UK and Ireland based readers who like running around punching villains into oblivion while going PLUS ULTRA will be very pleased to hear about the up coming cinema release of My Hero Academia: Two Heroes. The good folks from Manga Entertainment UK have just told us that the film hits cinemas across UK and Ireland on Tuesday 4th December 2018. Screenings both subbed and dubbed will available. So put down a date in your calendar for some shonen super hero action!
Read More... | Souce: Manga Entertainment UK
Category > Anime
It's October already, which means MCM London Comic Con's October 2018 run is almost here. As is tradition they've got a great anime guest lined up. The anime guest of honour will be Studio Khara's Hibiki Yoshizaki (whose notable credits include Evangelion, The Dragon Dentist, Japan Anima(tor) Expo).
Anime Limited have just revealed all the details which include a panel and signing session. They'll also be bringing an exhibition of short film ME! ME! ME! to MCM. The signing and exhibition will be free, but the exhibition is for over 18's only due to the mature nature of the exhibition.
MCM London Comic Con is set to run from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th October 2018 at London's Excel Centre.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Events
Fans of Japanese Culture who can get to London on Sunday 30th September 2018 will want to head over to the Japan Matsuri in Trafalgar Square. The Japanese Culture festival is free to enter and is set to run from 10 am to 8pm. The Central London location will play host to two stages highlighting Japanese Culture. They'll be plenty of stalls selling Japanese goodies, plus a variety of Japanese Street food.
As always, we've had the event listed on the Otaku Calendar to help you keep track of what's going on.
Souce: Japan Matsuri
The good folks from Manga Entertainment UK have sent us the details of their latest cinema release MFKZ. It's something a bit quirky collaboration from French comic artist Guillaume "Run" Renard and Japanese anime studio - Studio 4°C, creators of Tekkonkinkreet, Genius Party, Mind Game, Spriggan, Harmony and bits of The Animatrix. It's pitched as "The dark but stunningly animated sci-fi mélange of anime, film noir, and Lucha Libre". The action scenes shown in the trailers are exactly the sort of action you'd expect from Studio 4°C.
The film hits UK and Irish Cinemas on Thursday 11th October 2018. You can book tickets now by visiting www.mfkzthemovie.com.
Read More... | Souce: Manga Entertainment UK
Category > Events
The good folks at anime distributors Anime Limited have just sent us details of the first ever UK exhibition to celebrate The Works of Mamoru Hosoda. The exhibition will run for one week only from Saturday 13th October until Saturday 20th October 2018 in Central London just off Oxford Street at Noho Studios, 46 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PZ.
The exhibition will also feature a shop, where visitors can purchase merchandise that is to be made available for the first time in the UK. This'll be a great chance to pick up a great selection of goodies.
It'll be open from 10:00 to 18:00. The event is free to enter. If you can get to London in that time frame we suggest you give this excellent exhibition a look in.
This is a perfect refresher to Mamoru Hosoda's world before catching a screening. Mirai will be screened around the UK on 2nd November 2018 for subtitled screenings and 4th November 2018 for dubbed screenings. You can find a screening near you by visiting the official Mirai UK film website.
The film also features at the BFI Film Festival on Sunday 14th October 2018 (the Saturday 13th October screenings have sold out).
If you can't get to London then Scotland Loves Anime will be showing it on Sunday 14th October in Glasgow and Saturday 20th October 2018 in Edinburgh and the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival will be showing the film at Aberystwyth on Sunday 21st October 2018.
As always for screenings we advise booking early to avoid disappointment. We also suggest catching this movie on the big screen while you can.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
Anime fans in Glasgow looking for something good to watch on the big screen will be keen to get to the screening of Bungo Stray Dogs: DEAD APPLE. The screening is brought to Glasgow by the good folks at anime streaming service Crunchyroll. The screening will be in Japanese with English subtitles. The film will be shown as part of the Glasgow Youth Film Festival. The screening is set for 14:10 on Saturday 15th September 2018. They've also got a dubbed screening of Mary and the Witch's Flower on the same day at 11:30.
Read More... | Souce: Glasgow Youth Film Festival 2018
Category > Events
Are you a fan of the inspired by anime series RWBY? Looking for something to do in London? Well if so you should head over to RTX London 2018 which is set to run from Saturday 15th to Sunday 16th September 2018 at London's ExCel Centre. The show is run by Rooster Teeth the people behind popular anime like show RWBY.
Weekend Badges are 40% off with the code FLASH40.
Read More... | Souce: RTX London
Category > Events
Anime fans in Aberystwyth will be pleased to hear about the local leg of the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival. It's been running since 2010 and is set to return to the Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Saturday October 20th 2018. Attendees are in for a treat, they've got screenings of some truly delightful films, including Fireworks, Lu Over the Wall and Mirai.
We highly recommend Lu Over the Wall a quirky tail from Masaaki Yuasa (you can read our review here), along with Mirai from popular anime director Mamoru Hosoda, the screening is a week after it's run at the BFI London Film Festival, but also before it get a national screening. So you'll be able to see it before most people!
They'll also be showing Studio Ghibli's When Marnie Was There, something that you should really catch on a big screen. Other titles include Psychic School Wars and Attack on Titan: Roar of Awakening.
As always with events like this we suggest booking early to avoid disappointment, tickets aren't on sale yet for Aberystwyth, but will be soon, so please keep a look out!
Also don't forget you can catch some other great films at the Cardiff leg of the festival too.
Read More... | Souce: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
Category > Anime
The good folks from anime distributors Anime Limited have sent us the latest details about their upcoming cinema release of Mirai. Mamoru Hosoda's newest film will receive it's UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival 2018.
Gala screenings will take place on Saturday 13th October 2018 at 15:30 and Sunday 14th October 2018 at 17:45.
Mamouru Hosoda's movies are always excellent and enjoyed by fans. If you can't make it to the BFI in October you can always wait until the national screenings around the UK from 2nd November 2018.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
Anime fans in Wales are in for a treat this September and October as the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival returns for another run of great films. Set to run at Chapter in Cardiff from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September 2018 and Aberystwyth Arts Centre from Saturday 20th to Sunday 21st October 2018.
Japanese animators Tsuneo Goda and Hirokazu Minegishi from dwarf will be in Cardiff for the festival. They're stop motion animation experts. You may have seen their work on NHK World's charming Domo shorts. They'll be there to present a master class and conduct workshops, plus an autographing signing session.
Of course they'll be showing lots of anime on the big screen. They've got an amazing selection of recent anime including the charming Lu Over the Wall (which we've reviewed here), the emotional Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (again you can read our review here), Mary And The Witch's Flower, along with Ghibli classics Arrietty and When Marnie Was There.
There's so much good stuff something for everyone regardless of your taste in anime. If you like a bit more action you can't go wrong with Tokyo Ghoul (the live action version) or Attack on Titan: The Roar of Awakening.
Read More... | Souce: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival
Category > Events
The good folks from MCM Comic Con have sent us details about their successful MCM Comic Con Manchester run (which took the city by storm on 28-29 July 2018). Along with a friendly reminder about their up-comic MCM Comic Con Events - MCM Scotland Comic Con which is set to run Saturday 22nd to Sunday 23rd September 2018 in Glasgow and MCM London Comic Con which is set to run from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th October 2018.
Read More... | Souce: MCM Comic Con
The good folks from UK anime distributors Anime Limited have just sent us details of the UK and Ireland Cinema release details of Mamoru Hosoda's latest movie Mirai. Tickets are now on sale!
Mamoru Hosoda's Mirai will open on 100 screens across the UK & Ireland from November 2nd 2018.
-Subtitled screenings on 2nd November 2018.
-Dubbed screenings on 4th November 2018.
Please visit miraifilm.co.uk for more information on subtitled and dubbed screenings. Don't forget to use the hashtag #miraifilm when mentioning the movie too!
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
After announcing a first wave of free film screenings, The Japan Foundation in London have just revealed more for August 2018 in in London.
They've got some great films showing, including an often overlooked aspect of Japanese history in Giovanni's Island, a film featuring a samurai projecting a cat Cat Samurai, plus many more.
Booking in advance is required. As always we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation London
The good folks from the Japan Foundation in London have sent us details of their up coming film season. As is tradition they have a series of screenings called Summer Explorers, but this year it's been so successful they've decided to have a Pre-Summer Explorers! cinema season too. Set to run on Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th and Saturday 11th August 2018 around Central London.
They've got some really good movies including Ghibli classic Only Yesterday, fan favourite Summer Wars by Mamoru Hosoda. Along with other classics such as Beat Takeshi's Kikujiro.
The screenings are free to attend, but booking in advance is required. As always we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation London
Fans of Chinese Cinema based off Japanese Manga will be interested to hear about Animal World.
The high-profile Chinese live-action cinema feature produced based on Nobuyuki Fukumoto's manga Tobaku mokushiroku Kaiji ("Gambling apocalypse Kaiji") about no-good lowlife Kaiji Ito, whose involvement with gambling and loan sharks land him in seemingly hopeless situations but who, under pressure, displays a remarkable insight into how to manipulate his way out of them - only for his gambling to inevitably lead him to fall into yet another one.
This latest, rather loose adaptation stars Li Yifeng as the protagonist, renamed Zheng Kaisi, with Zhou Dongyu and a special appearance by Michael Douglas, is written for the screen and directed by Han Yan Animal World (动物世界 Dòngwù Shìjiè). Trailers and other promotional videos, some with English subtitles, are available at UK-based distributor Cine Asia's YouTube channel.
Special thanks goes to Jordan Scott for bringing this to our attention and send us all the details
Read More... | Souce: Animal World Website
Category > Culture
The Embassy of Japan in the UK have have just announced the theme for their manga competition. Theme for this year is "home". The competition has been running each year for more than 10 years now. Just by entering you can learn a lot, but this is certainly a competition worth investing time in. This years first place winner will get a flight to Japan, while second prize will get a laptop and third place will a digital camera from Ricoh UK (like Daido Moriyama we're fans of their GR Series cameras).
The competition has 2 distinct categories the Yonkoma Manga for 11 to 13 year olds where they can submit a 4 panel manga. While the main Manga Jiman is open for anyone 14 and over expects a short story told across 6 to 8 pages.
To check out previous winning entries go here.
Read More... | Souce: The Embassy of Japan in the UK
Category > Anime
The good folks from MCM Comic Con have just sent us the details of their first London show of 2018. The MCM London Comic Con ran from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th May 2018. The event was well attended and had Full Metal Panic! Creator Shouji Gatou as Anime Guest of Honour.
The MCM Team also remind us that their next event will be in Manchester on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th July at Manchester Central.
As always we've had the details up on the Otaku Calendar so you can keep track of these great events.
Read More... | Souce: MCM London Comic Con
Category > Anime
Anime fans in the UK looking for some card duelling cinema action will be pleased to hear that Manga Entertainment UK will be releasing Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie in select cinemas one night only. The digitally remastered 2004 film will be screened on Wednesday 13th June 2018.
So visit their Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie website to find a screening near you.
Read More... | Souce: Yu Gi Oh! The Movie UK Website
The good folks from Anime Limited have just sent us a reminder about their soon to be released film Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms. It's due to hit the cinemas nationwide across the UK on Wednesday 27th June 2018. Anime Limited have sent us a look at the new poster and also a UK trailer.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Events
It's May! Which means it's almost time for the MCM London Comic Con. The huge UK geek event is set to run from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th May 2018 at the Excel Centre in London.
As always they've got lots of interesting guests. For anime fans they'll have Full Metal Panic! creator Shouji Gatou. As well as creating the original light novels that became the fan favourite anime show Gatou is an anime screen writer having just scripted Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory, his screen writing credits include Lucky Star, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Amagi Brilliant Park.
He'll be at the comic con to sign autographs along with taking part in Q&A sessions following screenings of the first episode of Invisible Victory.
Read More... | Souce: MCM London Comic Con
Anime fans in the UK looking for something to watch on the cinema on Friday 4th May 2018 (yes, Star Wars day), will want to head to a cinema near them to catch a screening of Mary and the Witch's Flower. Produced by Studio Ponoc, founded by Studio Ghibli veterans Yonebayashi and Yoshiaki Nishimura the film is clearly made in the Ghibli mould. The film is adapted from The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart.
As always we've highlighted this on The Otaku Calendar, so you can keep up to date with screenings and release dates. It even shows in your Google / iOS Calendars if you like too via iCal Feed.
Read More... | Souce: Mary and the Witch's Flower Film Website
Category > Events
Fans of Japanese Culture in London looking for something to do at the end of September will be very excited to hear about the Japan Matsuri 2018. The regular festival held at Trafalgar Square brings Japanese Culture in the form of performances, stalls, street food and other entertainment to anyone who get to Central London on Sunday 30th September 2018. The event lasts from 10am to 8pm and is free to attend.
Of course September is a while away, so you might not remember, which is why we've added it to the Otaku Calendar which forms an easy to to keep track of all your otaku events.
Souce: Japan Matsuri
Category > Press Releases
Readers heading to London will be interested to hear about Japan House. The new venue is set to open on Kensington High Street in 2018. It forms the London hub of an international project to spread the word about how awesome Japan is.
"JAPAN HOUSE is a project which aims to nurture a deeper understanding and appreciation of Japan in the international community, by creating a number of hubs from which to showcase and communicate Japan as a country of countless charms, able to enrich the rest of the world."
"Each hub features an exhibition space, a multi-purpose space with theater facilities, a retail space, food and drink, books, online connectivity, and a cafe space".
To find out more visit their website and sign up to their mailing list, follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to find out more.
Read More... | Souce: Japan House
Category > Anime
UK based Studio Ghibli fans can catch 4 Miyazaki classics over Easter 2018. Film4 will be showing:
My Neighbour Totoro - Monday 2nd April (1.05pm) & 8th Sunday April (11am)
Kiki's Delivery Service - Tuesday 3rd April (12.50pm) Monday 9th April (11am)
Howl's Moving Castle - Wednesday 11th April (12.40pm)
Spirited Away - Thursday 12th April (12.35pm)
All screenings on the free to air channel will be dubbed in English, with a screenings of Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away shown on later slots on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th April in Japanese with English subtitles.
Film4 have a lovely habit so showing Ghibli Films during school holidays and such screenings of these amazing movies often get many people into anime. We suggest you catch these delightful films.
If you fancy watching some Ghibli on the big screen in London this year, the BFI will be screening some classic Ghibli titles this May.
Souce: Film4
Category > Anime
London based anime fans will want to get over to the BFI in May 2018 to catch an Anime Weekender.
They'll be screening a range of titles including the soon to be released Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, along with the box office giant Your Name. One Your Name screening will be on IMAX, we caught it on the colossal screen last year and suggest you can catch it if you can.
There's so much good stuff in this season, including the charming Lu Over the Wall. We saw it last year and loved it.
Tucked away on the listings (and easily missed) is a complete run down of the BFI Animation 2018 Season. This includes a delightful screening of Ghibli Classics My Neighbour Totoro and two screenings of Spirited Away, plus a screening of Princess Mononoke.
Satoshi Kon's masterpiece Paprika will also be shown.
Fans keen to see Akira can also catch two screenings of 30th anniversary screening: Akira, including one on IMAX.
History buffs and historic anime fans alike will be interested in Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors a World War II propaganda film thought to be destroyed after the war.
Basically we suggest you catch one of these fantastic films on the big screen. Nothing beats watching a great anime film on a huge cinema screen. We also suggest you book early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: BFI
Category > Anime
Anime fans in the UK looking for a cinema screening in June will be excited to hear about Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms. Anime Limited will be bringing the feature film to the UK on Wednesday 27th June 2018 for a nation wide cineam screening.
The film marks Mari Okada's directorial debut. The story in a fantasy land of Iolph where it's people are known for youthful longevity and peaceful lives weaving tapestry. Invaders want the to learn the secrets of their long life and Maquia's life it turned upside down as a result, she embarks on and adventure with Aliel, an orphaned baby boy.
The film is from P.A. Works who are renowned for high quality animation and also the slightly quirky (such as the thoroughly enjoyable The Eccentric Family). You may know their other works Shirobako or A Lull in the Sea.
As always we've already put the details up on the Otaku Calendar to help you keep track of up coming events.
We'll provide further details as and when they're available.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
Thanks to the good folks from Anime Limited Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion I - Initiation hits UK Cinemas on Wednesday 21st March 2018 for a special screening. You want to know is it any good? Well we sent Nes Long occasional Otaku News contributor and Lelouch cosplayer to find out.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Events
UK Anime fans looking for a convention in November 2018 will be interested in Hibanacon in Milton Keynes. Set to run from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th November 2018 the convention returns with fan favourites including panels, games, live acts, cosplay and as every fan run convention demands parties (including a cosplay ball)!
Registrations are now open so we suggest you book soon to avoid disappointment if you want to go to a fan run convention.
Souce: Hibanacon
Anime fans in the UK looking to get some cinematic anime action will want to keep Wednesday 21st March 2018 free. For one day there'll be a special screening of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion I - Initiation.
The film forms a retelling of the series opening acts and it a great way to get into the series or remind yourself of the series. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion I - Initiation is the first part of a planned trilogy.
The good folks at Anime Limited are releasing the film around the UK. To find a screening near you head over to http://codegeassfilm.co.uk/.
Read More... | Souce: Code Geass Film Website
Attack On Titan: The Roar of Awakening hits cinemas in the UK and Ireland on Wednesday 21st February 2018. To celebrate we've teams up with the good folks at Anime Limited to give away some snazzy attire. We've got a limited edition Attack on Titan cape to give away. You too can pretend to be in the Survey Corps and explore the area beyond wall. We tried to get some 3D Manoeuvring Gear, but Anime Limited were insistent that giving away something that fires a spike attached to a cable wasn't exactly safe.
To find a cinema screening near you, check out the Anime Limited Screening page.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Culture
London based readers looking to get some theatrical culture into themselves will want to head to the Barbican from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th February 2018 to catch Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui / Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon: Pluto.
The play is based on Naoki Urasawa's manga Pluto, which itself is based on Tezuka's Astroboy. The play combines elements of manga, traditional Japanese Bunraku puppetry, elaborate design and media projection.
It's only running at the Barbican for a few days, so if you're interested we suggest you book now to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: Barbican
UK Anime fans looking to watch something on the big screen this February will want to find a cinema near them screening Attack On Titan: The Roar of Awakening. The film which is a recap of season 2 will be screened around the UK and Ireland on Wednesday 21st February 2018. The film hits cinemas thanks to the good folks at Anime Limited. To find a screening near you visit Anime Limited's Cinema Screening page.
The film itself is really intended for fans of Attack on Titan as it's a big screen directors cut of season 2 of the show. It's not a stand alone movie. It's great if you've seen season one and want to see the best bits of season 2 or if you just want to enjoy some Titan action on the big screen.
If you can't catch the film on the big screen, you can always get the Blu-ray or DVD of season 2 on Monday 26th February 2018.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Glasgow based anime fans looking for a premiere film screening will want to go to the Glasgow Film Festival on Sunday 4th March 2018 to catch Maquia: When The Promised Flower Blooms. This is the International Premiere. It'll be coming to cinemas nationwide in March 2018 thanks to the good folks at Anime Limited.
The fantasy anime marks Mari Okada’s directorial debut you may be familiar with her other work she wrote The Anthem of the Heart and the screenplay for Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea. The Anime is produced by P.A. Works who created one of the Otaku News Team's favourite anime series The Eccentric Family.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
UK fans of Tokyo Ghoul will want to keep Wednesday 31st of January free and find a cinema near that that'll be screening the new Tokyo Ghoul Live Action Movie. You can find a screening near you by visiting http://alltheanime.com/cinema.
But is it any good?! We sent Christine off to review the movie to find out.
Software tester by day, gamer by night. Christine's top three anime titles are Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul and Parasyte (There seems to be a pattern here...). She also often enjoys cosplaying as characters from obscure games that she's never played.
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
UK fans of the Tokyo Ghoul franchise will be interested to hear the news we've been sent from Anime Limited. On Wednesday 31st January 2018 the live action movie of Tokyo Ghoul will be hit select cinema screens. To find out if there's a screening near you visit http://alltheanime.com/cinema.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
UK based fans of Japanese cinema looking for something to watch next year will be interested in The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme. It's set to run from 2nd February to 28th March 2018 around the UK. The theme for this season is (Un)true Colours - Secrets and Lies in Japanese Cinema.
The film programme also includes the anime Sword of the Stranger, which is really worth catching on a nice big cinema screen. If not you can always get it on blu-ray.
There's a great selection of films likely to suit anyone's tastes including Sing My Life a fantasy tale about a 73 year-old grandmother who is magically transformed back to her 20 year old self, so she can pursue her dreams of becoming a singer and make up for her regrets.
While if you fancy something a bit more violent there's also The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji a Yakuza story from director Takashi Miike.
Film screenings like this frequently sell out, so we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
Read More... | Souce: The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme
UK readers looking for some violent samurai action based on a great manga will want to look around cinemas near them on 8th December 2017 as that's when Blade of the Immortal hits screens around the UK. The film is directed by Takashi Miike, you may have heard of many of his other films like Ichi the Killer and The Happiness of the Katakuris.
The Blade of the Immortal movie is based on the manga with same name, it follows the adventures of Manji who is cursed with immortality until he can kill 1,000 evil men. The film covers the first 2 story arcs of the manga.
To find a screening near you visit BladeOfTheImmortal.co.uk.
Read More... | Souce: BladeOfTheImmortal.co.uk
Remember, remember the 15th of November,
Anime screening with a plot.
We see no reason
Why anime screenings
Should ever be forgot!
Anime fans in the UK should be reminded that Fireworks hits the cinemas with a bang (pun intended), on Wednesday 15th November 2017 for special one day screening. You can visit FireworksMovie.co.uk to find a screening near you.
Souce: Fireworks Movie Website
UK anime fans eager to own Studio Ghibli's TV show Ronja The Robber's Daughter, will be pleased to hear that it's getting a home video release on Monday 4th December 2017. It's available for pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD from the good folks at Studio Canal.
London based fans with children can also visit the BFI on Sunday 19th November 2017 for a special screening event showing the first 4 episodes of the series. Tickets for this event are selling out quickly, so book while you can if you want to go.
Read More... | Souce: Studio Canal
Category > Features
UK Anime fans can catch the Satoshi Kon Classic Perfect Blue at UK Cinemas Nationally on 31st October 2017. Visit perfectbluemovie.co.uk to find a screening near you.
We sent James and Lee to review the movie. Our editor found them after the screening rocking back and forth in the corner of the room, muttering about perception of reality and something about an unreliable narrator, he didn't care that this movie freaked them both out, he just wanted his 500 word review. So after some special counselling involving a unicorn chaser of both seasons of K-On (plus the movie) we managed to get a coherent review. Although they are still on edge a bit when they see J-Pop Idols for some reason...
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News
Category > Press Releases
It's almost time for the MCM London Comic Con! It hits this weekend from Friday 27th October to Sunday 29th October 2017 at London's Excel Centre. Traditionally we post news about what's happening at the event, but this time we're going to post something about the MCM Comic Con itself. MCM Comic Con have been acquired by ReedPOP, the world’s largest producer of pop culture events.
ReedPop are boutique group within Reed Exhibitions, part of RELX Group who are behind events such as New York Comic Con. The press release states that its impact will begin to be seen and felt on all 2018 events. What this impact means exactly remains to be seen.
Forbes have an interesting analysis of the acquisition and the article quotes "Right now we are still in the discovery stage of really getting to know the MCM team and their shows so I don't want to make any assumptions [about operational changes]," said Lance Fensterman, Global Head of ReedPOP.
From a business perspective, if you're looking to gain new markets internationally it makes sense to buy an existing established business. If you're looking to set up a Comic Con in the UK why compete with the biggest when you can become the biggest by buying it? It also means you'll get an established team of event runners. You can observe what they do well and fold it into your other operations too.
Having attended MCM events for years now, we've noticed how they will refine and tweak things to make them better for attendees. Last London Comic Con in May 2017 they had to change the whole entry process and include bag and security checks following the tragic attack in Manchester. They did this at very short notice, we believe they made it work well and whoever was working behind the scenes to make this happen did a stunning job.
MCM London Comic had a over 130,000 people attending the event in May 2017 alone. We must admit we're curious what ReedPop will do to the event.
Read More... | Souce: ReedPOP
UK Anime fans looking for a cinematic treat in November will be pleased to hear about Anime Limited's latest offering of Fireworks. Pitched as a coming of age story with a hint of sci-fi from the director of Nisekoi and Monogatari. It hits cinemas around the UK on Wednesday 15th November 2017.
To find a screening near you visit fireworksmovie.co.uk.
As always we've put the details up on the Otaku Calendar.
Read More... | Souce: Anime Limited
Category > Anime
Anime fans heading the MCM London Comic Con will be pleased to hear that they've got the creators of Little Witch Academia as the anime guests. The fan favourite show is available to watch in the UK on Netflix.
Series director Yoh Yoshinari, series producer Naoko Tsutsumi, producer Katsuhiro Takei and video game producer Yosuke Futami will all be at the MCM London Comic on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of October 2017.
The MCM London Comic Con is set to run from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October 2017.
Read More... | Souce: MCM London Comic Con
Category > Events
London based fans of Japanese culture looking for something to do on Sunday 24th September 2017 will want to head to the Japan Matsuri. The festival is set to run from 10am until 8pm at Trafalgar Square.
The event has a central stage with performances all day long, plenty of Japanese food stalls selling hot street food to eat while you're there, plus lots of other stalls selling Japanese goodies. The event is free to attend, no booking is required. Just turn up and enjoy the celebration of Japanese Culture.
Souce: Japan Matsuri
Category > Events
Anime fans in Wales looking for some fun at the end of September in Cardiff or the end of October in Aberystwyth will want to head over to the Kotatsu Japanese Animation Film Festival 2017. Set to run at Chapter in Cardiff from Friday 29th September until Sunday 1st October 2017 and at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Saturday 28th October 2017.
The festival is in partnership with The Japan Foundation.
As always, we've added the details of this event to The Otaku Calendar to help you keep up to date with all the latest events and release dates.
Read More... | Souce: Kotatsu Japanese Animation Film Festival
Category > Events
Anime fans looking for a fan run convention in the UK for the summer of 2018 will be excited to hear that AmeCon have announced that they will return on Friday 27th until Sunday 29th July 2018 at the Warwick Arts Centre. The venue has proved a popular location for AyaCon, AmeCon and KitaCon. Registration will be £50 or £95 for premium for the whole weekend. Registration will open on Monday 16 October 2017. Special guest is American Voice Actor Jerry Jewell.
The event has just been announced as the closing ceremony of KitaCon 2017.
Souce: AmeCon
Category > Events
London based J-Electronic rock and metal band Esprit D'Air have just sent us details of their 2018 tour. They'll be travelling around the UK for 7 dates in February 2018.
They have just released their new single Ignition from their new debut album Constellations.
It's released under their own label Starstorm Records and peaked at #3 on Amazon UK's Hard Rock & Metal albums upon its release.
Read More... | Souce: Esprit D\'Air
Category > Retail
It's August, but the good folks at geeky t-shirt company Genki Gear are already getting excited about the MCM London Comic Con. So much so they've just unveiled an exclusive design with a horror theme.
The design is available to pre-order until the 20th October and can be collected directly from the Genki Gear stand at hte MCM London Comic Con or posted to your home address so you can wear it at the event.
The MCM London Comic Con is set to run on Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October 2017.
Read More... | Souce: MCM London Comic Con
Category > Events
Fans of 1980's manga in London will want to head over to Orbital Comics from Tuesday 1st to Monday 14th August 2017 to catch an exhibit of original 80's Manga artwork. They'll be showing selected manga originals from the 1980’s slice of life manga series Dokudami Tenement for the first time in the UK.
This is to celebrate the release of the first volume of Dokudami Tenement in English from Black Hook Press. They'll also have a special limited edition Aizoban print for sale during the length of the exhibition.
Read More... | Souce: Orbital Comics
Category > Events
Fans of cult Japanese Cinema and anime in general will be very pleased to hear the news from Manga Entertainment UK that they'll be releasing the new Godzilla Movie - Shin Godzilla across the UK on Thursday 10th August 2017. It's co-directed by Hideaki Anno who is most famous for creating Neon Genesis Evangelion, (but is also know as being a massive tokusatsu fan) and Shinji Higuchi (director of Toho’s 2015 Attack on Titan live action movies). The film was a box office smash in Japan in 2016.
Hideaki Anno's involvement in the film is a perfect choice, as someone who has had giant monsters smash cities before in previous work (even his student films have this element) to join forces with Shinji Higuchi who used traditional tokusatsu speical effects combined with CGI to create the Attack on Titan Live Action movies.
Shin Godzilla literally translates as New Godzilla and will be screened nationally across the UK. To find a screening near you and book tickets, visit shingodzillamovie.co.uk.
Read More... | Souce: Shin Godzilla Movie UK Website
Category > Anime
Anime has now started to get a regular monthly screening at select cinemas national wide around the UK! This month on Wednesday 12th July 2017, Genocidal Organ will hit screens across the UK.
You can find a screening near you by visiting genocidalorganmovie.co.uk, but before you do are you wondering if the movie is any good? Read our review and find out!
Read More... | Souce: Otaku News