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Japan Matsuri London October 2023 Reminder

Date: 2023 September 26 16:45 | Posted By:

Category > Events

London based fans of Japanese culture looking for something to do this Sunday 1st October 2023 will want to head over to Trafalgar Square for the Japan Matsuri.

The event opens at 10:00 and is set to run into the evening with the last event billed at 18:55. Along with Japanese culture events on the main stage, the area in Trafalgar Square is surrounded by various Japanese food stalls and stalls selling Japanese merchandise along with a few organisations promoting various aspects of Japanese culture.

This is the 13th run of the event. It returns for the first time in 4 years after having to take a break due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The event is free to attend, no tickets or advance booking is required.

Souce: Japan Matsuri London

City String Ensemble Anime Music Performance in London

Date: 2023 September 21 17:22 | Posted By:

Category > Events

The good folks from City String Ensemble have sent us details about an up coming performance. City String Ensemble: Best of Anime which is set to run at EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney) in London on Sunday 3rd December 2023.

They promise an evening of iconic melodies from Studio Ghibli to the adrenaline-pumping beats of Attack on Titan. To get a feel for their performances take a look at their Eventbrite listing which includes links to their Spotify Anime EP along with some other samples on their YouTube Channel.

We've heard anime music played by live string quartets before and it is something special. If you're a fan of anime music or classical music, there's plenty to enjoy.

Read More... | Souce: City String Ensemble

Sputnik Sweetheart Stage Play Details

Date: 2023 September 12 16:59 | Posted By:

Category > Culture

We've just received news from Arcola Theatre and the Japan Foundation who are presenting Sputnik Sweetheart. Based on Murakami's novel it tells the story of love and loneliness, with a detective story thrown in. Sputnik Sweetheart is about Sumire, a young Japanese writer who can't find the words to write, and her friend K's search for her when she goes missing on a Greek Island.

It's been adapted for the stage by Tony Award nominee Bryony Lavery and Tony and Olivier Award nominee Melly Still, running at Arcola Theatre in London from Thursday 26th October until Saturday 25th November 2023.

Read More... | Souce: Arcola Theatre

An Interview with Japanese Actor Okamiyu Kurumu

Date: 2023 September 05 20:03 | Posted By:

Category > Features

We've been captivated by The Garden of Words Stage play currently running in London. In November the play moves to Tokyo with a Japanese cast. Playing Takao for the Tokyo run is actor Okamiyu Kurumu. The actor is familar with anime on the stage having played Eren Yeager in the musical adaption of Attack on Titan, Yatora Yaguchi in Blue Period The Stage, Yuri Briar in the musical of Spy x Family to name few. We caught up with him while he was in London last month preparing for his new role.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Manga Jiman 2023 Competition Details

Date: 2023 September 01 12:59 | Posted By:

Category > Manga

The good folks at the Embassy of Japan in the UK have just revealed the details for the 17th Manga Jiman Competition. The annual competition is a chance for UK based artists to demonstrate their manga making skills. Not only that, but there's a great selection of prizes to be won from the competitions sponsors.

Here's a tip. If you do really want to win. Consider entering in the Yonkoma category (Yonoma Youth - 11, 12 or 13 or Yonkoma 14+). There are normally very few entrants for the often overlooked four panel manga section. Even the judges last year were strongly suggesting more people enter in yonkoma.

Read More... | Souce: Manga Jiman Competition

The Garden of Words Stage Play Review

Date: 2023 August 22 16:57 | Posted By:

Category > Features

The stage play adaption of The Garden of Words is now hitting the theatre. Set to run from Thursday 10th August until Saturday 9th September 2023 at London's Park Theatre. We've been following the progress of this play since it was announced a few years ago, so were naturally keen to catch a performance on stage.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Daido Moriyama Photography Retrospective in London

Date: 2023 August 17 17:35 | Posted By:

Category > Culture

The good folks from The Photographers' Gallery in London have just revealed details of their Daido Moriyama Retrospective. Set to run from Friday 6th October 2023 until Sunday 11th February 2024. It's the first UK retrospective of one of the world's most innovative and influential artists and street photographers.

Daido Moriyama is famed for his dense grainy, blurry out of focus images. He sees the camera as a copy machine and captures things around him. The award winning photographer has had many photobooks published over the years (we even have a little collection of them). Recently he's had a range of t-shirts made by Uniqlo, and been the the subject of a documentary chronicling his working process. Tickets to the exhibition cost £6, with £4 for concessions and gallery members get in free (as do Friday Lates (5pm-8pm), under 18s, and disability helpers).

Read More... | Souce: The Photographers' Gallery

Piano Concert featuring Anime and Games Music by Kikuchi Ryota in London and Birmingham

Date: 2023 July 17 19:43 | Posted By:

Category > Events

The good folks from the Japan Foundation London have sent us details of a piano concert by Kikuchi Ryota. The pianist is popular on YouTube and is set to perform iconic melodies from anime and game music.

Kikuchi will be playing at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham on Tuesday 8th August 2023 at 12:30. Then St James's Church, Piccadilly in London on Wednesday 9th August 2023 at 19:00 and finally at Yamaha Music London on Thursday 10th August at 16:00. All events are free to attend, with booking required for the London ones.

Read More... | Souce: Japan Foundation London

An Interview with Alexandra Rutter Director of the Stage Adaption of The Garden of Words

Date: 2023 July 10 18:59 | Posted By:

Category > Features

Makoto Shinaki's anime The Garden of Words is the story of an out-of-step woman and an offbeat teenager meeting by chance in a Japanese garden. As the kindred spirits bond, the relationship they build could save them or equally ruin them. Melancholy and original the story has just been adapted into a stage play set to run at London's Park Theatre from Thursday 10th August until Saturday 9th September 2023. It's also set to to be staged in Tokyo too.

The play has been adapted by the Whole Hog Theatre who have previously also brought Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke to stage.

We caught up with Alexandra Rutter, who directed and co-adapted The Garden of Words from the material from the anime and novel. Having been aware of this project since before the COVID-19 pandemic, we were keen to find out more about the production and hear what Alexandra has to say.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Garden of Words Stage Production To Hit London This Summer 2023

Date: 2023 May 09 19:24 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

London's Park Theatre have just announced their Summer and Autumn line up. Anime fans will be very interested in the stage adaptation of Makoto Shinkai's Garden of Words. Originally it was set to run in August 2020, however COVID-19 prevented it happening. This time it's back and scheduled to run from Thursday 10th August until Saturday 9th September 2023.

Based on the original anime by blockbuster director by Makoto Shinkai (best known for your name and the just released Suzume). It tells the story of a meeting in a Japanese garden, with two people both out of sorts having a melancholy change encounter.

It's been adapted for the stage by Whole Hog Theatre, who are no strangers to bringing anime to theatre. They created a truly excellent stage version of Princess Mononoke.

We've been waiting since 2019 to see the stage version of Garden of Words, so naturally we're very keen to catch this summer in London.

Read More... | Souce: Park Theatre

The 16th Manga Jiman Competition Results

Date: 2023 April 01 10:36 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

The Embassy of Japan in the UK revealed the winners of The 16th Manga Jiman Competition. The awards ceremony for the prestigious competition was held at the Japanese Embassy in London on Friday 24th March 2023.

This years first place went to C M Kevin Li for Jonathan in Agony!, while Ewan Gallagher took second place withAUX. Third place went to Alex Brennan-Dent with Signal.

Read More... | Souce: Embassy of Japan in the UK

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2023 Online Talk Series

Date: 2023 March 15 19:40 | Posted By:

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from the Japan Foundation London have sent us details of some up coming online events they'll be hosting. As part of their touring film programme, they'll be hosting a series of online talks with various directors from the movies shown.

Talks include in conversation with director Nishikawa Miwa, who directed Under the Open Sky. This is set to run on Thursday 23rd March 2023 at 13:00 (GMT).

There's also talks with Tanada Yuki who directed My Broken Mariko. This talk is set to run on Monday 27th March 2023 at 13:00 (BST).

They have plenty of interesting talks lined up, The events are free to attend online and registration is required.

Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2023

Leiji Matsumoto 1938-2023

Date: 2023 February 26 11:05 | Posted By:

Category > Current Affairs

This week it was announced that renowned manga artist Leiji Matsumoto had died on 13th February 2023 of acute heart failure in a Tokyo hospital, at the age of 85.

You may have encountered his highly influential works such as Galaxy Express 999, Queen Emeraldas, Space Pirate Captain Harlock or even Interstella 5555 his collaboration with Daft Punk.

You could read the BBC Obituary or equally well written Financial Times Obituary , but the best write up we've found is on Anime Limited's Blog it's written by anime expert Helen McCarthy, who has written numerous books on anime including a collection of Essays on Leiji Matsumoto.

Souce: Anime Limited

Anime Limited To Distribute Suzume Movie Soundtrack

Date: 2023 February 01 20:31 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

The good folks from Anime Limited have just sent us some news that they have the rights to distribute the Suzume soundtrack. Makoto Shinkai's latest movie is due to hit cinemas in the UK and Ireland this April 2023. The director joins forces again with RADWIMPS to create the soundtrack for this film and also brings in Kazuma Jinnouchi.

Anime Limited are currently taking pre-orders for the Japanese Import edition on vinyl. It's currently priced at £59.99 (on offer from £69.99). An official western version is due for release sometime early Q3 2023.

You can also stream/download the soundtrack from many popular official streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Although an primarily an anime company, Anime Limited are also a record label with an excellent catalogue of anime soundtracks.

Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited

What's on NHK World?

Date: 2023 January 29 13:05 | Posted By:

Category > Anime > TV

Being a fan of anime, manga and Japanese stuff in general it's always good to find a great source of content. Most fans will hunt on DVDs and blu-rays for those extra features, read magazines and articles and various bonus features included in books and so on. They'll even read websites like this one, but one resource that we find that is frequently overlooked is NHK World.

NHK is the national state broadcaster for Japan. NHK World is it's international arm. It's content is available in a selection of languages including either dubbed into English or in Japanese with English Subtitles. The service is free to access and is available on a wide range of satellite and cable providers in the US, UK and further afield. You can also watch it free and legally on the website or app that's offered on many platforms including iOS (iPhone and iPad), Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Roku and more. You can watch the live broadcast or the video on demand service.

A lot of the content there is excellent for anime and manga fans.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Trigun Stampede Anime Review

Date: 2023 January 06 18:24 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

Highly anticipated new anime series Trigun Stampede hits streaming service Cruchyroll from Saturday 7th January 2023. We were lucky to get a sneak peak of the series and watch the first episode before it's released. So is Vash the same? Is the CGI animation any good? Well read our spoiler free review to find out!

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Akira Kurosawa Retrospective at the BFI 2023

Date: 2022 December 01 20:28 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

The good folks at the BFI have sent us details for an up coming Akira Kurosawa Retrospective. Set to run from Sunday 1st January 2023 until Tuesday 28th February 2023. The hugely influential cinematic legend is well covered here, with the two-month complete retrospective of 30 feature films! Divided into 6 themes there's so much to enjoy.

Read More... | Souce: BFI

My Neighbour Totoro Stage Play Review

Date: 2022 November 13 14:07 | Posted By:

Category > Features

When The Royal Shakespeare Company announced that they were doing a live action stage play of My Neighbour Totoro, we got very excited. It had all the hallmarks of something great! It was done in collaboration with The Royal Shakespeare Company, Improbable and Nippon TV. Joe Hisaishi, composer and long term Studio Ghibli collaborator, is the executive producer tasked by Totoro director Hayao Miyazaki to bring his much loved and highly influential film to the stage. If this wasn't enough, Jim Henson's Creature Shop was brought in to create all the puppets for this production!

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

An Interview with Belle Virtual World Designer Eric Wong

Date: 2022 June 29 19:52 | Posted By:

Category > Interviews

The amazing anime film Belle is out on home video this week (from Monday 27th June 2022). To celebrate it's release we got in touch with Eric Wong, the designer of Belle's virtual world of "U". Wong, a full time architect, was asked by Oscar-nominated, visionary director Mamoru Hosada to create the virtual world "U" that provides the backdrop for the film BELLE. Wong sketched out his dazzling "U" world during his daily commute, creating a labyrinthine wonder for this timely re-imagining of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, the story of Suzu, a country girl who becomes a music sensation in the virtual world of "U" with the mesmerising avatar Belle.

Thanks to the good folks at Anime Limited we were able to ask Eric some questions behind what it takes to create a virtual world while existing in the real one.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Hyper Japan Festival London 2022 Details

Date: 2022 June 14 20:21 | Posted By:

Category > Events

The good folks from Hyper Japan have sent us details of their festival for this year. Set to run from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th July 2022, the UK's biggest festival of Japanese culture, returns to London at Evolution Battersea Park.

The long running Japanese culture festival has been popular with fans of Japanese food from street food to fine dining, along with fans of pop culture where you'll get a great chance to see many performers. Pretty much every aspect of Japanese culture is represented, including of course anime and manga.

To get an idea of what to expect why not take a look at all their exhibitors Be warned as Otafuku Sauce will be there (we have a strong addiction to their okonomi sauce)! Also don't forget to check out their list of performers.

We're looking forward to the fun that will be had at the 2022 festival! It's always fun to go Hyper Japan.

Read More... | Souce: Hyper Japan 2022

Early Japanese Animation at London's Barbican this June 2022

Date: 2022 May 17 19:30 | Posted By:

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from the Barbican in London have just sent us details of a very special cinema screening of Early Japanese Animation with live and electronic accompaniment by the Guildhall' School with Benshi narration. The screening and performance is will run on Sunday 5th June 2022 at 15:00 at Barbican Cinema 1.

It's not everyday you get a selection of rarely screened early Japanese animation, showing some of the very first anime films, accompanied by electro-acoustic music with Benshi narration! Tomoko Komura will be performing the benshi narration. The films span from 1925 to 1935.

Read More... | Souce: Barbican

AKIRA - The Architecture of Neo Tokyo Exhibition in Berlin

Date: 2022 May 15 15:21 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

Fans of anime, Akira and architecture in Berlin are in for a treat with the AKIRA - The Architecture of Neo Tokyo at the Tchoban Foundation. Museum for Architectural Drawing. Setup by Riekeles Gallery in co-operation with Tchoban Foundation the exhibition is schedule to run from Saturday 4th June until Sunday 4th September 2022.

It features 59 original production backgrounds, layout drawings, concept designs and imageboards which had been used to create Neo Tokyo in the landmark anime film Akira. Some artworks that have never been presented in an exhibition before and only very few of them have ever been published.

The Riekeles Gallery was founded by Stefan Riekeles, who has curated anime architecture exhibitions in London and elsewhere, published books on anime architecture and more.

Read More... | Souce: Riekeles Gallery

My Neighbour Totoro The Stage Play

Date: 2022 April 27 20:37 | Posted By:

Category > Production > Studio Ghibli

The good folks from the Royal Shakespeare Company have just revealed they will be performing a live production of My Neighbour Totoro.

The production will come to London's Barbican stage this autumn 2022. Based on the iconic and highly influential animated feature film by Hayao Miyazaki, the performance is being brought to the by Joe Hisaishi who composed the original music for Totoro and is a long term Studio Ghibli collaborator. The RSC adaption is written by playwright Tom Morton-Smith. The show will also feature various puppetry. It's not clear yet how the furry forest king Totoro will be portrayed, or how they'll handle the catbus!

My Neighbour Totoro will play a strictly limited 15-week season from 8th October 2022 - 21nd January 2023.

Ticket prices range from £20 to £85, with up to two half-price tickets with every full price paying adult. Valid for all performances excluding Saturday evenings. Various discounts are also offered for class bookings, UK schools, colleges and Universities, groups of 10+. There are also special TikTok £10 tickets for 14-25 year olds.

Tickets are available from the 9th May 2022 for top tier RSC Patrons, with tickets being available to the various RSC patron tiers until they're released to the general public on Thursday 19 May 2022. Tickets bookable online from 10am.

We have only seen the preview material, but we have every reason to believe this will be a very special production.

This is not the first time the works of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki have hit the stage in the UK. In 2016 the Southwark Playhouse created a version of Kiki's Delivery Service, based on the original book. It was so successful it returned for a second run in 2017. While in 2013 the Whole Hog Theatre Company created a stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke.

While more recently a stage adaption of Spirited Away is proving to be a huge it in Japan.

Read More... | Souce: The Royal Shakespeare Company

Bonhams Auctions Classic Anime Cels

Date: 2022 January 30 20:53 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

The good folks from international auctioneers and valuers Bonhams have sent us details of their latest online sale The World Of Anime is set to run from 24th January until 2nd February 2022. The auction features various anime classics included Sailor Moon, Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, Cardcaptor Sakura, Cardcaptor Sakura, One Piece, Evangelion and many more. The sale is being headlines by Studio Ghibli cels including some key scenes from Kiki's Delivery Service and Totoro.

Anime cel auctions are uncommon with traditional auctioneers, but unlike other online avenues you know that they've taken the time to verify the items on sale are authentic.

Highlighting the auction is a Kiki's Delivery service production cel featuring Kiki flying with Jiji. Bonhams estimates this cel will sell for anything between $15,000 - $25,000 (USD). In the same price bracket they've got a cel of Totoro asleep!

We'll be very interested to see what happens with all the cels up for auction. Some have already got some bids in place between the asking prices, while others have yet to gain any attention. As with any auction it's always the last 60 seconds where things get really interesting!

Read More... | Souce: Bonhams

Kotatsu Festival Online Events for January 2022

Date: 2022 January 06 20:35 | Posted By:

Category > Events

The good folks at Kotatsu Festival have sent us some details of two upcoming events. The two online workshops aimed at beginners cover Japanese Calligraphy and a Japanese Manga Introductory Workshop.

Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival are hosting these workshops for free via Microsoft Teams. Although it is free prior registration is essential. So book early to avoid disappointment.

Japanese Calligraphy - Introductory Workshop for Beginners is run by Yukiko Ayres. It's set for Saturday 29th January 2022 from 11:00 to 12:00 GMT.

Japanese Manga Introductory Workshop for Beginners is run by Shangomola Edunjobi It's set for Sunday 30th January 2022 from 12:00 to 13:00 GMT.

Read More... | Souce: Kotatsu Festival

The Dragon Ball Symphonic Adventure in London 2022

Date: 2021 December 07 21:17 | Posted By:

Category > Events

UK based fans of Dragon Ball Z are in for a treat! The Dragon Ball Symphonic Adventure is coming to The SSE Arena, Wembley in London on Sunday 7th August 2022.

This one-of-a-kind concert experience combines scenes and sounds of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z together with live vocals and a live orchestra to create an immersive multimedia event for fans. With special guests the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tickets are due to go on sale on at 10am on Friday 10th December 2021 on www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

Read More... | Souce: S.J.M Concerts / GigsAndTours.com

An Anime Steeped in History: Princess Mononoke

Date: 2021 November 27 13:40 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

In a change to our regular scheduled news, we bring you an academic article titled Steeped in History: Princess Mononoke. It delves into historical context of the much loved Studio Ghibli film focusing on how social class, race and religion are depicted. It also looks into the archaeological record, and written sources to understand how the film conveys these aspects while maintaining its fantasy element and pro-environmental message.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

We Love Anime Touring Festival 2021

Date: 2021 November 18 20:54 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

Anime fans across the UK are in for a cinematic treat with the We Love Anime 2021 Touring Festival.

Set to run at the Showroom Cinema, Sheffield between Friday 19th November - Sunday 21st November 2021, then We Love Anime will be at selected Picturehouse and Showcase Cinemas between Saturday 4th - Sunday 5th December 2021.

The spin of from the celebrated Scotland Loves Anime festival, has many great titles for all different tastes. You're bound to find something you like!

For fans in Sheffield Showroom Cinema has joined together with other local independents to host free Japanese-themed events to run alongside the film programme. On Saturday 20th November 2021, Treehouse Board Game Café will be joining the venue to host an afternoon of Japan-themed games from 12pm until 3pm. On Sunday 21 November, internationally renowned graffiti artist Trik 09 will teach the fundamentals of drawing anime characters between 11am to 12pm.

Read More... | Souce: We Love Anime

Anime Limited Announce Future Boy Conan UK Release on Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray

Date: 2021 September 28 21:02 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

Anime distributors Anime Limited have just announced that they have the UK rights to Future Boy Conan. The hugely significant and influential show has not had an official English language until now. GKIDS have the US distribution rights and will release it sometime late this year. While Anime Limited intend to release the series early 2022.

The series is significant as it marks Hayao Miyazaki's directorial debut, the legendary director went to co-found Studio Ghibli and make ground breaking titles such as My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away.

Anime Limited also mention Keep Your Hands Off, Eizouken's tribute to the show, with characters watching it and it inspiring their love of anime.

Anime Limited will release the title together on Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray, split across two collectors edition releases. They'll include a 132-page book written by Jonathan Clements (co-author of the Anime Encyclopedia and tons of other stuff) and Andrew Osmond (who wrote the BFI Film Classics: Spirited Away book, along with lots of other stuff).

The 4K Release will be the first anywhere in the world, but we think it's worth it just for the book and a chance to finally get Future Boy Conan officially in the UK is something we've been eagerly waiting for. This title is a must watch for any Ghibli fan.

Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited

Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2021 Details

Date: 2021 September 08 20:09 | Posted By:

Category > Events

The good folks from the Kotatsu Festival have just sent us details for their upcoming 2021 event. Set to run in Cardiff - Chapter from Saturday 25th to Sunday 26th September 2021 and Aberystwyth Arts Centre from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd October 2021. As always the Japanese animation festival has a great selection of films including The Deer King, Ride Your Wave, On-Gaku along with Studio Ghibli's first 3D CGI offering Earwig and the Witch.

Not to be outdone by the big titles, they'll also be showcasing the talents of independent animators including
cut-out animation called In Full Bloom and a hand-drawn fresh depiction of affection between two girls in The Mark of Emi.

They'll also be a few workshops and some free online events are also being planned.

As always with events like this we suggest booking early to avoid disappointment.

Read More... | Souce: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival

Scotland Loves Animation 2021 Details

Date: 2021 August 25 15:24 | Posted By:

Category > Anime > Film

Scotland Loves Animation the fan favourite anime film festival is back for 2021. They're set to run at Glasgow from 1st to 3rd October 2021 and Edinburgh 11th to 17th October 2021.

Festival Highlights include Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko from Studio 4°C, Pompo the Cinephile a film about making films, Shirobako: The Movie which is an anime about making anime, along with Sing a Bit of Harmony which we mentioned yesterday, The Deer King, along with the original The End of Evangelion.

There's lots to see and as always there's a host of UK premieres with the odd European premiere too.

Souce: Scotland Loves Animation

BFI Japan 2021 Comes to Big Screens UK-wide

Date: 2021 August 18 20:47 | Posted By:

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from the BFI have just sent us details of the upcoming Japan 2021 Cinema Season. Celebrating 100 Years of Japanese Cinema, coming to cinemas UK-wide from October to December 2021. The season will show case an amazing selection films from Japan.

The screenings mark a continuation of the Japan 2020 season from last year, which was more of a home screening event due to the UK's COVID-19 lockdown situation.

As well as the often imitated Akira Kurosawa re-release of Seven Samurai cinemas UK Wide, there'll be a major two part season of Japanese cinema at BFI Southbank from 18 October - 30 December 2021. Plus screenings and special events at cinemas UK-wide. Along with BFI Japan collection on BFI Player.

Read More... | Souce: BFI Japan 2021

Mamoru Hosoda's Belle gets a 14-minute Standing Ovation at Cannes

Date: 2021 July 21 20:14 | Posted By:

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from anime distribution company Anime Limited have just sent us the latest update about Mamoru Hosoda's latest movie Belle. The film has just received a 14-minute standing ovation at Cannes. The coveted audience endorsement was the the seventh longest in the festival's history!

We haven't seen the movie yet, but we're excited about it, as Mamoru Hosoda has a track record of delivering great movies. Critics are making the right sounds about it too, with Telegraph film critic Robbie Collin saying "there is usually one film per Cannes that emotionally bulldozes me, and this year Belle was it." While Time Out's Phil de Semlyen described it as one of my favourite things at Cannes.

Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited

Manga Jiman 2021 Launch Details

Date: 2021 July 18 15:50 | Posted By:

Category > Manga

The good folks from the Embassy of Japan in the UK have just sent us details of the annual manga competition. The 15th Manga Jiman. The competition closes on 15th November 2021. This year around theme is light.

The Embassy of Japan has searched for the best comic creators in the UK since 2007. The search now continues with two competitions, Manga Jiman and Yonkoma, with the aim of providing a platform for aspiring comic artists.

Apart from being a great challenge and opportunity the competition always has a great selection of prizes from it's various generous sponsors. So if you have time and the urge to be an aspiring manga artist then check out the Manga Jiman website on how to enter.

Read More... | Souce: Manga Jiman Website

Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu's latest film Belle Gets World Premiere at Cannes Film Festival 2021

Date: 2021 July 08 19:33 | Posted By:

Category > Anime > Film

The good folks from anime distribution company Anime Limited have sent us the latest details about Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu's latest film Belle. We've been told it will get it's world premiere at the 74th Cannes Film Festival.

We've mentioned that Anime Limited have the rights to the movie for the UK and Ireland. We're really excited about this feature and are eager to see it!

Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited

Akemi Tanaka 1959 - 2021

Date: 2021 June 12 12:56 | Posted By:

Category > Current Affairs

In sad news this week we learned of the passing of Akemi Tanaka. She died of cancer on Monday 7th June 2021. Many anime fans will remember Akemi as a lively ambassador of Japanese culture. She'd often attend anime events as guest to lecture and explain the world of Japanese culture. An expert in Japanese etiquette she'd often be a kind and eccentric presence at events.

When the 2011 disaster hit Japan Akemi set up the charity Aid For Japan to support the orphans of the earthquake.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends.

Read More... | Souce: Akemi Tanaka's Twitter Account

Culture Gate to Japan Art Exhibition Opens Online and at Airports Across Japan

Date: 2021 March 27 11:11 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

We've just been sent some interesting details about the Culture Gate to Japan Art Exhibition. Set around the airports of Japan each exhibition focuses on a different aspect of Japanese art, history and culture relevant to each location. Kansai International Airport will be hosting a manga themed exhibition, which includes new works by artists including Yuki Urushibara (Mushishi), Machiko Satonaka, Yoshihiro Yamada, Yuichi Yokoyama and more.

But you can't get to Japan right now to enjoy this I hear you cry! Well the reason we're publishing this is the official Culture Gate website has lot of interactive content for you to enjoy from each exhibition online. So you don't have to go hopping around each airport of Japan to get exhibition experience.

We've been told "There are high-tech, contemporary artworks by 29 artists installed at eight locations across Japan. Each location's exhibition is inspired by the culture and history of the region of Japan it is located. From the mysterious soundscapes of Hokkaido's indigenous Ainu people to the vibrant history of Okinawa's ancient Ryukyu Kingdom, diverse cultures can be found throughout Japan. Through this project, artists and creators seek to reinterpret and convey the appeal of these rich cultural resources, each molded by the particular regional climate in which they developed. As the gateways to these unique regions, airports are the ideal location at which to exhibit these works, inviting visitors to discover new aspects of Japanese culture."

Read More... | Souce: Culture Gate to Japan

Women Make Animation Online Event

Date: 2021 March 06 14:07 | Posted By:

Category > Events

The good folks from the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival have teamed up with Wales One World Festival to Celebrate International Women's Day. Together they'll be hosting free family friendly online event on 13th March 2021. The event will show case works by up and coming female directors. They'll be showing various family friendly short films on the Zoom Stream. The event is free to attend, but registration is required.

They'll also be running a free drawing workshop with the Japanese animator and illustrator Chie Arai.

Read More... | Souce: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival

Talk Series Announced - The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2021

Date: 2021 February 17 21:02 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

The good folks from the Japan Foundation in the UK have sent us a reminder about their Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2021. As we've mentioned before in addition to the eighteen finest and most talked about recently released Japanese films, the programme will host 7 online talks where 8 Japanese directors in total will talk about their work and explore issues existing in Japanese society.

They've curated 18 Japanese titles under the theme of This is My Place - Carving out a sense of existence and belonging in Japanese Cinema.

You can sign up to watch the films and talks at home check out https://onlinecinema.jpf-film.org.uk.

As always we've they some really good titles.
The live action adaptation of Little Miss Period stands out. If you enjoyed the manga or are curious about personifications of that time of the month, then it's well worth catching!

For anime fans they'll be showing HELLO WORLD, a romantic story with a sci-fi twist.

Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2021

The Original Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 comes to Crunchyroll

Date: 2021 January 25 21:39 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

The good folks from streaming anime service Crunchyroll have just sent us news that they'll be streaming the original Gundam Series Mobile Suit Gundam 0079. This is the original 1979 anime that started it all!

Hugely influential, it's the start of the massive Gundam franchise, the show that spawned so many other shows and countless bits of merchandise (which was the point of the show).

Crunchyroll have both the sub and English dubbed versions available.

Read More... | Souce: Crunchyroll

The Japan Foundation UK Touring Film Programme 2021 Line-up Announcement

Date: 2021 January 16 20:10 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

We've just received details from the good folks at The Japan Foundation in the UK. They've just revealed the line up for The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2021. The yearly film festival has always been a great way of seeing a wide range of Japanese films. This year around for the first time ever the festival is going online. It's set to run from 19th February to 10th March 2021.

Screening dates will be announced on Friday January 22nd 2021.

They've curated 18 Japanese titles under the theme of This is My Place - Carving out a sense of existence and belonging in Japanese Cinema.

Anime wise they'll be showing HELLO WORLD, a romantic story with a sci-fi twist.

They've also got the live action adaptation of Little Miss Period. The movie is based on the manga about personified visitations of that time of the month.

As always they've got a lot of good stuff showing and we're spoilt for choice. This time around you'll be able to watch it from the comfort of your own home.

Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2021

An Interview with Sara Linsley Manga Letterer

Date: 2020 December 14 20:51 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

Localising manga is more than just buying the rights and getting it translated, there's also sorts of factors to consider to bring it to market. While people often consider the translation there's another part of the localisation process to consider, the letterer! All the words you read on the page aren't just magically put into place, there's actually a lot of art and craft to lettering a manga page. So we thought we'd catch up with a manga letterer to find out more about the process.

Sara Linsley is a software developer and comic book letterer living in NYC, she has done lettering for manga including Sweat and Soap, Spoof on Titan, LDK and Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches. Recently she's also just released a font of her own intended for manga use! We thought we'd catch up with Sara over e-mail to find out how letterer can make or break a good localisation.

Read More... | Souce: Otaku News

Manga Jiman 2020 Competition Reminder

Date: 2020 October 22 20:50 | Posted By:

Category > Events

UK based artists will be very interested to hear about the Manga Jiman competition. The theme this time around is technology. The long running competition lets you submit a short manga entry for the chance to win some amazing prizes, in the past they've included laptops and flights to Japan. The competition is organised by the Embassy for Japan in the UK.

The competition closes on 16th November 2020. So get drawing!

Read More... | Souce: Manga Jiman

Spirits of Action: Japanese Manga and Sports Online Talk

Date: 2020 October 14 19:41 | Posted By:

Category > Events

With COVID-19 still placing restriction on events the good people at Japan Foundation London have got a great range of talks and workshops appearing online soon.

One talk we're excited about is the Spirits of Action: Japanese Manga and Sports . Yoshimura Kazuma will discuss the position of 'sports manga' in Japanese culture and how its contents have evolved to reflect the time. After the presentation anime and manga expert Rayna Denison will join in the conversation.

The online event is set to run at 12:00pm (BST) on Wednesday 28th October 2020. The event is free to attend virtually but places are limited and registration is essential.

Read More... | Souce: Japan Foundation London

Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2020 Details

Date: 2020 September 24 20:36 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

While many events have had to be cancelled this year due to the current COVID-19 crisis a lot of events have been able to shift online. As a result it means there are some great festivals and talks you can go to while staying comfy at home while not having to travel. So the good folks at the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival will be celebrating their 10th anniversary with short film screenings and events on their YouTube channel and via Zoom.

We've been told there will be 3 Zoom meetings and 4 short film programmes featuring award winning film makers and emerging talents from various universities across Japan.

All films are in Japanese with English subtitles and everything is free to view. Some events do require booking. Content wise the stream is declared safe for children, the equivalent of a U rating in UK cinema. So will be appropriate for all ages.

The Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival has always had a great line-up, so now you just need to keep a weekend free to appropriate some truly lovely animation!

Everything is set to run on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October 2020.
Check out their festival programme for more details and remember that streaming times are in the UK times.

Read More... | Souce: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival 2020

Animex 2020 - International Festival of Animation, VFX & Games

Date: 2020 September 17 20:48 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

With COVID-19 still limiting peoples movements online virtual events have been proving popular. Animex The International Festival of Animation, VFX & Games has moved on-line and is set to run from Monday 21st September to Friday 2nd October 2020. The event is free to virtually attend this year so book now to grab a place.

The event is packed with workshops, screenings, Portfolio Reviews, Talks, exhibitions and much more.

Founded 20 years ago by Teesside University the festival aimed at creating a world-class inclusive festival that would draw some of the games and animation industries' brightest lights and future stars together to share their knowledge with the next generation.

This is event will be of interest to those who want to get into the animation industry, regardless of if you want to work in VFX, video games, animation or something else! Or for those who are curious to see the inner workings of a creative industry.

Read More... | Souce: Animex - International Festival of Animation, VFX & Games

Manga Jiman 2020 Online Launch Event

Date: 2020 June 30 19:58 | Posted By:

Category > Events

UK based aspiring artists will want to watch the online launch event for the latest Manga Jiman Competition.
The details for the competition will be streamed at 7pm on Wednesday 1st July 2020. Previous winners Katja Hammond, Shangomola Edunjobi and Tori Jones will join the stream for a chat as well.

The manga competition is run by the Embassy of Japan in the UK. The competition often marks rising stars in the UK industry and is a great place to showcase talent.

The live stream is free and you can register here.

You can see more details about the previous 2019 Competition here.

The Embassy have also just posted some fun quizzes on Japan, so give it a go if you want to test your Japanese knowledge!

Souce: Embassy of Japan in the UK

Mizuki Kiyama's Bath House of Whales wins Lotte Reiniger Award in Stuttgart

Date: 2020 May 17 19:13 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

On Sunday, 10 May 2020 at the closing award ceremony of the 27th Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), this year's Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award for Animated Film - named after the German-born silhouette animator who made the earliest surviving animated feature, and awarded to the jury's choice of the best graduation film by a film student - was awarded to Japanese animator Mizuki Kiyama for her graduation film Bath House of Whales (くじらの湯 Kujira no yu, 2019), produced at Tokyo University of the Arts.

Kiyama, who now stylizes her name as Kiyamamizuki (キヤマミズキ), animated and directed the 7-minute-long short in paint on glass; it was produced by Oscar-nominated indie animator and Tokyo University of the Arts professor Koji Yamamura, along with Yuichi Ito, Mitsuko Okamoto and Taruto Fuyama.The festival has now finished, but the short is still available to view officially on the YouTube channel of Osaka-based organization Knowledge Capital.

Her name was previously written as 木山瑞嬉, and while going by this rendering she made independent shorts including the 5-minute Futatsume (ふたつめ, 2016), 1-minute Metatarō (メタ太郎, 2017) - both on her Vimeo channel - and 3-minute On the way home (かえりみち Kaerimichi, 2018) and worked for Science SARU as an animator and digital animator on episodes of Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!.

The Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award includes €10,000, sponsored by MFG Film Funding Baden-Württemberg. The jury at this year's festival comprised Jon Frickey (who made the Japanese-co-produced Cat Days, featured in this year's Best of Animation program), Waltraud Grausgruber, Ben Mitchell, Cécile Noesser and Gerben Schermer.

Japanese productions that have won awards at Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film before include Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea in 2010, Makoto Shinkai's The Garden of Words in 2014 and Mamoru Hosoda's Mirai in 2019, all of which won the AniMovie Award for the best animated feature film screened at the festival.

Thanks to Otaku News reader Jordan Scott for bringing this to our attention!

Souce: Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film

International Manga Competition - 14th Japan International Manga Award

Date: 2020 April 04 13:13 | Posted By:

Category > Culture

Are you artistic? Well, with so many people at home right now, it is the perfect time for another manga competition. The application for the 14th Japan International Manga Award. The competition is organised by the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The deadline is 19th June 2020. Entries can be posted to us at the Embassy in London. If you're outside the UK you can submit entries to your local Embassy of Japan. Entrants to the Manga Jiman Competition are encouraged to enter.

Souce: 14th Japan International MANGA Award

Anime Architecture Collector's Edition Art Book Release Details

Date: 2020 April 03 19:31 | Posted By:

Category > Retail

A couple of years ago we covered an excellent exhibition on Anime Architecture: Backgrounds of Japan. It was hosted at House of Illustration. The exhibition focused on the lavish and detailed backgrounds used in anime. It included backgrounds many seminal anime films.

Stefan Riekeles the curator of the exhibition has teamed up with Volume to publish a book based the images from the exhibition. This hardcover 256 page publication promises to be "The definitive visual guide to the cityscapes and buildings of the most celebrated and influential anime movies". "This overdue celebration offers a peerless survey of these cinematic arenas - including material from AKIRA, Ghost in the Shell, Patlabor, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Tekkonkinkreet - through original background paintings, storyboards, drafts, sources of inspiration and film excerpts. Produced in direct collaboration with the original Japanese production studios, Anime Architecture offers privileged views into the earliest conception stages of iconic scenes, through to their development into finished films."

The art book itself is a collectors item and is limited to 1,000 individually numbered copies. It also includes a screen printed acrylic slipcase.

It's available now for pre-order for £75 from Volume and will ship some time in Q4 2020.

If you want to know more about the original exhibition, then why not read our interview with Stefan Riekeles?

Read More... | Souce: Volume

Manga Jiman Competition 2019 Winners

Date: 2020 February 26 22:20 | Posted By:

Category > Anime

It's that time of year again! Recently the Embassy of Japan in the UK revealed the winners of the prestigious Manga Jiman Competition 2019. The competition often marks rising stars in the UK industry too. Competition prizes range from an amazing two flights to Japan for the 1st place winner, to lovely A3 scanners for second place and so.

This years first place went to Tori Jones for A Heart of Gold or Some Other Metal, while Alexandra Cook took second place with Kiyomi's Prequel. Third place went to Mina Ghosh with The Last Day of Uther Adriss.

Many of the shortlisted artists were first time entrants, showing that the competition has endured for the 13 times it's been run.

Read More... | Souce: Embassy of Japan in the UK

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