Japanese Film Tour of UK set to include anime Koe no Katachi

*UPDATE 29.01.17* It has been announced that Koe no Katachi will be shown at ten locations across the UK between the 5th February and 26th March. These locations are: ICA London, Showroom Sheffield, QUAD Derby, Watershed Bristol, Macrobert Arts Centre Sterling, HOME Manchester, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Exeter Phoenix, Phoenix Leicester and Queen’s Film Theatre Belfast. Exact times are still to be confirmed but dates can be found on the Japan Film Tour website.

Following the overwhelming success of Kimi no Na wa in Japanese and overseas cinemas, UK anime fans will be delighted with the prospect of getting the opportunity to see another of 2016’s premier anime features.

Koe no Katachi or A Silent Voice, directed by Naoko Yamada, was released in Japanese cinemas on 17th September 2017, ranking only behind Makoto Shinkai’s latest release in the box office. It’s a film based on the manga of the same name by Yoshitoki Oima that follows Shoya Ishida, a delinquent who bullies a deaf student, Shoko Nishimiya in elementary school. The film focuses on events several years after, where he meets her again and seeks redemption.

The showing, which has so far been confirmed at the ICA London, is part of a wider showing of Japanese films that aims to give viewers a broad introduction to Japanese cinema through ‘the prism of desires, hope and impulses’.

Ever since I heard about Koe no Katachi I’ve really wanted to see it and I’m glad that the success of Kimi no Na wa has helped to bring western cinemas more great anime – now we just need to hope that they show it more widely across the tour!

The Japan Foundation Tour 2017 is scheduled across the UK between the 3rd February and 29th March. For a full list of films and locations so far have a look at their website here.

Amazon have also listed three editions of the film for pre-order on December 18:

Collectors Blu-ray/DVD Combi

Standard Blu-Ray

Standard DVD

My top anime of 2016

2016 has come and gone and it we can start looking forward to some really exciting new anime this year. Before 2017 gets any older though, I thought it would be a good idea to write about some of my favourites from last year.

I’m not going to order them in any particular way as there were several shows that could easily be ‘the best’ for different reasons.

Boku Dake ga Inai Machi

The first anime to really capture my attention in 2016 was Boku dake ga inai Machi or it’s English title, Erased. The feeling towards the show at the time of airing shifted as it went on, with some people criticising the ending and pacing of the show. And while there are always holes to pick when you’re dealing with time travel but on the whole I felt Erased achieves what it sets out to effectively.

Satoru has the ability to go back in time and change events that have happened in the past. The anime follows him as he goes back in time to save a fellow student and his mother. I enjoyed how the random element of Satoru’s ability kept me gripped right up until the end. One particularly refreshing aspect of the show was the development of the relationship between Satoru and Kayo – though it might not be quite what you would have liked, it’s definitely ends with (if you can say this in time travel anime) the most realistic outcome.