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Crunchyroll, one of the world's leading anime streaming services, is gearing up for the North American premiere of two highly acclaimed anime films. This fall, Production I.G.'s The Concierge and CloverWorks' Trapezium will receive exclusive one-day-only screenings in select U.S. and Canadian theaters.

As detailed in a recent press release, The Concierge -- a poignant slice-of-life drama set in a world populated by anthropomorphic animals -- is slated to arrive in North American theaters on Sept. 11. Trapezium, which Crunchyroll's press team describes as a "fresh, realistic take on Japan's idol-obsessed culture," will be screened on Sept. 18. Additionally, Crunchyroll and distribution partner Sony Pictures Entertainment have also set one-day-only screening dates for participating theaters in several other major territories, as listed below.

Related Crunchyroll Undergoes a Brand Refresh for "Stronger, Bolder" Anime Experience

Massively popular anime streaming service Crunchyroll is receiving a brand-new makeover just in time for San...

When it comes to medieval fantasy, anime fans point to properties like Vinland Saga as intriguing stories. Rightfully so. Conversely, there are classic properties from years ago, such as Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. These franchises are filled with war and politics, which play for a Western audience, who love the likes of House of the Dragon.

One movie set in this vein is none other than 2022's The Deer King. This narrative focused on Van, a warrior who struggled with grief and trauma from his past. He was very much like Maximus from Ridley Scott's Gladiator as he tried to move on after losing his family, only to end up a slave. However, Van's journey quickly gave him a higher calling that not even he could have predicted.

Your browser does not support the video tag. The Deer King's Van Became a Magical Hero Van Had Something...

Look, there’s no way around this: August is a slow month for TV, and Netflix isn’t any different. Splashy fall TV is right around the corner, but August seems best designed to catch up on some of the best TV of the year so far that you may have missed.

It’s not a total wasteland, however: “Emily in Paris” returns this month for Season 4 Part 1. The internet loves to make fun of it, but the dreamed is truly one of the best brain-dead shows to watch when it’s too hot to do much of anything else. Lily Collins wears the most amazing outfits! There’s lots of kissing! Why do you think you’re better than it?! Much like other recent Netflix hits such as “Bridgerton,” “Emily in Paris” Season 4 will be divided into two parts, with Part 1 dropping August 15 and Part 2 debuting a month later.

“The search for the kidnapped Yuna leads Van, Sae, and Hohsalle to the sacred Fire Horse Town, an Aquafa settlement that resisted Zol's conquest. As Hohsalle struggles to find the cure for mittsual, Van wonders why he, a man who lost everything, was chosen to survive the deadly disease. Before long, he'll find the answers he's been looking for, as destiny beckons him and Yuna ever forward…Caught in the throes of political warfare and a fight against fate, will Van be able to reunite with Yuna and bring peace to the land?” (Yen Press)

on Amazon by clicking on the image below

“The Deer King” manga adaptation of Nahoko Uehashi's original novel started excitingly with its oversized volume one release. Notably, the manga did a spectacular job of world-building under Taro Sekiguchi's art. In its second and final volume, the question of whether it is...

The natural world that surrounds humanity plays a huge part in the stories that are told; this is also true in a lot of Japanese anime and manga series leading to some truly beautiful depictions of nature in anime. There are numerous shows and films that have themes focused on nature, have characters spending a lot of time outdoors, or convey the beauty of their worlds through abundant use of scenic imagery.

Though nature is important to some extent in every culture, man's relationship to the natural world is especially important due to the presence of Shintoism in Japan. Regardless of their cultural background though, viewers who have always been a fan of the outdoors, who are looking to take in the sights, or get a breath of fresh air might find more than a few anime depictions of nature downright breathtaking.

Princess Mononoke

One of the central themes of...

The upcoming anime film The Concierge will arrive in North American theaters next year.

According to Anime News Network, Crunchyroll has acquired the rights to Production I.G.'s latest fantasy film and plans to give it a theatrical run in North America in 2024. Based on Tsuchika Nishimura's The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store manga series, the movie revolves around a young woman named Akino, who works at a department store whose customers are all anthropomorphic animals. Despite her unusual client base, Akino aims to become an exceptional concierge, impressing customers with her diligence and sincerity. The Concierge is slated to premiere in Japan on Oct. 20. Crunchyroll has released the film's official trailer on its YouTube channel.

Related: Film Version of Phoenix: Eden17 Anime Releases New Trailer

Yoshimi Itazu, who is known for his animation work on The Deer King (2021) and Miss Hokusai (2015), is taking on The Concierge as his first film project as director.

“Van resolves to fight the Zol Empire and save his homeland, only to be captured and sent to the salt mines. Then one night, a pack of wild dogs attacks the mine, trailing a mysterious and deadly disease in their wake. Van and a young girl named Yuna are the sole survivors of the disaster. But why? And where do they go from here?” (Yen Press)

on Amazon by clicking on the image below

“The Deer King” is one of two adaptations of the original light novel, with the 2021 film of the same name likely to be where the majority are familiar with the title, considering the manga and light novel have just recently seen release through Yen Press. Coming to the series without reading the light novel first, which is set for future release, or having watched the film, it is hard to draw a comparison to either.

On April 25, 2023, anime production studio Production I.G. announced an anime adaptation of the manga The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store and has wowed anime fans with a series of lovely trailers showcasing the playful animation. A new version of the trailer was released in addition to an announcement detailing a giveaway campaign for the film's poster.

The manga, written and illustrated by Tsuchika Nishimura, originally ran from February 2017 to November 2018 and received the Excellence Award in the manga division of the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2022. It also recently obtained the Silver Audience Award for Best Animated Feature at the Axis section of the 27th Fantasia International Film Festival.

＼2023.10.20(金)公開／ 映画『#北極百貨店のコンシェルジュさん』 本予告解禁...

The Deer King is a breathtaking and emotionally-stirring fantasy adventure film on Hulu by Studio Ghibli alumnus Masashi Ando making his directorial debut. Anime film fans looking to be swept away by The Deer King's world takes places in should seek to stream the film, which is now available on Hulu. The film was initially screened at several film festival in 2021, where it won the Bronze Audience Award from the Fantasia International Film Festival, before Gkids worked with Fathom Events to bring select showings to the general public in July 2022.

The Deer King sees former warrior Van captured and forced to indefinitely serve in Zol-controlled territory salt mines along with dozens of other prisoners. One night, a pack of ravenous Ossam dogs attack, bringing with them a mysterious disease. Van makes his escape to save the life of a little girl named Yuna and their lives are inexplicably entwined by...

New York, NY (4/7/23) – Yen Press, LLC held a panel at Sakura-Con 2023, at which they announced twenty-three new acquisitions being published under its Yen Press and Yen On imprints. This Fall 2023 lineup of titles includes sixteen manga titles.

The Deer King (novel)

By Nahoko Uehashi

Van, a former soldier made slave, toils away endlessly in a salt mine. An unexpected chance at liberation drops in his lap when a pack of infected dogs pass through, killing everyone but him and a young girl called Yuna. Van hopes to make a peaceful life for himself now that he's escaped. However, the disease that cleared out the mine is rapidly spreading, placing him and his ward at the center of a conflict greater than any the world has ever seen.

The Deer King (manga)

Story Nahoko Uehashi

Art by Taro Sekiguchi

Van resolves to fight the Zol Empire and save his homeland, only...

The nominees for Best Film at the 2023 Crunchyroll Anime Awards are out, and while there are plenty of great picks, it’s probably going to come down to One Piece Film: Red or Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. The Crunchyroll Anime Awards have been a yearly tradition since 2017, and one of the most significant categories of the event is Best Film. There were plenty of great anime movies in 2022, but Crunchyroll narrowed it down to six movies: Bubble, Inu-Oh, The Deer King, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, and One Piece Film: Red.

All the nominees for Best Film are great in their own right, but special attention needs to be drawn to Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero and One Piece Film: Red. Both were the latest movies for two of the biggest anime franchises of all time, Dragon Ball and One Piece, and sure enough, they were...

The nominees for the 2023 Anime Awards have been announced by Crunchyroll. From the year's best anime to the best anime song, there are several categories and incredible nominees. Fans are now able to vote for their favorites and see which anime will be competing against each other to be crowned the victor in each category.

The nominees, included on Crunchyroll's award-specific link, include many well-known series as well as some that may be a little less familiar. Each category has six nominees for fans to choose from, with a total of twenty-two categories including best original anime, best new series, best contiuing series, best opening, best ending, and best film. Anime of the year is a heated competition between Attack on Titan, Spy x Family, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Demon Slayer, Lycrois Recoil, and Ranking of Kings.

Spy x Family Goes Head to Head with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Attack on Titan

Related:...

“Do all of you remember the name Red Ribbon Army?” That’s the first of many lines of expository dialogue in “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero,” the latest animated action-fantasy adaptation-extension of the mega-popular “Dragon Ball” manga comics.

That opening line of voiceover narration also inadvertently prepares viewers for how convoluted the movie soon becomes.

Some tablesetting dialogue explains who the Red Ribbon Army are (bad guys) and why they’re back. The son of the Red Pharmaceutical Company’s founder, Magenta (voiced by Volcano Ota in the Japanese-language version and Charles Martinet in the English dub), wants to take over the world. But soon enough, this fairly straightforward beat-em-up spectacular, which pits heroic aliens against villainous robots, becomes a celebration of “Dragon Ball,” a decades-old anime institution.

Fans of both the “Dragon Ball” and “Dragon Ball Z” anime will probably be the ideal audience for references to the Frieza...

Photo: ‘The Deer King’ Background and Summary There’s no doubt ‘The Deer King’ is an adapted novel. It wanders into every possible corner of its highly-developed world like Tolkien prose. Every ridge, every tree, every flower; the animal skin huts of the pastoral tribes to the cobblestone streets of the capital city. They’re each part of a tapestry that unfolds slowly but sumptuously. Every still is like a page of a Patrick Rothfuss novel, endowed with a natural musicality and beauty. The film is adapted from a series of Japanese fantasy novels by Nahoko Uehashi running from 2014 to 2017. Sound like a tall task for a two-hour movie to cover? It is - Deer King’s most glaring problem is the breadth of its world, at least for a single film. It renders the first fifteen minutes of the film crucial to understand yet impossibly dense with detail, as...

Festival favourites ‘Fire Of Love’, ‘Hit The Road’ also out.

Warner Bros’ DC League Of Super-Pets receives the widest release ever in the UK and Ireland for a fully-animated title this weekend, opening in 725 locations.

It is the joint-eighth widest release of all-time in the territory, alongside Disney’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi from 2017.

Among animated films, DC League Of Super-Pets tops the 719 locations of Disney’s 2019 The Lion King remake. It is slightly behind the 743 opening sites of Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns from 2018 – a predominantly live-action film featuring animated sequences.

It is a second-widest opening ever for Warner Bros,...

Two grandees of Japanese animation adapt a Nahoko Uehashi fantasy novel that covers too much ground to take flight

A key animator on numerous classics including Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Your Name, Masashi Ando teams up with Masayuki Miyaji, another Studio Ghibli veteran, to co-direct this sprawling adaptation of Nahoko Uehashi’s fantasy novel series. This long-awaited endeavour, however, lacks the directorial deftness that has elevated their previous credits.

Stretching itself thin to cover the lengthy source material, The Deer King is laden with meandering, expository details. A tale of conflict between the Aquafa and the Zol peoples as a plague rages runs parallel to a spiritual journey towards healing. After breaking out of prison, Van, an enslaved Aquafa resistance fighter, finds the loss of his wife and child softened by Yuna, an orphaned toddler whom he rescues during his escape. Though bitten by the same rabid dogs that spread the deadly disease,...

Masashi Ando has worked with some of the foremost filmmakers in the anime industry — Hayao Miyazaki, Satoshi Kon, Makoto Shinkai. He's worked on the animation for some of the greatest anime films of all time — "Spirited Away," "Princess Mononoke," and "Your Name," to name a few. Now after more than three decades in the industry, Ando is stepping out from beneath the shadows of the great anime titans to direct a feature film of his own. But with the visually dazzling, emotionally inert, and narratively confusing "The Deer King," it seems Ando still can't escape that shadow.

Ando co-directs "The Deer King" with Masayuki Miyaji,...

The post The Deer King Review: In the Shadow of Ghibli appeared first on /Film.

Maybe we’d be less blasé about a global pandemic if it arrived in a creeping purple cloud, full of wolves with glowing eyes. Such is the method of the “mittsual,” a plague descending on the nations of Zol and Aquafaese, former adversaries who brokered a tenuous arrangement, in the The Deer King. The film is based on…...

The uneven Japanese animated fantasy “The Deer King” often resembles the sort of Studio Ghibli action-adventure that made animation figurehead Hayao Miyazaki internationally famous, especially “Princess Mononoke” and “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.” “The Deer King” not only looks like those Studio Ghibli staples, but also follows a plot that recalls Ghibli-style high fantasies: two warring feudal kingdoms try either to capture or enlist Van, a resourceful ex-soldier who may or may not be immune to a devastating plague.

Comparisons between “The Deer King” and Studio Ghibli’s better known movies seem inevitable, especially given how many of this movie’s creators learned their trade as animators and animation directors at Studio Ghibli, particularly co-directors Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji, and key animators Kenichi Konishi and Kenichi Yoshida. Thankfully, what works in so many Ghibli movies also mostly works in “The Deer King,” given the craft and consideration...

With a proud reputation of raising the profile of the greatest auteurs in Japanese animation, Anime Limited are delighted to announce that they are bringing to the big screen the directorial debut of a man who has made his name doing the same. Masashi Ando worked as Chief Animation Director on landmark films from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki’s legendary Princess Mononoke to the modern day sensation Your Name, and now his fantasy epic The Deer King will carve its own legend in selected cinemas nationwide from 27th July 2022.

A film that’s been years in the making but is all the more resonant today, The Deer King is the story of an ancient people caught in the midst of a pandemic. When the dreaded Black Wolf Fever returns to ravage the land, old political scars draw new blood when two opposing nations have different plans for the man...

The Deer King Trailer — Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji‘s The Deer King / Shika no ou (2021) U.S. movie trailer has been released by GKids. The Deer King trailer stars Shinichi Tsutsumi, Ryoma Takeuchi, Anne Watanabe, Atsushi Abe, and Hisui Kimura. Crew Taku Kishimoto wrote the screenplay for The Deer King. Michael Archacki was [...]

Continue reading: The Deer King (2021) U.S. Movie Trailer: Two Black Wolf Fever survivors Navigate a Perilous World Seeking Their Secret...

"The disease only lets the chosen ones live." GKids has debuted the main official US trailer for the Japanese anime film The Deer King (the final English title), originally known as 鹿の王 ユナと約束の旅 in Japanese. It premiered last year and opened in Japan in the fall, now arriving in US theaters starting in July - with a special two-day event and theatrical run. The Deer King is the directorial debut of the acclaimed animator Masashi Ando. Ando has previously worked as a character designer, animation director, and key animator with the famed Studio Ghibli, and also with directors Satoshi Kon and Makoto Shinkai. Masayuki Miyaji is best known for directing the 2009 series Xam'd: Lost Memories. The fantasy film, adapted from a novel, is about a battle of empires. Shinichi Tsutsumi voices the lonely warrior Van, who survives a deadly and mysterious disease; Ryoma Takeuchi voices the genius doctor ...

If you go wild over the animation in movies like "Your Name," "Paprika," and "Spirited Away," then I highly recommend you 1) Immediately scroll down to the trailer in this article and 2) Start blocking out your July weekends. I write all of this because "The Deer King" is hitting theaters in July 2022 and it marks the directorial debut of Masashi Ando (along with co-director Masayuki Miyaji), who worked as a character designer, animation director, and key animator on those incredible movies. So if you're looking for a fantastical story paired with some killer animation, you've come to the right place.

Still here? Need...

The post The Deer King Trailer: A Fantasy Epic From the Animator Behind Spirited Away appeared first on /Film.

Gkids today announced that its upcoming animated feature The Deer King, from directors Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji, will hit theaters nationwide in July. Fan preview events of the Japanese-language version will be put on in cinemas nationwide on July 13th, in partnership with Fathom Events, with previews of the English-language version to take place the following day.

In addition to the full feature, preview audiences will view a special introduction from Ando, exclusive to the Fathom Events screenings. These events will be followed by a limited theatrical release in select markets nationwide starting July 15th.

The Deer King is a fantasy epic marking the directorial debut of veteran animator Ando, whose work on such landmark films as Spirited Away, Paprika and Your Name helped shape the world of modern animation. It’s set in the aftermath of a brutal war and follows former soldier Van, who toils in a...

After a year-long delay due to the pandemic, the Animation Is Film festival returns this year for its fourth edition, taking place Oct. 22-24. The festival will be held, as it traditionally has been, at the Tcl Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood and will feature a competition lineup of the best animation films of the year, as well as other special events.

“If you look at the lineup, you’ll see that there are titles … that have played at Sundance and Cannes and Annecy, and the festival is an opportunity for everyone to see these films,” says Matt Kaszanek, director, Animation Is Film. “We’re really happy with the lineup we were able to put together this year in the strange times of 2021, so we’re really excited for the program and we hope everyone else is too.”

The festival kicks off with the North American premiere of the Netflix feature “The Summit of the Gods,...

The Japanese animation studio Production I.G. has been no stranger to critical hits over the past decade, with the likes of “Miss Hokusai” and “A Letter to Momo” both being well received. The studio returns in 2021 with the release of “The Deer King”, a fantasy epic adapted from the acclaimed novel series by Nahoko Uehashi. The film, helmed by directors Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji, is an ambitious, grand, and timely endeavour that marks another success for the studio.

The Deer King is screening at Camera Japan

The Zols and Aquafans live together in relative peace after years of war, yet this harmony is threatened by the return of an Aquafan “curse”, the mittsual plague. The illness, which is spread by vicious dogs and only targets Zols, rips through a Zol-controlled mine that leaves only two survivors, the Aquafan warrior, Van, and a young orphan, Yuna. The two take refuge...

On Thursday, the Austin Film Festival unveiled its 2021 lineup, comprising 26 World, North American, and US Premieres, setting Oscar nominee Peter Hedges’ The Same Storm as its Opening Night Film.

The feature examining the tumult of the Covid-19 pandemic boasts a stacked cast, with Noma Dumezweni, Mary-Louise Parker, Sandra Oh, Elaine May, Raúl Castillo, Ato Blankson-Wood, Corey Michael Smith, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston and Alison Pill amongst its ensemble.

Other marquee titles to look out for at the 28th edition of the festival, taking place from October 21-28, include Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, Mike Mills’ latest A24 pic C’mon C’mon, led by Joaquin Phoenix, Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir Part II, starring Honor Swinton Byrne, Tilda Swinton and more, and Joachim Trier’s Neon festival favorite The Worst Person in the World.

Spencer King’s Dark Star Pictures title Time Now will make its World Premiere alongside...

The fourth edition of the Animation Is Film festival (Aif) returns in-person October 22-24 to the Tcl Chinese 6 in Hollywood, and will kick off opening night with the North American premiere of Netflix’s “The Summit of the Gods,” the breathtaking French 2D feature from director Patrick Imbert (“The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales”), who will do an in-person Q&a.

“The Summit of the Gods” (opening November 24 in select theaters and streaming November 30) is adapted from the popular manga and concerns a Japanese adventure photographer and mountain climber obsessed with finding a legendary climber obsessed with scaling Mount Everest.

Other highlights include the West Coast premieres of GKids’ “Belle” on October 23 and Neon’s award-winning “Flee” on October 24. “Belle” is the musical fantasy 2D reworking of “Beauty and the Beast” from Oscar-nominated anime master Mamoru Hosoda (“Mirai”), who will do an in-person Q&a. “Flee” (December 3) is the...

With over 40+ films, Camera Japan Festival is proud to announce their full and diverse programme, combining films ranging from de newest and best Japanese arthouse, animation, documentaries, short films and experimental cinema.

The 16th edition of the festival will be opened at LantarenVenster on September 23rd with the European premiere of Motoki Katsuhide’s “Angry Rice Wives”. The yearly unofficial kick-off will be held on September 22nd at Worm with a screening of the experimental “Luginsky” and “Project Tanuki”. From 30 September to 3 October, the festival moves to Amsterdam’s LAB111.

With two international and nine European premieres, the festival consists of a special and exclusive programme. Films such as “My Name is Yours” and “Jun Kasai Crazy Monkey”, will have their first screenings outside of Japan here at Camera Japan Festival.

As usual, animation films will be present at Camera Japan Festival. Besides a handful of animated shorts, the festival...

The Fantasia International Film Festival announces a massive new assortment of feature films for its 25th edition, along with details on scheduled panels, talks, tributes, special events, and our esteemed juries. On top of our impressive virtual slate of films, all geo-locked to Canada, and in addition to our globally accessible streamed events, the upcoming festival will also feature a limited number of in-person screenings in Montreal.

Fantasia begins August 5th with the World Premiere of Quebec zombie feature Brain Freeze— following the August 4th special event screening of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad in celebration of the festival— and ends on August 25th with newly announced closing film, Takashi Miike’s hotly-anticipated The Great Yokai War – Guardians.

Takashi Miike Closes Out Fantasia 2021 With The Great Yokai War – Guardians

The honour of Closing Film belongs to the great Takashi Miike, a constant yet always surprising presence in the festival’s long history.

Fantasia 2021 will run from August 5th to the 25th. A great number of films will be available to watch on-demand on the Festival’s virtual streaming platform (powered by Festival Scope and Shift72). Some virtual screenings will be scheduled at a specific date and time, check out the website to know when to tune in! Several films will be shown in person at Montreal’s Cinéma Impérial, Cinéma du Musée, or outdoors at Place de la Paix. Click here to see which ones! All panels, talks, masterclasses and special events will once again be completely free and accessible worldwide on Zoom or YouTube.

You can buy a Festival Passport Here. Please check the Official Website for more info.

Here are, in alphabetical order, all the Asian Films:

The 12 Day Tale Of The Monster That Died In 8 | Japan Dir: Shunji Iwai

North American Premiere

Shunji Iwai’s latest is a delightfully...

Quebec’s Fantasia Festival has unveiled the third and final wave of titles set to screen at this year’s 25th edition and announced that Takashi Miike’s latest feature “The Great Yokai War – Guardians,” will close the festival. The world premiere of Julien Knafo’s Quebec zombie flic “Brain Freeze” will open the festival following an Aug. 4 pre-fest screening of James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad.”

“The Great Yokai War- Guardians” is the follow-up to Fantasia 2006 opener “The Great Yoki War,” and unspools in a fantasy world of Japanese demons, kaiju and pop culture references which proved a hit in Montreal the first time around.

Other key titles featured in the third wave lineup include Lee Won-tae’s “The Devil’s Deal,” his first film since “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil” won Sitges’ best film award in 2019. BAFTA-winner Paul Andrew Williams’ (“Murdered for Being Different”) “Bull,” a revenge thriller,...

Masterclasses and special awards for Stephen Sayadian, Phil Tippett, Shunji Iwai.

Takashi Miike’s The Great Yokai War – Guardians will close Fantasia International Film Festival (August 5-25), which festival heads have turned into a hybrid event after adding a limited roster of in-person screenings in Montreal.

Japanese horror specialist Miike’s sequel to his family fantasy epic and Fantasia 2006 opener The Great Yokai War gets its international premiere and centres on a battle between Japanese monsters that will determine the fate of the world.

Paul Andrew Williams’s (London To Brighton) UK crime thriller Bull is among world premieres in...