Japan Society, a 116-year-old nonprofit organization with a goal of bringing the U.S. and Japan together, today announced it will host the East Coast Premiere of the record-breaking Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM. The Gundam saga, often called the “Star Wars of Japan”, is a beloved 40+ year franchise. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM is its latest entry and a sequel to 2002’s Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, one of the most popular series in the Gundam multiverse. This special event is presented together with Bandai Namco Filmworks and Anime NYC, and it will take place simultaneously with a West Coast Premiere hosted by Bandai Namco Filmworks in LA.
The subtitled premiere of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM will take place on Sunday, March 31 at 4 PM and the English dubbed premiere will take place on Monday, April 1 at 7 PM. Both screenings will be held at Japan Society.
Japan Society is a storied institution that has presented Japanese art, culture, business and policy for over a century, including visits from U.S. Presidents, Japanese Prime Ministers, and Nobel Prize winners. It presents this new Gundam film in recognition of Gundam’s cultural significance in Japan and global place as a pillar in the U.S.-Japan relationship and our shared popular arts.
Mobile Suit Gundam began in 1979 in Japan with a 43-episode animated television series. Acclaimed for its revolutionary storytelling, it told a gritty, realistic story about the traumas of war in a future conflict dominated by massive human-shaped war machines called “Gundam”. This series would go on to captivate generations of audiences around the planet across over 50 sequel television series, films, comics, and video games.
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Category Archives: Animation
Lupita Nyong’o plays a lost android in stunning trailer for ‘The Wild Robot’
The first trailer for Dreamworks Animation’s The Wild Robot has been released, featuring the epic journey of a robot—ROZZUM unit 7134, “Roz” for short. Roz is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.
The Wild Robot is written and directed by Chris Sanders, who previously directed How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods and Lilo & Stitch.
It features the voice cast that includes Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek), Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Kit Connor (Heartstopper), Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once), Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows), and Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible).
Based on the book by Peter Brown, The Wild Robot will premiere in theaters Sept. 20, 2024.
Official Trailer for “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training” Released
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training- will feature “A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light” (Episode 11) from the Swordsmith Village Arc, featuring the conclusion of the fierce battle between Tanjiro and Upper Four demon Hantengu, as well as Nezuko’s triumph over the sun.
Seamlessly followed by Episode 1 of the highly anticipated Hashira Training Arc, featuring the start of training conducted by the Hashira in preparation for the forthcoming final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, an episode never before seen by audiences.
With a cast that includes Natsuki Hanae, Kengo Kawanishi, Akari Kitô, the animated film is directed by Haruo Sotozaki.
The film is set for release on February 23, 2024.
“Orion And The Dark” Second Trailer Released
The second trailer for the fantasy adventure film from DreamWorks Animation’s “Orion And The Dark” has been release.
On the film shows Follows Orion, a young boy who is afraid of heights, pets, and rendered nearly catatonic by the worst of all perils: the dark. The Dark takes Orion on a nighttime trip to prove to the youngster that the only thing to fear is fear itself.
Directed by Sean Charmatz, “Orion And The Dark” is set for release on Netflix on February 02, 2024.
The voice cast of “Orion And The Dark” includes Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, and Werner Herzog.
The film follows a boy with an active imagination, who faces his fears on an unforgettable journey through the night with his new friend: a giant, smiling creature named Dark.
Here is the second trailer for “Orion And The Dark”.
Exclusive Look Into The Future Of Marvel’s “What If…?”
The nearly 3-minute clip is from a future episode that shows a “look in to the future” of Marvel’s What If…?, and follows the series finale of Season 2.
The video clip features Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and the Red Guardian (David Harbour) on a road trip which very quickly turns into a police chase.
“What If…?” series is created by A. C. Bradley,
Here’s what the synopsis says:
Exploring pivotal moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and turning them on their head, leading the audience into uncharted territory.
Animated “Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths” Trilogy First Trailer
A new trailer for the upcoming animated action adventure trilogy from WB has been released. The three movies set to arrive in 2024.
It is based on the popular 1985-1986 comic book series by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
The Anti-Monitor (the Monitor’s evil counterpart) is released in the DC Multiverse and begins to destroy the different Earths that compose it. The Monitor attempts to recruit heroes from across the Multiverse, but is murdered.
First Trailer for “Merry Little Batman” Released
Warner Bros. Animation has released the First trailer for new Batman movie “Merry Little Batman”, ahead of its Prime Video release.
Here, it is Christmas and Damian Wayne wants to be a superhero, like his dad – the one and only Batman. When Damian is left home alone while Batman takes on Gotham’s worst supervillains on Christmas Eve, he stumbles upon a villainous plot to steal Christmas and leaps at the chance to save the day.
The DC animated holiday special is set to stream on Prime Vide for December 08, 2023.
Directed by Mike Roth, the film’s cast includes Luke Wilson, Yonas Kibreab, James Cromwell, David Hornsby
Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy And The Heron” Sets Release In IMAX
The Japanese animated fantasy film from acclaimed animator, filmmaker, and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki is set for release in IMAX.
The one-week only release on IMAX® on December 8 will have an exclusive early previews on December 4.
“The Boy And The Heron” made its international premiere as Opening Night Gala of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival. Tickets to all five TIFF screenings sold out in record time, and the film received glowing reviews and placed top three for the TIFF People’s Choice Awards. The film made its U.S. premiere at the New York Film Festival, its European Premiere as the Opening Night of San Sebastian International Film Festival, and made its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. The film was presented in IMAX at LA’s Chinese Theater as Opening Night of the Animation is Film Festival.
The Japanese cast includes Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Ko Shibasaki, AIMYON, Yoshino Kimura, Takuya Kimura, Keiko Takeshita, Jun Fubuki, Sawako Agawa, Karen Takizawa, Shinobu Otake, Jun Kunimura, Kaoru Kobayashi, Shohei Hino. While the English cast includes Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, Florence Pugh, Luca Padovan, Mamoudou Athie, Tony Revolori, Dan Stevens.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
Hayao Miyazaki’s first feature film in 10 years, The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn, original story written and directed by the Academy Award®-winning director. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The theme song for the film “Spinning Globe” was penned and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.
Animation Is Film Festival Line Up Announcement Plus Poster
ANIMATION IS FILM (AIF) announces the 6th edition of its highly anticipated 2023 slate of theatrical presentations, special events, and shorts showcases taking place over five days, October 18-22, in Hollywood. AIF’s Opening Night on Wednesday, October 18 launches with a GKIDS presentation of Studio Ghibli’s THE BOY AND THE HERON, the latest film from legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX. This marks the first time the festival will host a premiere in IMAX at this Hollywood landmark. Closing Night also celebrates the Los Angeles Premiere of Aardman’s CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET presented by Netflix followed by a Q&A with Oscar nominated Director Sam Fell and Executive Producer and Oscar nominated Director of the beloved first film, Chicken Run (2000), Peter Lord.
This year, AIF continues its mission to champion animation as a cinematic artform, while recognizing and acknowledging the importance of curating successful and critically-acclaimed films from around the world. As part of the feature film line-up, two prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival Prize Winners, Neon’s film ROBOT DREAMS (Spain, France) and GKIDS’ CHICKEN FOR LINDA! (France / Italy) will make their West Coast and US debuts, respectively. PHOENIX: REMINISCENCE OF FLOWER (Japan) will make its theatrical North American Premiere, and Dreamworks Animation will host a special presentation of its latest film, TROLLS BAND TOGETHER. Other highlights are the North American Premiere of Sony Pictures Animation/Sony Pictures Imageworks’ THE SPIDER WITHIN: A SPIDER-VERSE STORY, a new Spider-Verse short film, and a special theatrical presentation of the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ narrative short, ONCE UPON A STUDIO, featuring iconic voices from Disney Animation’s past, including Dwayne Johnson, Paige O’Hara, Jodi Benson, and Josh Gad.
“‘Animation Is Film’ is not just the name of our festival, it is its mission. New films from Studio Ghibli and Aardman are seismic cinematic events, and a reason for movie lovers of any medium to rejoice. Joining these titles is a collection of some of the most audacious, genre-defying, and critically acclaimed films of the year. We are so proud to present them in Los Angeles,” said Matt Kaszanek, Executive Director of AIF.
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LIFETIME Announces Fall 2023 Movie Slate, New Ripped From The Headlines Originals Every Saturday Beginning This September
Lifetime unveils the network’s full fall Ripped From the Headlines “Truly Unbelievable” movie slate, featuring top talent in seven new original movies.
All produced earlier this year, the fall lineup includes Lifetime’s milestone 500th original movie, the two-night event Murdaugh Murders: The Movie starring Bill Pullman as Alex Murdaugh who, on the surface is a prominent and respected South Carolina lawyer, loving husband and father but behind closed doors, lived a drug-filled secret life that ultimately led to murder.
The two-part movie will premiere as the tent-pole of fall slate, premiering on October 14th and 15th at 8p/7c. New original movies will all debut Saturdays at 8p/7c from September 16 – October 28.
Lifetime’s full fall schedule is below with more details on each movie.
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