Anime Weekend at the BFI Southbank in London - May 2014

Date: 2014 March 25 17:12

Posted by Joe

Anime fans are already in for a treat at the BFI Southbank as we've covered before the news on their complete Studio Ghibli retrospective, which includes the latest Ghibli Movie The Wind Rises. Wanting to show even more anime, the BFI Southbank run biennial Anime Weekend, and it's running this year on from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th May 2014. They've got an amazing line up and a bit of something for everyone.

They'll be showing Ghost in the Shell Arise Part 1: Ghost Pain, and the UK Premiere of Part 2: Ghost Whispers (on Friday 16th May).

They'll also be showing Patema Inverted, Evangelion 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, the European Premiere of Tiger and Bunny: The Rising, One Piece: Strong World, plus Blue Exorcist: The Movie.

We haven't seen all these films, but we really do want to see them all. Especially Ghost in the Shell Arise and the latest Evangelion Movie.

Full Story

Press release as follows:

Anime Weekend returns to BFI Southbank 16-18 May
Includes the European premiere of Tiger and Bunny: The Rising and the UK premiere of Ghost in the Shell Arise: Ghost Whispers

Monday 24 March 2014, London.
BFI Southbank today announces the return of the hugely popular biennial Anime Weekend. Taking place from 16-18 May this year's programme boasts one UK premiere and one European premiere and will showcase some of the best anime to come out of Japan in the past two years, including representations from popular franchises Ghost in the Shell, Tiger and Bunny and Evangelion.

Whether you are a fan of anime or someone looking to satisfy their curiosity about this much loved genre, the BFI Southbank's Anime Weekend has something for everyone. This event will complement BFI Southbank's Studio Ghibli retrospective, which runs throughout April and May, showcasing the feature films of one of Japan's best-loved studios.

Patema Inverted (2013, Dir. Yasuhiro Yoshiura) tells the story of the princess of an underground community who embarks on an adventure sparked by her curiosity of the outside world. Awarded both the Audience Award and the Judges Award at Scotland Loves Anime in 2013, this charming anime will kick off the weekend in style. Another highlight of the weekend will be the UK Premiere of Part 2 of Ghost in the Shell Arise, Ghost Whispers (2013, Dir. Kazuchika Kise). Arise is a series of four prequel stories that introduce us to cyborg Motoko Kusanag in 2027, a year after the end of World War IV. Ghost Whispers will screen alongside Part 1 of Arise, Ghost Pain (2013, Dir. Kazuchika Kise) and is a must for fans, as well as those who are new to the Ghost in the Shell universe.

Also screening will be the third film in the Rebuild of Evangelion series, Evangelion 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012, Dir. Hideaki Anno), and the European Premiere of Tiger and Bunny: The Rising (2014, Dir. Yoshitomo Yonetani). Every anime fan's favourite crime fighting duo Tiger and Bunny return with a new boss who has it in for Tiger, a new ego-fuelled partner for Bunny to contend with, and a new set of super-powered criminals to battle. Two further films adapted from popular mangas will also screen during the weekend; One Piece: Strong World (2010, Dir. Munehisa Sakai) is the latest in the run of successful features based on the best-selling manga in Japan, while Blue Exorcist: The Movie (2012, Dir. Atsushi Takahashi) is based on a popular manga and TV series, and brings the much loved half-demon hero Rin to the big screen.

Completing the line-up is the latest film from Makoto Skinkai (Children Who Chase Lost Voices, 5 Centimeters Per Second), Garden of Words (2013); a chance encounter between a schoolboy and an enigmatic older woman leads to an unusual relationship. Set in the Kanto region of Japan against the backdrop of the rainy season Makoto Skinkai's latest film is another cinematic delight. Screening alongside Garden of Words will be Hal (2013, Dir. Ryotaro Makihara) which tells the story of Kurimi who is distraught after her partner Hal dies in a tragic plane accident. An emotionally-developed robot is brought in and adjusted to achieve Hal's likeness with the purpose of helping her come to terms with her loss.


Screenings taking place during the weekend:

Patema Inverted (Sakasama no Patema)
Japan 2013. Dir Yasuhiro Yoshiura. 99min. Digital. EST
Patema lives as part of an underground community and has done so for her entire life. The people are mostly upbeat despite the huge challenges of life below the surface but Patema is desperate for more. Using a torch for light, she wanders the endless dark tunnels and dreams about a life outside and above. When she visits an area that is clearly off-limits she finds a way of accessing a new world, and thus begins an adventure of lost secrets and discovery.
Fri 16 May 18:30 NFT1

Ghost in the Shell Arise: Part 1: Ghost Pain
Japan 2013. Dirs Kazuchika Kise, Masahiko Murata. 50min. Digital. EST
+ UK Premiere: Part 2: Ghost Whispers
Japan 2013. Dir Kazuchika Kise. 50min. Digital. EST
Ghost in the Shell has been one of the most popular and enduring series of films in the history of science fiction anime. Arise is a series of four prequel stories that introduce us to cyborg Motoko Kusanag and the future members of Section 9 in 2027, a year after World War Four. A deadly bomb and a series of murders are investigated by Kusanag and members of the military's 501 unit.
Fri 16 May 20:50 NFT1

Evangelion 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (Evangerion shin gekijôban: Kyu)
Japan 2012. Dir Hideaki Anno. 96min. Digital. EST
It's 14 years after the Near Third Impact and the Earth is in turmoil. Shinji hasn't aged during this time and he appears to be a focus of universal hatred. At NERV headquarters, it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems, and with Shinji rocketing towards emotional turmoil mankind may end up paying the ultimate price. The Evangelion series moves towards the fourth and final instalment in fine style.
Sat 17 May 20:45 NFT1

Garden of Words (Kotonoha no Niwa)
Japan 2013. Dir Makoto Shinkai. 46min. Digital. EST
Makoto Shinkai's latest film is another cinematic delight; a chance encounter, a forbidden relationship and a beautiful setting. Set in the Kanto region of Japan against the backdrop of the rainy season, we follow young Akizuki who skips school to sit in a public garden and sketch. Over time, he befriends Yuki, an enigmatic, older woman who also seeks the park's sanctuary, and an unusual relationship begins.
+ Hal Haru
Japan 2013. Dir Ryotaro Makihara. 50min. Digital. EST
Kurimi is distraught after her partner Hal dies in a tragic plane accident. An emotionally-developed robot is brought in and adjusted to achieve Hal's likeness with the purpose of helping her come to terms with her loss. Robot Hal struggles to understand some human emotions, however, as information about Hal and Kurimi's relationship comes to light.
Sun 18 May 13:00 NFT1

European Premiere: Tiger and Bunny: The Rising
Japan 2014. Dir Yoshitomo Yonetani. 108min. Digital. EST
A new boss arrives at Apollon Media and fires Kotesu T Kaburagi ('Wild Tiger') and promotes Barnaby Brooks Jr ('Bunny') to the First League, assigning him a new partner in the process – Golden Ryan. Our heroes are forced to think on their feet as three superpowered criminals threaten the lives of millions of innocent people. But Kaburagi is sidelined and Brooks has to confront the fact that his new partner may have great powers, but he's also got a huge ego.
Sun 18 May 15:10 NFT1

One Piece: Strong World (Wan Pisu Firumu: Sutorongu Warudo)
Japan 2010. Dir Munehisa Sakai. 113min. Blu-ray. EST
Japan's best-selling manga series has been the subject of a run of successful features. The story follows the comic adventures of rubber-bodied hero Monkey D Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, who search for the valuable one-piece treasure. In Strong World, the Straw Hats band together to save navigator Nami, who has been kidnapped by an evil pirate named Golden Lion Shiki.
Sun 18 May 18:10 NFT1

Blue Exorcist: The Movie (Ao no Exorcist)
Japan 2012. Dir Atsushi Takahashi. 90min. EST
The worlds of humans and demons are regulated so that neither species can enter the realm of the other. Rin and his brother Yukio are charged with assisting an exorcism to rid the locality of demons who have managed to cross over through posession. When this attempt fails, Rin comes across a demon who has taken the appearance of a boy, and who has destructive plans that could effect both realms. Based on the popular manga and TV series, Blue Exorcist brings the much-loved half-demon hero Rin to the big screen.
Sun 18 May 20:45 NFT1


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The BFI is the lead organisation for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film
environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive by:

• Connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema


• Preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world for today and future generations


• Championing emerging and world class film makers in the UK investing in creative, distinctive and entertaining work


• Promoting British film and talent to the world


• Growing the next generation of film makers and audiences

The BFI Southbank is open to all. BFI members are entitled to a discount on all tickets. BFI Southbank Box Office tel: 020 7928 3232. Unless otherwise stated tickets are £11.00, concs £8.50 Members pay £1.50 less on any ticket. Website www.bfi.org.uk/southbank

Tickets for FREE screenings and events must be booked in advance by calling the Box Office to avoid disappointment

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Source: BFI Southbank