film is Anime Limited and Toei Animation Europe brought the film to the UK, Ireland and Malta this summer, while Gkids released the film in North America on July 28, describing the film as such: Shohoku's “speedster” and point guard,...
- 4/1/2024
- by Joseph Luster
- Crunchyroll
The Association of Media in Digital (Amd) was established in 1994 as a general incorporated association to support the development and global expansion of digital content in Japan. Since 1995, the organization has held the Amd Award annually to honor the achievements of an individual or group of creators of digital content. The 29th ceremony for the Amd Award was held in Tokyo on March 5, and the anime film The First Slam Dunk received its Amd Chairman Award . The First Slam Dunk is based on Takehiko Inoue's basketball-themed sports manga, Slam Dunk , and Inoue himself served as the director. The film produced by Toei Animation and DandeLion Animation Studio released theatrically in Japan on December 3, 2022, and made 15.8 billion yen (105 million Usd) from its total domestic run to become the seventh top-grossing anime film of all-time in Japan . Takehiko Inoue, the original author of the manga and director, and voice actor Sougo Nakamura,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
The manga industry has shown tremendous growth in recent decades, and it could not have been done without pioneering franchises such as Dragon Ball or Naruto. Akira Toriyama, the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise, can be solely given major credit for carrying the love of manga out of Japan and spreading it over the globe with his works.
While it remains obvious that new mangakas will keep coming around as time goes on, Akira Toriyama in an interview published in the 50th Celebration Weekly Shōnen Jump Edition revealed his feelings towards the new and coming mangakas. He mentions roughly how they are primarily lacking a sense of originality in their works and need to step it up.
Creator of Dragon Ball Franchise | Akira Toriyama Akira Toriyama Shares His Thoughts About The New Generation Of Mangakas
Akira Toriyama, in an interview published alongside Takehiko Inoue, the creator of Slam Dunk and Vagabond,...
While it remains obvious that new mangakas will keep coming around as time goes on, Akira Toriyama in an interview published in the 50th Celebration Weekly Shōnen Jump Edition revealed his feelings towards the new and coming mangakas. He mentions roughly how they are primarily lacking a sense of originality in their works and need to step it up.
Creator of Dragon Ball Franchise | Akira Toriyama Akira Toriyama Shares His Thoughts About The New Generation Of Mangakas
Akira Toriyama, in an interview published alongside Takehiko Inoue, the creator of Slam Dunk and Vagabond,...
- 3/4/2024
- by Aaditya Chugh
- FandomWire
Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs announced the year's winners of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Fine Arts on February 28. The two prize winners of its media arts category were manga artist Takehiko Inoue ( Slam Dunk ) and Yumi Tamura ( Don't Call It Mystery ). Also, animation artist Jun Wada ( Ikimono-san ) received the Rookie Award in the same category. Since 1950, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has annually awarded the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Fine Arts and its Rookie Award to individuals who have made outstanding achievements or have opened new frontiers in 12 fields of the arts: theater play, film, music, dance, literature, fine arts A, fine arts B, broadcasting, popular entertainment, arts promotion, critic and media arts. Inoue's reasons for receiving the award were stated as follows: "'The First Slam Dunk' is a film adaptation of the climax of the original manga,...
- 3/2/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
The 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards are nearly here, which gives us an opportunity to celebrate the best anime of the past year. We’ve spent the year experiencing a colorful palette of emotions while watching not just anime series, but several films. Six of those incredible movies have been nominated for Best Film. Let’s take a look at the nominees! Related: Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024: Your Ultimate Guide Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King Image via Netflix Directed by: Ayataka Tanemura Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King was released in Japanese cinema in June 2023 and simultaneously premiered on Netflix. The story takes place after the events of the Elf Saga, but before the Heart Kingdom arc, giving fans of Black Clover more content to become invested in. Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King gives viewers stunning, well-defined animation with its uniquely choreographed action sequences. The battle feels like it never stops,...
- 2/15/2024
- by Asya Zabolotskaya
- Crunchyroll
The 2024 outing of the Tokyo Anime Award Festival, one of the most prestigious in the country, revealed their winners for the top award that celebrates the last year in animation from Japanese industry professionals. The fan vote, which saw over 75,000 people vote for their favorite anime from 2024, was also announced with a little less than half going to one movie with a very large and dedicated fan base. Here is the full list of award winners: Anime of the Year Best Film: The First Slam Dunk Best TV Series: Oshi no Ko Individual Awards Writer: Takehiko Inoue ( The First Slam Dunk ) Director: Takehiko Inoue ( The First Slam Dunk ) Animator: Takeshi Honda ( The Boy and the Heron ) Visual Arts: Daiki Nakazawa (CG Director on The First Slam Dunk ) Sound/Performers: Yoasobi (“Idol” from Oshi no Ko ) Related: Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2024 Announces Achievement Award Winners The anime fan award, voted on by the public,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Daryl Harding
- Crunchyroll
The Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (Mppa), an industry organization comprised of the four major motion picture production and distribution companies Shochiku, Toho, Toei and Kadokawa Pictures, held a New Year press conference in Tokyo on January 30 to announce box office data for fiscal 2023 in Japan. Related: Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan: 14 Anime Films Surpassed One Billion Yen Mark in 2022 According to the data released yesterday , 1,232 films (676 Japanese and 556 foreign films) were released in Japan in 2023, with the overall annual box-office gross was 221.482 billion yen (about 1.5 billion Usd). This was up 3.9 percent increase from the previous year and the fifth-highest record since 2000. 34 Japanese films made one billion yen box office gross last year, up eight from the previous year. This includes 12 anime films and ten live-action film adaptations of Japanese manga. The First Slam Dunk (15.87 billion yen), an anime film adaptation of Takehiko Inoue's sports manga of the same name,...
- 1/31/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
Every few years, the Academy tweaks the rules for its animated feature category, with the net result that the nominees tend to skew ever more mainstream. That makes it tough for most of this year’s hopefuls: A record-setting number of animated features submitted. Those who pick the noms are required to watch roughly a third before ranking their top five, which can include additional titles they might have seen on their own. Blockbusters naturally benefit, though “Flee” and “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” earned nominations in 2022 and 2023, respectively, suggesting that artful indies still stand a chance.
The Boy and the Heron
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Voices: Luca Padovan, Robert Pattinson
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Distributor: GKids
Rumors of Miyazaki’s retirement were greatly exaggerated, as the unstoppable creative force (who won an Oscar for “Spirited Away” in 2003) returns with a story inspired by his childhood memories during wartime. More fanciful than “The Wind Rises,...
The Boy and the Heron
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Voices: Luca Padovan, Robert Pattinson
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Distributor: GKids
Rumors of Miyazaki’s retirement were greatly exaggerated, as the unstoppable creative force (who won an Oscar for “Spirited Away” in 2003) returns with a story inspired by his childhood memories during wartime. More fanciful than “The Wind Rises,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Japan heads the nominations, followed by China.
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist heads the nominations for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, with nods in four categories including best film, best director, best screenplay and best cinematography.
The Japanese feature premiered at Venice where it picked up both the jury and Fipresci prize, and centres on a father and daughter in a rural village, whose peaceful lives are disrupted by proposals to build a camping site in their area.
Hamaguchi’s latest film, following Oscar-winner Drive My Car, was just ahead of China’s Snow Leopard by the late Tibetan director Pema Tseden,...
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist heads the nominations for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, with nods in four categories including best film, best director, best screenplay and best cinematography.
The Japanese feature premiered at Venice where it picked up both the jury and Fipresci prize, and centres on a father and daughter in a rural village, whose peaceful lives are disrupted by proposals to build a camping site in their area.
Hamaguchi’s latest film, following Oscar-winner Drive My Car, was just ahead of China’s Snow Leopard by the late Tibetan director Pema Tseden,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest feature, Evil Does Not Exist, leads this year’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa) with four nods, including the gong for Best Film.
Hamaguchi’s nominations haul includes Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography for Yoshio Kitagawa. The film is Hamaguchi’s first film since his Oscar-winning Drive My Car and debuted at this year’s Venice Film Festival. The pic follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. A plan to construct a glamping site near Takumi’s house, offering city residents a comfortable “escape” to nature, threatens to endanger the ecological balance of the area and the local people’s way of life.
Also nominated in the Best Film category are Wim Wenders’s Perfect Days, Snow Leopard by Pema Tseden,...
Hamaguchi’s nominations haul includes Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography for Yoshio Kitagawa. The film is Hamaguchi’s first film since his Oscar-winning Drive My Car and debuted at this year’s Venice Film Festival. The pic follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. A plan to construct a glamping site near Takumi’s house, offering city residents a comfortable “escape” to nature, threatens to endanger the ecological balance of the area and the local people’s way of life.
Also nominated in the Best Film category are Wim Wenders’s Perfect Days, Snow Leopard by Pema Tseden,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Σε παραγωγή της Toei Animation και το Dandelion Animation Studio, το “The First Slam Dunk”, βασίζεται στην σειρά μάνγκα του Takehiko Inoue, ο οποίος επίσης λειτουργεί ως σκηνοθέτης εδώ, και αποτέλεσε μια ακόμη κορυφαία επιτυχία στο ταμείο όχι μόνο της Ιαπωνίας, αλλά και των γειτονικών ασιατικών χωρών. Ως τέτοιο, η ταινία έγινε η πέμπτη υψηλότερα εισπρακτική ταινία anime όλων των εποχών στην Ιαπωνία, η δεύτερη στη Ν. Κορέα (και η δεύτερη υψηλότερα εισπρακτική ταινία γενικά φέτος μέχρι στιγμής), ενώ έσπασε επίσης αρκετά ρεκόρ στο κινέζικο box office. Τέλος, βραβεύτηκε με το Βραβείο Ακαδημίας της Ιαπωνίας για την Ταινία Άνιμε της Χρονιάς στο 46α Βραβεία της Κινηματογραφικής Ακαδημίας της Ιαπωνίας το 2023.
Παρά τον τίτλο της, η ταινία μεταφέρει το τελευταίο κεφάλαιο του μάνγκα, στο οποίο το αουτσάιντερ, η ομάδα μπάσκετ του Λυκείου Σόχοκου αντιμετωπίζει τους πρωταθλητές της Σάννο, η οποία περιλαμβάνει αρκετούς από τους καλύτερους παίκτες της χώρας. Το ενδιαφέρον, ωστόσο,...
Παρά τον τίτλο της, η ταινία μεταφέρει το τελευταίο κεφάλαιο του μάνγκα, στο οποίο το αουτσάιντερ, η ομάδα μπάσκετ του Λυκείου Σόχοκου αντιμετωπίζει τους πρωταθλητές της Σάννο, η οποία περιλαμβάνει αρκετούς από τους καλύτερους παίκτες της χώρας. Το ενδιαφέρον, ωστόσο,...
- 9/11/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Further openers are Sony’s ’Equalizer 3’, Mub’s ’Passages’ and Lionsgate’s ‘Cobweb’ .
Seventeen new films launch into UK-Ireland cinemas this weekend in a sign of the release schedule returning to its pre-pandemic state; as exhibitors look for a post-Barbenheimer success, and to capitalise on this year’s National Cinema Day, on Saturday, September 2.
Tickets for all films are available for £3 at over 630 cinemas across the UK and Ireland; last year’s National Cinema Day brought in 1.46m admissions.
Angel Studios is releasing Alejandro Monteverde’s biographical drama Sound Of Freedom, about a government agent-turned-vigilante who aims to rescue children from sex traffickers,...
Seventeen new films launch into UK-Ireland cinemas this weekend in a sign of the release schedule returning to its pre-pandemic state; as exhibitors look for a post-Barbenheimer success, and to capitalise on this year’s National Cinema Day, on Saturday, September 2.
Tickets for all films are available for £3 at over 630 cinemas across the UK and Ireland; last year’s National Cinema Day brought in 1.46m admissions.
Angel Studios is releasing Alejandro Monteverde’s biographical drama Sound Of Freedom, about a government agent-turned-vigilante who aims to rescue children from sex traffickers,...
- 9/1/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Takehiko Inoue’s classic manga spinoff has magnificent on-court scenes, but doesn’t quite sink the backstory
At the climax of this basketball-worshipping anime that was a huge hit across Asia earlier this year, the whole of space-time apparently comes to rest on a single bead of sweat departing the chin of one of the players. The entire universe is contained on a single court as Shohoku high school, whose five motley ballers were the main characters in the original manga, which ran between 1990-96, challenge the invincible national champions, Sannoh high. Fleshed out in 3D animation, the action – feinting, pivoting and occasionally soaring high above the stands – feels resplendently immediate.
Chaperoned by its original creator, Takehiko Inoue, after spending eons in development hell, this adaptation relegates Dennis Rodman-esque, red-cropped bad-boy Hanamichi (voiced here by Subaru Kimura) in favour of the more sensitive Ryōta (Shugo Nakemura) as protagonist. Ryōta...
At the climax of this basketball-worshipping anime that was a huge hit across Asia earlier this year, the whole of space-time apparently comes to rest on a single bead of sweat departing the chin of one of the players. The entire universe is contained on a single court as Shohoku high school, whose five motley ballers were the main characters in the original manga, which ran between 1990-96, challenge the invincible national champions, Sannoh high. Fleshed out in 3D animation, the action – feinting, pivoting and occasionally soaring high above the stands – feels resplendently immediate.
Chaperoned by its original creator, Takehiko Inoue, after spending eons in development hell, this adaptation relegates Dennis Rodman-esque, red-cropped bad-boy Hanamichi (voiced here by Subaru Kimura) in favour of the more sensitive Ryōta (Shugo Nakemura) as protagonist. Ryōta...
- 8/22/2023
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
Quebec festival wrapped on August 9.
Talk To Me, the horror hit from Danny and Michael Philippou which has grossed more than $31m in North America and close to $50m worldwide, has been named best international feature in the 2023 Fantasia audience awards.
In other key awards Lee Sang-yong’s South Korean title The Roundup: No Way Out was named best Asian feature, while Shigeyoshi Tsukahara’s Japanese entry Kurayukaba earned best animated feature, and
Satan Wants You from Steve J. Adams and Sean Horlor took the inaugural Dgc Audience Award for Best Canadian Film (narrative or documentary).
The full list of audience award winners appears below.
Talk To Me, the horror hit from Danny and Michael Philippou which has grossed more than $31m in North America and close to $50m worldwide, has been named best international feature in the 2023 Fantasia audience awards.
In other key awards Lee Sang-yong’s South Korean title The Roundup: No Way Out was named best Asian feature, while Shigeyoshi Tsukahara’s Japanese entry Kurayukaba earned best animated feature, and
Satan Wants You from Steve J. Adams and Sean Horlor took the inaugural Dgc Audience Award for Best Canadian Film (narrative or documentary).
The full list of audience award winners appears below.
- 8/14/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
A couple weeks ago, the Fantasia International Film Festival announced the films that won jury prizes at the 27th edition of the show, which recently came to a close. Yesterday, our own Tyler Nichols shared his list of favorite films from this year’s Fantasia festival. Now Fantasia has unveiled the list of audience award winners, with wins going to films like Talk to Me, The Roundup: No Way Out, Kurayukaba, and Satan Wants You, among others. The full list can be seen below:
Best International Feature
Gold: Talk To Me
Silver: Late Night With The Devil
Bronze: Hundreds Of Beavers
Best Asian Feature
Gold: The Roundup: No Way Out
Silver: River
Bronze: Phantom (South Korea d. Lee Hae-young)
Best Animated Feature
Gold: Kurayukaba
Silver: The Concierge
Bronze: The First Slam Dunk
The Dgc Audience Award for Best Canadian Film (Narrative or Documentary)
Satan Wants You – This year’s...
Best International Feature
Gold: Talk To Me
Silver: Late Night With The Devil
Bronze: Hundreds Of Beavers
Best Asian Feature
Gold: The Roundup: No Way Out
Silver: River
Bronze: Phantom (South Korea d. Lee Hae-young)
Best Animated Feature
Gold: Kurayukaba
Silver: The Concierge
Bronze: The First Slam Dunk
The Dgc Audience Award for Best Canadian Film (Narrative or Documentary)
Satan Wants You – This year’s...
- 8/14/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
With a selection from the “top of the shelf” once more, as the films of Keishi Otomo, Yuya Yagira, and the next big anime thing “Slam Dunk” eloquently highlight, Japan Cuts showcased how the top of the Japanese movie industry fares currently, while not forgetting the “hidden gems” aspect, with the returns of Yusaku Matsumoto and Daisuke Miyazaki and the presentation of “Sanka”, a film that has passed absurdly under the radar, moving into that direction. The general direction in terms of selection seemed to move towards mainstream paths, with the shorts, the animation and the documentary “I am a Comedian” adding an element of diversity. Without further ado, here is a list of this year's coverage of Japan Cuts.
You can read the full reviews by clicking on the titles 1. Interviews: Kentaro and Yuya Yagira 2. Anime Review: The First Slam Dunk (2022) by Takehiko Inoue
What is the most impressive aspect,...
You can read the full reviews by clicking on the titles 1. Interviews: Kentaro and Yuya Yagira 2. Anime Review: The First Slam Dunk (2022) by Takehiko Inoue
What is the most impressive aspect,...
- 8/8/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
British thriller Femme was also on the prize list.
The Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal has revealed the winners of its jury awards, with Canadian cyber thriller Red Rooms (Les Chambres Rouges) named best feature in the event’s Cheval Noir competition section.
Red Rooms also won the best screenplay prize for Quebec writer-director Pascal Plante, the best score award for Dominique Plante and one of the two outstanding performance awards for Juliette Gariépy.
The Cheval Noir best director award went to Sam H Freeman and Ng Choon Ping for their UK thriller Femme, whose Nathan Stewart-Jarrett won the other outstanding performance award.
The Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal has revealed the winners of its jury awards, with Canadian cyber thriller Red Rooms (Les Chambres Rouges) named best feature in the event’s Cheval Noir competition section.
Red Rooms also won the best screenplay prize for Quebec writer-director Pascal Plante, the best score award for Dominique Plante and one of the two outstanding performance awards for Juliette Gariépy.
The Cheval Noir best director award went to Sam H Freeman and Ng Choon Ping for their UK thriller Femme, whose Nathan Stewart-Jarrett won the other outstanding performance award.
- 7/31/2023
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
The Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal is more than halfway through its 27th edition, which is running from July 20th through August 9th – and over the weekend they unveiled their list of Fantasia Film Festival Awards winners, with major honors going to the likes of Red Rooms and Stay Online.
Our own reviewer Tyler Nichols gave Red Rooms a 9/10 “amazing” review (you can read it Here), so it makes sense to hear that the film racked up multiple awards, including Best Feature, Best Screenplay for Pascal Plante, Best Score for Dominique Plante, and Outstanding Performance for Juliette Gariépy. We haven’t had the chance to see Stay Online yet, but that movie did earn the Best First Feature award for director Yeva Strelnikova.
Red Rooms is about what happens when the case of a serial killer who streamed his murders in the “red rooms” of the Dark Web goes to trial,...
Our own reviewer Tyler Nichols gave Red Rooms a 9/10 “amazing” review (you can read it Here), so it makes sense to hear that the film racked up multiple awards, including Best Feature, Best Screenplay for Pascal Plante, Best Score for Dominique Plante, and Outstanding Performance for Juliette Gariépy. We haven’t had the chance to see Stay Online yet, but that movie did earn the Best First Feature award for director Yeva Strelnikova.
Red Rooms is about what happens when the case of a serial killer who streamed his murders in the “red rooms” of the Dark Web goes to trial,...
- 7/31/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Red Rooms won a leading three awards including Best Feature at the 27th annual Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, with the thriller Femme taking Best Director for Sam H. Freeman & Ng Choon Ping and Outstanding Performance for Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. See the full list of winners below.
“The ultimate effect a film can achieve is to implant a significant and lasting emotional memory,” the genre fest’s jury said in a statement. “The jury was unanimously convinced that [Red Rooms] masterfully accomplished that goal.”
In writer-director Pascal Plante’s thriller from Nemesis Films, the case of a serial killer who streamed his murders in the “red rooms” of the Dark Web goes to trial, and Kelly-Anne (Laurie Babin) is obsessed. She goes down a dark path to obtain the final piece of the case’s puzzle.
In Femme, after drag artist Jules (Stewart-Jarrett) sees his closeted assailant (George Mackay) at a gay sauna,...
“The ultimate effect a film can achieve is to implant a significant and lasting emotional memory,” the genre fest’s jury said in a statement. “The jury was unanimously convinced that [Red Rooms] masterfully accomplished that goal.”
In writer-director Pascal Plante’s thriller from Nemesis Films, the case of a serial killer who streamed his murders in the “red rooms” of the Dark Web goes to trial, and Kelly-Anne (Laurie Babin) is obsessed. She goes down a dark path to obtain the final piece of the case’s puzzle.
In Femme, after drag artist Jules (Stewart-Jarrett) sees his closeted assailant (George Mackay) at a gay sauna,...
- 7/31/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Juliette Gariépy in the Quebec thriller Red Rooms in Competition at Karlovy Vary Photo: Courtesy of Kviff
Pascal Plante's Red Rooms, a brooding drama about a woman's obsession with the trial of a serial killer, has won the esteemed Cheval Noir prize at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival. Plante also received the award for Best Screenplay and his composer, Dominique Plante, won best score, while star Juliette Gariépy was named Best Actress.
“The ultimate effect a film can achieve is to implant a significant and lasting emotional memory. The jury was unanimously convinced that Les Chambres Rouges masterfully accomplished that goal," said the jury. "With incredible skill and artistry, without resorting to gore or violence, this film delivers not only an extremely disturbing and frightening experience but introduces you to characters and situations you may never forget."
This year's Satoshi Kon Award For Excellence In Animation went to...
Pascal Plante's Red Rooms, a brooding drama about a woman's obsession with the trial of a serial killer, has won the esteemed Cheval Noir prize at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival. Plante also received the award for Best Screenplay and his composer, Dominique Plante, won best score, while star Juliette Gariépy was named Best Actress.
“The ultimate effect a film can achieve is to implant a significant and lasting emotional memory. The jury was unanimously convinced that Les Chambres Rouges masterfully accomplished that goal," said the jury. "With incredible skill and artistry, without resorting to gore or violence, this film delivers not only an extremely disturbing and frightening experience but introduces you to characters and situations you may never forget."
This year's Satoshi Kon Award For Excellence In Animation went to...
- 7/30/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
A24’s supernatural horror Talk To Me by first time filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou blew past box office projections grossing over $10 million on 2,340 screens opening weekend. The breakout by the first-time filmmaker brothers and popular YouTubers from Australia was no. six at the domestic box office.
The film was well reviewed as a fresh spin on the possession tale and had great exits with a B+ Cinemascore — pretty much tops for horror, especially indie horror — and A24’s best wide-release Cinemascore ever across all genres.
It’s the distributor’s biggest opening weekend ever since 2018’s Hereditary from Ari Aster, who gave a big shoutout to Talk To Me at Sundance, where it premiered and was snapped up by A24 in a bidding war. Hereditary opened at $13.6 million on 2,900 screens. It’s arguably rather rare for indie films to cross $10 million in a weekend, (especially post-pandemic), marking another breakout...
The film was well reviewed as a fresh spin on the possession tale and had great exits with a B+ Cinemascore — pretty much tops for horror, especially indie horror — and A24’s best wide-release Cinemascore ever across all genres.
It’s the distributor’s biggest opening weekend ever since 2018’s Hereditary from Ari Aster, who gave a big shoutout to Talk To Me at Sundance, where it premiered and was snapped up by A24 in a bidding war. Hereditary opened at $13.6 million on 2,900 screens. It’s arguably rather rare for indie films to cross $10 million in a weekend, (especially post-pandemic), marking another breakout...
- 7/30/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
It probably wasn’t smart for any movie to take on the two-headed box office monster known as “Barbenheimer,” yet two movies tried to do just that, one doing better than the other. Read on for the weekend box office report.
There was just no taking down Greta Gerwig‘s “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, which brought in another estimated $93 million in its second weekend, down 43% from its opening weekend, astounding when you consider the larger second-weekend drops for most high-opening Marvel movies. Going by estimates, “Barbie” has made $351.4 million through Sunday, putting it on track to pass “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” for biggest movie of the summer sometime this coming week. “Barbie” is officially the fastest movie of the year to hit $300 million, and it should cross $400 million any day now. “Barbie” added another $122.2 million overseas this weekend to bring its global total to $774.5 million in just two weeks in 70 total markets.
There was just no taking down Greta Gerwig‘s “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, which brought in another estimated $93 million in its second weekend, down 43% from its opening weekend, astounding when you consider the larger second-weekend drops for most high-opening Marvel movies. Going by estimates, “Barbie” has made $351.4 million through Sunday, putting it on track to pass “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” for biggest movie of the summer sometime this coming week. “Barbie” is officially the fastest movie of the year to hit $300 million, and it should cross $400 million any day now. “Barbie” added another $122.2 million overseas this weekend to bring its global total to $774.5 million in just two weeks in 70 total markets.
- 7/30/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
Takehiko Inoue’s “The First Slam Dunk” isn’t exactly the first movie ever made about a scrappy high school basketball team struggling to overcome their shared differences and personal demons in time for the big game against their undefeated rivals. It’s a tale as old as time, and one that Inoue himself has already told at great length over the course of a beloved manga that ran in “Weekly Shōnen Jump” from 1990 until 1996 — a manga he would revisit as the source material for his directorial debut some 30 years later.
But this blockbuster rookie effort, which arrives in the States having already become the fifth-highest grossing anime feature of all time, is such a fun and thrilling crowd-pleaser because it uses the hoariest tropes of its sub-genre as an alley-oop for one of the most formally ambitious and emotionally layered sports dramas to hit screens in the decades since Inoue stepped onto the court.
But this blockbuster rookie effort, which arrives in the States having already become the fifth-highest grossing anime feature of all time, is such a fun and thrilling crowd-pleaser because it uses the hoariest tropes of its sub-genre as an alley-oop for one of the most formally ambitious and emotionally layered sports dramas to hit screens in the decades since Inoue stepped onto the court.
- 7/28/2023
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
There was no guarantee that there would be an anime feature film adaptation of Takehiko Inoue’s hugely popular basketball manga series “Slam Dunk,” especially after its successful anime TV series. But not only did Toei Animation bring the beloved ’90s manga — about basketball as a psychological rite of passage through the overcoming of pain and hardship — to the big screen, but “The First Slam Dunk” (playing theatrically from GKids) is now the fifth highest-grossing anime of all time and the winner of the Japan Academy Prize for Best Animated Film.
But it took five years of 2D and CG prototyping by Toei Animation (led by producer Toshiyuki Matsui) to perfect the visual look before getting the greenlight from Inoue. But he didn’t consider himself the director until later in production, after participating in the writing, mo-cap basketball action, voice acting, and score (Satoshi Takebe and Takuma Mitamura of...
But it took five years of 2D and CG prototyping by Toei Animation (led by producer Toshiyuki Matsui) to perfect the visual look before getting the greenlight from Inoue. But he didn’t consider himself the director until later in production, after participating in the writing, mo-cap basketball action, voice acting, and score (Satoshi Takebe and Takuma Mitamura of...
- 7/28/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Produced by Toei Animation and Dandelion Animation Studio, the “First Slam Dunk”, based on the manga series by Takehiko Inoue who also functions as the director here, was another crowning success in the box office not only of Japan, but also of the neighboring Asian countries. As such, the movie became the fifth highest-grossing anime of all time in Japan, the second in S. Korea (and the second highest grossing film overall this year so far) while it also broke a number of records in the Chinese box office. Lastly, it was awarded the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year at the 46th Japan Academy Film Prize in 2023.
The First Slam Dunk is screening at Japan Cuts
Despite its title, the movie actually adapts the last chapter of the manga, which has the underdogs of Shohoku high school basketball team facing the reigning champions Sanno, which feature a...
The First Slam Dunk is screening at Japan Cuts
Despite its title, the movie actually adapts the last chapter of the manga, which has the underdogs of Shohoku high school basketball team facing the reigning champions Sanno, which feature a...
- 7/27/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
One of the most popular manga series of all time––one which ran in the same pages as Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure––has never achieved the same Western pop-cultural ubiquity as some of its Shonen Jump colleagues. Originally serialized from the early to mid 1990s, Takehiko Inoue’s Slam Dunk eschews martial arts and superpowers to take as its subject, ironically enough, the all-American sport of basketball. Borrowing the tropes of teen sports dramas from both Japan and Hollywood, Inoue’s 31-volume saga traced the winding ascendancy of a high school ruffian and his motley crew of teammates through rivalries, romantic entanglements, and backstreet brawls to find their purpose in the game and the pursuit of B-ball greatness. In lieu of fantastical elements often present in shonen (boys’ YA) manga, Inoue’s detailed art and writing emphasized realistic maneuvers and tactics of the sport...
- 7/25/2023
- by Eli Friedberg
- The Film Stage
In two weeks, the best in new Japanese cinema will descend upon New York City with the 16th edition of Japan Cuts. Taking place from July 26 through August 6 at Japan Society, this year’s impressive lineup features nearly 30 films along with special tribute to the legendary, late Ryuichi Sakamoto. In anticipation of the festival’s launch, we’re delighted to present the exclusive trailer and poster debut.
“Japan Cuts is back in-person!” says Peter Tatara, Director of Film at Japan Society, who organized this year’s festival with Japan Society Film Programmer Alexander Fee. “Japan Cuts is one of Japan Society’s most popular events and beloved in New York’s cinema scene. After a pause during the pandemic, we couldn’t be more proud for Japan Cuts to return with two weeks of exciting, thought-provoking and tear-jerking films. We’re honored to share a captivating slice of Japan’s cinematic world with New York!
“Japan Cuts is back in-person!” says Peter Tatara, Director of Film at Japan Society, who organized this year’s festival with Japan Society Film Programmer Alexander Fee. “Japan Cuts is one of Japan Society’s most popular events and beloved in New York’s cinema scene. After a pause during the pandemic, we couldn’t be more proud for Japan Cuts to return with two weeks of exciting, thought-provoking and tear-jerking films. We’re honored to share a captivating slice of Japan’s cinematic world with New York!
- 7/12/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Fantasia, North America's largest and longest-lived genre film festival, returns in 2023 with an amazing selection of imaginative films from around the world, including a bounty of cinematic treasures for aficionados of anime and manga!
Best known for the world-renowned Dragonball, celebrated Japanese manga creator Akira Toriyama's many other works include the mini-epic Sand Land, a demon-infested, post-apocalyptic screwball romp published in 2000. It portrayed a mysterious desert world where water is the most precious resource, and follows Satan's son Beelzebub and his comrades on a desperate, dangerous quest. Toriyama's countless fans can rejoice because now, a quarter century later, an anime adaptation has further rekindled Sand Land's appeal. Fantasia's crowd can take particular pleasure in this news, because the director is the talented Toshihisa Yokoshima, a deft master of CG animation whose short film Cocolors won a Satoshi Kon Award at the festival in 2017. Canadian Premiere
Equal parts crazy cartoon caper,...
Best known for the world-renowned Dragonball, celebrated Japanese manga creator Akira Toriyama's many other works include the mini-epic Sand Land, a demon-infested, post-apocalyptic screwball romp published in 2000. It portrayed a mysterious desert world where water is the most precious resource, and follows Satan's son Beelzebub and his comrades on a desperate, dangerous quest. Toriyama's countless fans can rejoice because now, a quarter century later, an anime adaptation has further rekindled Sand Land's appeal. Fantasia's crowd can take particular pleasure in this news, because the director is the talented Toshihisa Yokoshima, a deft master of CG animation whose short film Cocolors won a Satoshi Kon Award at the festival in 2017. Canadian Premiere
Equal parts crazy cartoon caper,...
- 7/7/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
A total of 24 feature films, including five world premieres, make up this year’s programme.
Edinburgh International Film Festival has unveiled a 24-title programme for 2023, featuring the world premiere of Janis Pugh’s feature debut Chuck Chuck Baby, and international titles spanning Europe, China, India and Japan.
There are five world premieres, plus five retrospective titles, five short films and an outdoor screening weekend of seven features.
Chuck Chuck Baby unfurls in a chicken factory in north Wales, and stars Louise Brealey, Annabel Scholey, Sorcha Cusack, Celyn Jones and Emily Fairn. It’s set in the present day, with a...
Edinburgh International Film Festival has unveiled a 24-title programme for 2023, featuring the world premiere of Janis Pugh’s feature debut Chuck Chuck Baby, and international titles spanning Europe, China, India and Japan.
There are five world premieres, plus five retrospective titles, five short films and an outdoor screening weekend of seven features.
Chuck Chuck Baby unfurls in a chicken factory in north Wales, and stars Louise Brealey, Annabel Scholey, Sorcha Cusack, Celyn Jones and Emily Fairn. It’s set in the present day, with a...
- 7/6/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
North America's largest Japanese film festival presents two weeks of contemporary movies from Japan, including opening film The First Slam Dunk directed by Takehiko Inoue, centerpiece film Under The Turquoise Sky directed by Kentaro, closing film The Three Sisters Of Tenmasou Inn directed by Ryuhei Kitamura
Japan Society announces the full lineup of the 16th annual Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film, the largest festival of its kind in North America, set for July 26–August 6. This year's edition will present 29 films and mark the first fully in-person Japan Cuts since 2019. This year's festival spans 12 days and features 24 feature-length films and five short films across Feature Slate, Next Generation, and Short Film Spotlight sections, as well as a special tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto. Among the festival's lineup are five International Premieres, 10 North American Premieres, seven U.S. Premieres, three East Coast Premieres and three New York Premieres. Additionally, Japan Cuts...
Japan Society announces the full lineup of the 16th annual Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film, the largest festival of its kind in North America, set for July 26–August 6. This year's edition will present 29 films and mark the first fully in-person Japan Cuts since 2019. This year's festival spans 12 days and features 24 feature-length films and five short films across Feature Slate, Next Generation, and Short Film Spotlight sections, as well as a special tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto. Among the festival's lineup are five International Premieres, 10 North American Premieres, seven U.S. Premieres, three East Coast Premieres and three New York Premieres. Additionally, Japan Cuts...
- 6/22/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Company has acquired Japanese hit ‘The First Slam Dunk’ for 35 territories.
Europe-based theatrical-only distributor Piece of Magic Entertainment (Pom) has launched Pom Anime, and has acquired the strand’s first title, Japanese hit The First Slam Dunk.
Pom Anime will distribute The First Slam Dunk in 35 territories, with plans to release the film in late summer 2023 across Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltic region, Greece and the central European region.
Directed by Takehiko Inoue and Yasuyuki Ebara, The First Slam Dunk follows a team of high-school basketball players who challenge the inter-city champions. It has grossed over $260m in Asian markets alone to date,...
Europe-based theatrical-only distributor Piece of Magic Entertainment (Pom) has launched Pom Anime, and has acquired the strand’s first title, Japanese hit The First Slam Dunk.
Pom Anime will distribute The First Slam Dunk in 35 territories, with plans to release the film in late summer 2023 across Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltic region, Greece and the central European region.
Directed by Takehiko Inoue and Yasuyuki Ebara, The First Slam Dunk follows a team of high-school basketball players who challenge the inter-city champions. It has grossed over $260m in Asian markets alone to date,...
- 6/13/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Company has acquired Japanese hit ‘The First Slam Dunk’ for 35 territories.
Europe-based theatrical-only distributor Piece of Magic Entertainment (Pom) has launched Pom Anime, a subsidiary for anime titles; and has acquired the strand’s first title, Japanese hit The First Slam Dunk.
Pom Anime will distribute The First Slam Dunk in 35 territories, with plans to release the film in late summer 2023 across Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltics, Greece and the central European region.
Directed by Takehiko Inoue and Yasuyuki Ebara, The First Slam Dunk follows a team of high-school basketball players who challenge the inter-city champions. It has grossed over $260m...
Europe-based theatrical-only distributor Piece of Magic Entertainment (Pom) has launched Pom Anime, a subsidiary for anime titles; and has acquired the strand’s first title, Japanese hit The First Slam Dunk.
Pom Anime will distribute The First Slam Dunk in 35 territories, with plans to release the film in late summer 2023 across Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltics, Greece and the central European region.
Directed by Takehiko Inoue and Yasuyuki Ebara, The First Slam Dunk follows a team of high-school basketball players who challenge the inter-city champions. It has grossed over $260m...
- 6/13/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Montreal fest runs July 20-August 9.
The 27th edition of Fantasia International Film Festival (July 20-August 9) in Montreal will open with the North American premiere of Pascal Plante’s cyber thriller Red Rooms (Chambres Rouges).
The film will get its world premiere in Karlovy Vary and follows a tech-savvy overachiever who becomes obsessed with the high-profile trial of a serial killer.
As reality blurs with her morbid fantasies, she goes down a dark path in search of the final piece in the puzzle, the missing video of a murdered 13-year-old girl. Sphere Films International recently launched sales in Cannes.
Second wave...
The 27th edition of Fantasia International Film Festival (July 20-August 9) in Montreal will open with the North American premiere of Pascal Plante’s cyber thriller Red Rooms (Chambres Rouges).
The film will get its world premiere in Karlovy Vary and follows a tech-savvy overachiever who becomes obsessed with the high-profile trial of a serial killer.
As reality blurs with her morbid fantasies, she goes down a dark path in search of the final piece in the puzzle, the missing video of a murdered 13-year-old girl. Sphere Films International recently launched sales in Cannes.
Second wave...
- 6/8/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Quebec’s Fantasia International Film Festival will open its 27th edition with the North American premiere of Pascal Plante’s latest pic Red Rooms (Les chambres rouges).
Plante will bring the pic to his native Quebec following a Competition bow at Karlovy Vary in June. The film, Plante’s third, follows the high-profile case of serial killer Ludovic Chevalier, which has just gone to trial, and Kelly-Anne is obsessed. When reality blurs with her morbid fantasies, she goes down a dark path to seek the final piece of the case’s puzzle.
The Nicolas Cage-starrer Sympathy for the Devil will have its international premiere at Fantasia. Written by Luke Paradise, the pic follows “The Driver” (Joel Kinnaman), who finds himself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse after being forced to drive a mysterious man, “The Passenger” (Cage). As their white-knuckle ride progresses, it becomes clear that...
Plante will bring the pic to his native Quebec following a Competition bow at Karlovy Vary in June. The film, Plante’s third, follows the high-profile case of serial killer Ludovic Chevalier, which has just gone to trial, and Kelly-Anne is obsessed. When reality blurs with her morbid fantasies, she goes down a dark path to seek the final piece of the case’s puzzle.
The Nicolas Cage-starrer Sympathy for the Devil will have its international premiere at Fantasia. Written by Luke Paradise, the pic follows “The Driver” (Joel Kinnaman), who finds himself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse after being forced to drive a mysterious man, “The Passenger” (Cage). As their white-knuckle ride progresses, it becomes clear that...
- 6/8/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Manga adaptation grossed more than $98m in home country, won Japan Academy Prize for best animation of the year.
GKids has acquired North American rights to Toei Animation’s Japanese box office smash and manga adaptation The First Slam Dunk.
Takehiko Inoue’s film opened in Japan on December 3 last year and has earned more than $98m. It has grossed more than $212m worldwide, and just opened in mainland China on $55.2m to rank as the biggest opening ever for an imported animated film in the country.
The First Slam Dunk follows the exploits of a high school basketball team...
GKids has acquired North American rights to Toei Animation’s Japanese box office smash and manga adaptation The First Slam Dunk.
Takehiko Inoue’s film opened in Japan on December 3 last year and has earned more than $98m. It has grossed more than $212m worldwide, and just opened in mainland China on $55.2m to rank as the biggest opening ever for an imported animated film in the country.
The First Slam Dunk follows the exploits of a high school basketball team...
- 5/2/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Gkids has acquired the North American rights to “The First Slam Dunk,” an anime sports film that took the Japanese and Korean box office by storm this past winter, the indie animation distributor announced Monday.
The film follows Ryota Miyagi, a small but agile point guard for Shohoku High School’s basketball team struggling to live up to the legacy of his older brother, Sota. Alongside his teammates, the sophomore star leads his team for a run at the Inter-High National Championship against the defending title holders.
Produced by Toei Animation and based on director Takehiko Inoue’s bestselling 90s manga series, “The First Slam Dunk” has grossed $212 million so far at the global box office. Not only has the film been a success in its home country, it also set a record for the most watched Japanese film in South Korea that was just broken last month by Makoto Shinkai’s “Suzume.
The film follows Ryota Miyagi, a small but agile point guard for Shohoku High School’s basketball team struggling to live up to the legacy of his older brother, Sota. Alongside his teammates, the sophomore star leads his team for a run at the Inter-High National Championship against the defending title holders.
Produced by Toei Animation and based on director Takehiko Inoue’s bestselling 90s manga series, “The First Slam Dunk” has grossed $212 million so far at the global box office. Not only has the film been a success in its home country, it also set a record for the most watched Japanese film in South Korea that was just broken last month by Makoto Shinkai’s “Suzume.
- 5/1/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
"Miyagi. This is your stage." GKids Films has revealed a first look teaser for the US release of the Japanese anime comedy The First Slam Dunk, adapted from the manga by Takehiko Inoue. After opening in Japan late last year, it's set for US release this summer in theaters. The First Slam Dunk is an update based on the iconic comics and previous series, including Slam Dunk from the 90s and Slam Dunk: The Movie in 1994. Takehiko Inoue's basketball series had a huge impact when it was first published in the 90s, so much so that it created a huge surge in interest in the sport in Japan. The movie shifts the focus from Hanamichi to his teammate Ryota Miyagi, the point guard for the Shohoku high school basketball team, and his story and personal challenges. Hanamachi is also in the film, as are teammates Takenori Akagi, Hisashi Mitsui and Kaede Rukawa,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Gkids has snapped up North American rights to Toei Animation’s film The First Slam Dunk, an adaptation of the hugely popular Takehiko Inoue manga, which Inoue wrote and directed for the screen. The film which has already proven a smash hit in other territories, grossing over $212M globally, will hit theaters in the U.S. and Canada in both its original Japanese language and an all-new English-language dub later this summer.
Marking Inoue’s directorial debut, The First Slam Dunk follows Shohoku High School’s “speedster” point guard, Ryota Miyagi, who always plays with brains and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents while feigning composure. Born and raised in Okinawa, Ryota had a brother who was three years older. And following in the footsteps of his older brother, who was a famous local player from a young age, Ryota also became addicted to basketball.
In his second year of high school,...
Marking Inoue’s directorial debut, The First Slam Dunk follows Shohoku High School’s “speedster” point guard, Ryota Miyagi, who always plays with brains and lightning speed, running circles around his opponents while feigning composure. Born and raised in Okinawa, Ryota had a brother who was three years older. And following in the footsteps of his older brother, who was a famous local player from a young age, Ryota also became addicted to basketball.
In his second year of high school,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Indie distributor Gkids acquired North American distribution rights for The First Slam Dunk from Japanese animation studio Toei Animation.
Based on Takehiko Inoue’s best-selling manga Slam Dunk, which was serialized from 1990-1996 and spawned several anime movies in the ’90s, The First Slam Dunk marks the first new feature-length film from the franchise in nearly three decades, as well as Inoue’s directorial debut. In the story, point guard Ryota Miyagi and his Shohoku High School basketball teammates take the stage at the Inter-High School National Championship.
Since opening in Japan on Dec. 3, the movie has earned $212 million at the global box office and was awarded this year’s Japan Academy Prize for best animation of the year.
This summer, Gkids will give The First Slam Dunk a theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada, in both its original Japanese language and a new English dubbed version.
“I...
Based on Takehiko Inoue’s best-selling manga Slam Dunk, which was serialized from 1990-1996 and spawned several anime movies in the ’90s, The First Slam Dunk marks the first new feature-length film from the franchise in nearly three decades, as well as Inoue’s directorial debut. In the story, point guard Ryota Miyagi and his Shohoku High School basketball teammates take the stage at the Inter-High School National Championship.
Since opening in Japan on Dec. 3, the movie has earned $212 million at the global box office and was awarded this year’s Japan Academy Prize for best animation of the year.
This summer, Gkids will give The First Slam Dunk a theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada, in both its original Japanese language and a new English dubbed version.
“I...
- 5/1/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As part of the press tour for his new film "Creed III" -- whose fight scenes bring the franchise into anime territory -- Michael B. Jordan listed his five favorite anime series on BBC Radio 1: "'One Piece,'" "Dragon Ball," "Naruto," "Bleach," and "Hunter x Hunter." These are all worthy picks, even though it "would take the average person over 957 hours ... to complete Jordan's top five anime recommendations," as Isaiah Colbert said at Kotaku. "One Piece" has lasted for over a thousand episodes. "Dragon Ball" remains one of the most popular anime ever. "Naruto" featured some of the wildest fight scenes in anime history, while "Bleach" at its best was just cool. "Hunter x Hunter" is messier, spanning two adaptations and a source comic that has yet to finish. But its creator Yoshiharu Togashi has over 3 million followers on Twitter, and his dedicated fans haven't given up on him yet.
- 3/20/2023
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s fortnightly strand in which we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films killing it in their local territories. The industry is as globalized as it’s ever been, but breakout hits are appearing in pockets of the world all the time and it can be hard to keep track… So we’re going to do the hard work for you.
This week we’re featuring our first movie, Japanese basketball animation The First Slam Dunk from legendary One Piece studio Toei Animation. Since its Japan launch in early December 2022, it’s amassed more than $115M at the global box office.
Name: The First Slam Dunk
Country: Japan
Producer: Toei Animation
International Sales: Toei Animation
For fans of: Chang Can Dunk, Demon Slayer, YA drama
Global audiences are no stranger to Japanese animation and manga adaptations, particularly with the recent success of entries from the Demon Slayer,...
This week we’re featuring our first movie, Japanese basketball animation The First Slam Dunk from legendary One Piece studio Toei Animation. Since its Japan launch in early December 2022, it’s amassed more than $115M at the global box office.
Name: The First Slam Dunk
Country: Japan
Producer: Toei Animation
International Sales: Toei Animation
For fans of: Chang Can Dunk, Demon Slayer, YA drama
Global audiences are no stranger to Japanese animation and manga adaptations, particularly with the recent success of entries from the Demon Slayer,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
"Avatar: The Way of Water" is, by most measures, a hit. The film is getting better reviews than its predecessor, it actually improves upon the first one's flaws, and it's making a ton of money at the box office. Sure, it's not doing better than the smash-hit that was the first "Avatar" movie (which is still the highest-grossing movie of all time) but it is performing very well, especially overseas.
The world is feeling the way of water everywhere, in fact, except for one territory: Japan. According to Variety, "The Way of Water" ran on 1,466 screens there, the widest release ever for a film in that country. Despite this, James Cameron's highly anticipated sequel was unable to become the king of the world at the Japanese box office during its opening weekend. Instead, it came in second place with an estimated 3.9 million during its three-day opening. That performance gets...
The world is feeling the way of water everywhere, in fact, except for one territory: Japan. According to Variety, "The Way of Water" ran on 1,466 screens there, the widest release ever for a film in that country. Despite this, James Cameron's highly anticipated sequel was unable to become the king of the world at the Japanese box office during its opening weekend. Instead, it came in second place with an estimated 3.9 million during its three-day opening. That performance gets...
- 12/20/2022
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
“Shouta Kikuzato’s hopes of starting on his school’s prestigious soccer team are derailed when a terrible incident costs him his leg. Now in his first year of high school (again), Kikuzato has resigned himself to never reaching his athletic dreams. But when Chidori, a passing prosthetist, notices Kikuzato’s artificial limb— and speed—as he races through the train station, the specialist proposes a partnership: Chidori will build Kikuzato a brand-new leg designed solely for speed. All Kikuzato has to do is run!” (Yen Press)
On Amazon
Japanese sports manga can take various competitions that are seldom explored through the mainstream and induce them with a universal appea. This extends to paralympic sports with the highly acclaimed “Real” by Takehiko Inoue being a prime example of how the genre excels in highlighting ‘niche’ events. Furthermore, these works act as an endearing celebration of the competitive...
On Amazon
Japanese sports manga can take various competitions that are seldom explored through the mainstream and induce them with a universal appea. This extends to paralympic sports with the highly acclaimed “Real” by Takehiko Inoue being a prime example of how the genre excels in highlighting ‘niche’ events. Furthermore, these works act as an endearing celebration of the competitive...
- 3/30/2022
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
New York, NY (8/20/21) – Yen Press, LLC announced a slate of upcoming releases that includes manga (Cross-Dressing Villainess Ceclia Sylvie; Nanami Minami Wants to Shine; The Fiancée Chosen by the Ring; The Wolf Never Sleeps; Run on Your New Legs; Catch These Hands!; Mizuno & Chayama;and Bungo Stray Dogs Woof!), novels, and the second Ttrpg release from Yen On (Goblin Slayer Tabletop Roleplaying Game). All announced titles are scheduled for February 2022 release.
Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie (manga)
Original Story by Hiroro Akizakura
Art by Shino Akiyama
Character Design by Dangmill
Cecilia has been reincarnated as the villainess of a dating sim who is fated to die no matter the route. If she becomes a Shrine Maiden candidate (only girls are chosen), she’ll absolutely wind up dead. No question about it. To avoid this fate, Cecilia decides to cross-dress as a man…She will do whatever it takes to achieve a peaceful and carefree life,...
Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie (manga)
Original Story by Hiroro Akizakura
Art by Shino Akiyama
Character Design by Dangmill
Cecilia has been reincarnated as the villainess of a dating sim who is fated to die no matter the route. If she becomes a Shrine Maiden candidate (only girls are chosen), she’ll absolutely wind up dead. No question about it. To avoid this fate, Cecilia decides to cross-dress as a man…She will do whatever it takes to achieve a peaceful and carefree life,...
- 8/23/2021
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
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