Tag: GKIDS

Inu-Oh is Swoon Worthy Hellraiser and a Lot More at Fantasia 2022

Inu-oh was neglected much of his life, and to see how he survives makes for a great story.

Inu-Oh PosterJuly 27 9:30 PM
Coming to theatres Aug 12, 2022 courtesy of GKIDS. and to all major digital platforms on Dec 20 and on Blu-Ray™ + DVD on January 24.

Masaaki Yuasa’s musical fantasy is very ambitious, and that should be of no surprise for anyone who loves rock and roll or heavy metal. There’s a bit of history too, but to say how much of it is accurate is tough to ascertain. That’s because there’s not a lot of surviving records about the real life Inu-Oh (犬王, lit. “Dog King”). 

The themes in this self-titled movie concerns defying the status quo and showing that it’s okay to be yourself. That’s how Inu-Oh lives his life. He believes there’s no need to conform, especially when he’s born deformed Sadly, people run away if they see him in his true form. Thus, he’s always wearing a mask and dons a huge garment to cover up his entire body. It’s a shame nobody can see past his ugliness, but thankfully Toma can. That’s because he’s blind.

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No Need To Cry. Goodbye, Don Glees! You’re Still Alive After Fantasia 2022

The anime, Goodbye, Don Glees! is written and directed by Atsuko Ishizuka is gorgeous on a narrative level.

Goodbye Don Glees!

GKIDS
Screened at Anime Expo and Fantasia 2022
Coming to theatres this Fall!
Home Video Release: Dec 27, 2022
* comes with Interview with Director Atsuko Ishizuka

the title of Madhouse’s latest animated film isn’t too telling, then what we learn from Goodbye, Don Glees! (グッバイ、ドン・グリーズ!) is that we should never let life pass you by. This heartwarming and sentimental film about two boys—Rōma (Natsuki Hanae) and Toto (Yûki Kaji)—enjoying the dog days of summer isn’t too bittersweet, but I had to ponder over the use of this title.

This coming of age drama has a lot of moments which hint at what it all means, but the adventure doesn’t really begin until after the duo meet Drop (Ayumu Murase), a new kid in town. He has something that others cannot see. For one thing, he’s so full of life, and what he wears is loud by conventional Japanese standards. His family moved from Iceland to Japan, and in what he externalizes hides something else. For one thing, he often talks about the ancient tree of life from Nordic lore. There’s something about Yggdrasil that he’s enthralled with, and it is referred to in anime or manga every once in a while.

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The Deer King Strides Into Theatrical Release Beginning Today!

Fans of Mononoke Hime will detect a passing similarity in The Deer King, and in what this work does differently is….

The Deer KingGKIDS
Limited Screenings Beginning July 15

The Deer King is more than an adventure set in the wild west. The politics that get involved here are complex, and the plot concerns how one secretive order seeks to restore the delicate balance between man and the natural world. In what’s presented, the wolves and deer we find in this film serve a mysterious master, and as the title implies, the latter are everywhere! They are not supposed to be a resource for people to exploit. Instead, they’re a symbol for protection.

Technically, this anime by Production IG is more of a fantasy. The Empire of Zol and the people from Aquafa are at odds; their war abruptly ended when a plague struck the land and devastated one nation. As a result, the other faction feared catching it. The accord forged is shaky, and this tale looks at the state of affairs when Zol dares to resume the fight.

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Wild and Carefree. Pompo the Cinephile on Home Video!

Pompo the Cinephile is coming to home video this Tuesday, and it’s a wonderful film to add to any collection.

Pompo the Cinephile
Available to pre-order on Amazon

GKIDS & Shout! Factory
Release Date: July 12, 2022

Pompo the Cinephile is coming to home video this Tuesday, and it’s a wonderful film to add to any collection. I’ve reviewed this film when it debuted at Fantasia Film Festival, and what I’ll look at is the bonus material. There isn’t a lot of added footage save for the commentary, storyboards and a nice looking postcard.

Here, Takayuki Hirao talks about the Hollywood directors whom he really wanted to pay homage to. Also, He explains why he started this movie with a huge musical number.

This animated movie looks at what goes on behind the cameras. The added commentary discusses differences between the Japanese way of making films to Hollywood and gives some afterthoughts to why the team like certain scenes more than others. Here, second unit director, Kenji Imura and editor, Tsuyoshi Imai not only break down how a few scenes were layered but also discuss what drives a few characters, especially Gene. He’s the focus in this piece, and Pompo is along for the ride.

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The Secret of Blue Water is Out! Nadia is all Blu-Ray in this 4K Restoration

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water

Release Date: August 2, 2022
GKIDS & Shout! Factory

A sci-fi adventure on the high seas, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water is the acclaimed television series from visionary director Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion). This award-winning show is loosely based on the works of Jules Verne, and its popularity later inspired a film, manga, and video games.

This release boasts an all-new 4K restoration, and includes all 39 episodes of the series in both the original Japanese and an English dub, as well as a number of bonus features including a new booklet featuring character and mechanical designs from the series, a sneak-preview featurette, a TV spot, and more! Fans can preorder their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com or GKIDS.com

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Only Yesterday and Tale of Princess Kaguya Re-Release Details are in its Steelbook Design

Collectors of Studio Ghibli films will be glad to know the next steelbook releases are coming soon. Only Yesterday and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya will arrive on shelves April 19, 2022!

The Films of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio GhibliCollectors of Studio Ghibli films will be glad to know the next steelbook releases are coming soon. Only Yesterday and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (Amazon USA pre-order links) will arrive on shelves April 19, 2022! They are being released in joint co-operation by license holder GKIDS and distributer Shout! Factory.

These limited edition SteelBook releases include Blu-ray and DVD edtions. The boxes feature new art, and to complement the film, each piece includes hours of bonus features and a booklet with a statements from the filmmakers. Most of this material is from prior releases, and owners of the former releases need not upgrade. This new packaging is meant for newcomers to attain, or for those enthusiasts who are building a wall of Ghibli steelbooks to proudly display.

Only Yesterday and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya now join Earwig and the Witch, The Wind Rises, Secret World of Arrietty, Porco Rosso, From Up On Poppy Hill, The Cat Returns, Whisper of the Heart, Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo in a series of SteelBook releases from the Studio Ghibli collection of films.

From the Press Release:

Only Yesterday

“Gorgeous! A rare and powerful film” – Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly

Having lived her whole life in the city, 27-year-old Taeko decides to visit her relatives in the countryside. As she travels, memories of her youth resurface, and after meeting young farmer Toshio, she wonders if she’s been true to the dreams of her childhood self.

From Academy Award®-nominated director Isao Takahata and Producer Hayao Miyazaki, Only Yesterday is a masterpiece of time and tone, rich with humor and stirring emotion, and beautifully animated by Studio Ghibli, one of the world’s most revered animation studios.

Bonus Features:

●      The Making of Only Yesterday
●      Behind-The-Scenes with Voice Cast
●      Interview with English Dub Team
●      Feature-Length Storyboards
●      Trailers & TV Spots
Only Yesterday' and 'Princess Kaguya' Get Blu-ray Steelbook Upgrades - TheHDRoom

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

“A Staggering Masterpiece” – Glenn Kenny, RogerEbert.com

From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, comes a powerful and sweeping epic that redefines animated storytelling and marks a triumphant highpoint within an extraordinary filmmaking career for Academy Award®-nominated* director Isao Takahata.

Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her – but ultimately, she must confront her fate and embark on a transformative journey.

Bonus Features:

●      Feature- Length Documentary Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
●      Announcement of the Completion of The Film
●      Trailers & TV Spots