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The latest movie in the Lupin the IIIrd theatrical series, Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku ( The Immortal Bloodline ), was screened during Japan Expo Paris in July. During the event, Crunchyroll News had the opportunity to meet with the director, Takeshi Koike, to talk about this new entry, his tenure as director of this franchise and the future of Lupin. Editor's note: The following interview contains some spoilers for Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku . How did you approach the creation of this film? Takeshi Koike : Before making this film, I made four different films, each focusing on one of Lupin the Third’s teammates. But, from the outset, I wanted all these films to be linked to the character of Mamo. The other main element of this film, specifically, is the choice of Lupin the 3rd as the real protagonist of the story. At...

Four of the most legendary anime movies of all time will soon have a new streaming home in the United States. The Criterion Channel will be adding numerous new titles to its growing online platform this August.

Criterion's official website shared the news that four of Japan's most celebrated anime films would be added to The Criterion Channel in August 2025. The featured titles include the 1995 cyberpunk masterpiece Ghost in the Shell, an avant-garde anime film called Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space, the 2006 psychological thriller Paprika, and 2009's sci-fi racetrack adventure Redline.

Criterion Channel Adds Legendary Anime Movies to Streaming Service

The Criterion Channel currently streams Naoko Yamada's Liz and the Blue Bird as well as five films by acclaimed Your Name and Weathering with Youfilmmaker Makoto Shinkai: 5 Centimeters Per Second, Children Who Chase Lost Voices, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, She and Her Cat...

Intended or not, the Criterion Channel’s programming of Maurice Pialat and Michael Roemer pairs two auteurs who spoke the same death-riddled language. August’s lineup will bring nine features and one short from the former, four features and one documentary by the latter, while series on Sammo Hung and Bigas Luna will combine the misery with something poppier, sexier, more violent––the perfect way to close out summer.

On the series side, “’90s Soundtrack Movies” finds the overlap between Lost Highway and Pump Up the Volume; a highlight of Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project features major works like Kalpana and Chess of the Wind; and a new anime program starts with Ghost in the Shell and Paprika. Criterion Editions feature The Red Balloon, Prince of Broadway, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, Trainspotting, Eastern Condors, and Deep Cover. Restorations of Michael Imperioli’s The Hungry Ghosts, Christophe Honoré’s Ma mère,...

Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku ends with a new song by rock duo B'z, tailor-made for the Takeshi Koike film. Currently, the only place you can hear the full version of "The Iiird Eye" is in the ending credits for the film. But you can still enjoy a snippet of the new song, thanks to a music-video-style trailer released today. The new video spotlights Lupin, Jigen, Fujiko, Goemon and Zenigata in moments from the film, while also recalling past entries in Koike's series of specials. Check it out: Lupin the IIIrd the Movie Trailer — B'z "The Iiird Eye" Version Related: Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku Celebrates Opening Day with Five Character Trailers Takeshi Koike directs the first 2D Lupin anime feature film in 30 years at studio Telecom Animation Film, with a script by Yuya Takahashi ( Lupin the 3rd Part IV ) and music by...

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A lonely dragon wants to be loved , an all-new feature film in the Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid anime series, opened in 200 theaters in Japan on June 27 and ranked ninth in its opening weekend, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha . The film ranked #3 in Filmarks' first-day satisfaction ranking with an average rating of 4.18/5.0 based on 455 reviews. As previously reported , Crunchyroll has acquired the worldwide theatrical rights (excluding Asia) for the film from Kyoto Animation. The movie will release in Japanese with English subtitles in North America. Related: Crunchyroll to Release Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A lonely dragon wants to be loved Anime Movie Worldwide Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku , the first 2D Lupin anime feature film in 30 years since Lupin the Third: Dead Or Alive in 1996, released in 155 theaters on June 27 and ranked 10th in its opening weekend. The latest installment of the Takeshi Koike-directed...

Ever since his manga debut in 1967, Lupin the 3rd has fought a variety of villainous foes. But one from decades past returns in the franchise's newest film, Takeshi Koike's Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku . And fans of the show's classic run will remember this mysterious figure all too well! A new clip released today reveals the return of Mamo, a strange and ancient entity who first crossed paths with the master thief in the 1978 film The Mystery of Mamo (a.k.a. Lupin vs. the Clone ). In addition to appearing in the franchise's first animated feature, Mamo also made an appearance in 2014's Jigen's Gravestone — a brief cameo that possibly hinted at this very more than a decade later. Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku Mamo Clip Related: Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku Celebrates Opening Day with Five Character Trailers Takeshi...

Today's the day! Takeshi Koike's action-packed film Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku premieres in Japan, continuing the film series inspired by The Woman Called Fujiko Mine . To celebrate, Tms has dropped five new character trailers: one for each member of the Lupin Gang. Lupin the 3rd Character Trailer Inspector Zenigata Character Trailer Daisuke Jigen Character Trailer Goemon Ishikawa Xiii Character Trailer Fujiko Mine Character Trailer Related: Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin Anime Web Episode Shares Key Visual Takeshi Koike directs the first 2D Lupin anime feature film in 30 years at studio Telecom Animation Film, with a script by Yuya Takahashi ( Lupin the 3rd Part IV ) and music by James Shimoji ( Redline ). Katsuhito Ishii ( Redline original creator) serves as creative advisor and Toho Next is distributing the film. Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku premiered in Japan on June 27. Source: Tms Anime...

It's the sort of treasure anime's greatest thief himself would target: a pure gold figurine, one of only 100 in the world. But rather than being one of Lupin the Third's conquests, it's been created in honor of his upcoming film. To celebrate Takeshi Koike's Lupin The Iiird The Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku , the Nippon Broadcasting System's online store Radio Living is offering a selection of solid gold collectibles. The star of the collection, a Lupin figure made with nine grams of pure gold, is limited to just 100 units. The figure stands 40mm tall and features a serial number engraved on the bottom of one foot. Purchasing one of these will set you back 550,000 yen — about $3,700 at the time of this writing: Related: Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku Anime Releases Character Introduction Video If that price tag is a little high, you can still take hold...

It's a big day for Lupin news, as Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin goes live on Japanese streaming platforms. The prequel to Takeshi Koike's upcoming Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku has also released a key visual, depicting (as the title suggests) Zenigata and two Lupins: Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin Key Visual Related: Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin Anime Web Episode Shares Zenigata Character Trailer Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin starts streaming on Japanese streaming services today on June 20, one week prior to the film's theatrical release. The episode will also air on Japanese satellite TV channel Wowow two days later, along with the three previous episodes of the Lupin the IIIrd series — The Gravestone of Daisuke Jigen (2014), Goemon's Blood Spray (2017), and Fujiko Mine's Lie (2019). All of the film's main staff members, including director Takeshi Koike,...

Tms Entertainment's official YouTube channel is now streaming a character trailer for Inspector Zenigata (CV: Koichi Yamadera), the protagonist of Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin ("Zenigata and Two Lupins"), a prequel episode to the upcoming anime feature film Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku ("The Immortal Bloodline"). Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin Zenigata Character Trailer Additionally, Zenigata voice actor Koichi Yamadera said in a message video on the Lupin The Third franchise's official X (formerly Twitter) : "Today, 'Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin' finally starts streaming! It is a powerful hard action story with Inspector Zenigata as the protagonist. Director Koike's this series has always had a strong hard-boiled flavor, and this one is also overwhelming. Inspector Zenigata, played by me, pursues Lupin with even more dogged determination than usual. How will he face the Fake Lupin?...

Ahead of a June 27 theatrical release in Japan, the official accounts for Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku today released a character introduction trailer that highlights the history and unique skills of Lupin, Daisuke, Goemon, Fujiko and Inspector Zenigata. Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku Character Introduction Video Related: Comedy Duo Kuki Kaidan Makes Guest Voice Appearance in Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku Takeshi Koike directs the first 2D Lupin anime feature film in 30 years at studio Telecom Animation Film, with a script by Yuya Takahashi ( Lupin the 3rd Part IV ) and music by James Shimoji ( Redline ). Katsuhito Ishii ( Redline original creator) serves as creative advisor and Toho Next is distributing the film. One week prior to the theatrical release, Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin ("Zenigata and Two Lupins"), a prequel episode to the film, will stream on Japanese streaming...

Pom Anime, the anime label of Amsterdam distributor Piece of Magic Animation, has added Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye, Akira, Grave of the Fireflies and Lupin The Iiird The Movie: The Immortal Bloodline to its 2025 slate.

Lupin The IIIrd the movie: The Immortal Bloodline is the latest addition to Takeshi Koike’s Lupin the IIIrd Universe, about the grandson of gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, and the first 2D Lupin feature in the franchise since Dead or Alive in 1996.

Pom Anime is planning a Q4 release for the film in multiple territories, including Benelux, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. The acquisition follows Pom’s successful 2024 partnership with rightsholder Tms Entertainment on the release of Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro across Europe.

Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye is the second cinematic series inspired by the hit manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, after Dan Da Dan: First Encounter which enjoyed...

Amsterdam-based Piece of Magic Entertainment’s anime division has unveiled a 2025 distribution slate that puts theatrical exhibition at the center of its European expansion strategy, with the crown jewel being a 4K restoration of cyberpunk classic “Akira.”

The Pom Anime lineup spans both prestigious legacy titles and breakout contemporary properties: “Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye,” “Akira,” “Grave of the Fireflies” and “Lupin the IIIrd The Movie: The Immortal Bloodline.” All four titles will receive theatrical releases across multiple European territories, signaling the distributor’s confidence in the big-screen appeal of anime content.

First out of the gate is the anticipated Season 2 theatrical launch of “Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye,” hitting cinemas June 7-8 across 12 territories, with Germany and Austria following June 10. Building on the success of “Dan Da Dan: First Encounter” in 2024, audiences will get the first three episodes of Season 2 plus exclusive 10-minute bonus content available only in theaters.

Europe-based distributor Pom Anime has acquired rights to upcoming Japanese anime Lupin The IIIrd The Movie: The Immortal Bloodlineand classics Akira and Grave Of The Fireflies as it prepares to open Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye in several territories.

The highly-anticipated Lupin The Third: The Movie marks the first 2D feature in the acclaimed franchise for nearly 30 years. Pom Anime plans to release the film in Q4 2025 in territories including Benelux, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

It builds on Pom’s partnership with Japanese animation studio Tms Entertainment after releasing 1979 classic Lupin III: The Castle Of Cagliostro,...

Europe-based distributor Pom Anime has acquired rights to upcoming Japanese anime Lupin The Third: The Movie and classics Akira and Grave Of The Fireflies as it prepares to open Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye in several territories.

The highly-anticipated Lupin The Third: The Movie marks the first 2D feature in the acclaimed franchise for nearly 30 years. Pom Anime plans to release the film in Q4 2025 in territories including Benelux, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

It builds on Pom’s partnership with Japanese animation studio Tms Entertainment after releasing 1979 classic Lupin III: The Castle Of Cagliostro, directed by Hayao Miyazaki,...

The official website for Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin ("Zenigata and Two Lupins"), a prequel episode to the upcoming anime feature film Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku ("The Immortal Bloodline"), released a main trailer today. The clip introduces the mysterious character that the title indicates, Fake-Lupin (Nise-Lupin), voiced by Kenyu Horiuchi (Wilhelm van Astrea in Re:zero -Starting Life in Another World- ). Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin Main Trailer Tms Entertainment's official anime YouTube channel is now also streaming a message video from Horiuchi. He says, "This 'Fake Lupin' looks so much like Lupin himself that even he could be mistaken for him. Moreover, he is a ruthless man. He is also the perpetrator of the bombings that have victimized the people without mercy. He is a genius at bombings. I did my best to play the role of 'Fake Lupin.

The story follows Arsene Lupin III and his gang as they travel to a mysterious, unmarked island in search of a great treasure allegedly hidden there, only to encounter tremendous challenges. This anime movie is based on the original work by Monkey Punch and directed by Takeshi Koike at animation studio Telecom Animation Film. Script is by Yuya Takahashi with music by James Shimoji and Katushito Ishii serves as creative advisor. Tms Entertainment overseas production and Toho Next will distribute the movie.

[Source: Crunchyroll]...

Lupin the Third has been one of the most enduring anime franchises of all time, in no small part thanks to the myriad of movies that have been released over the years. The Lupin franchise would recruit plenty of impressive talent to direct the films, with one of the most famous being animation legend Hayao Miyazaki to direct The Castle of Cagliostro in 1979, when the filmmaker was still early in his career. The next Lupin the Third film has officially been revealed, titled Lupin the Third: The Movie - Immortal Bloodline, with a brand-new trailer, teasing a high-stakes island adventure in the classic Lupin fashion.

The trailer, which can be viewed below, starts with a visual showcasing the various Lupin films released since 1978. Lupin has had a rich history in both television and film, with several iterations of the character creating a completely different style of the master thief. Some are more wholesome than others,...

Upcoming theatrical anime film Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku (“The Immortal Bloodline”) unveiled a new trailer, new key art and two new special guest members that have been added to the film's cast. The film debuts in Japanese theaters on June 27, 2025. Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku Trailer The new guest cast members revealed include: Muom voiced by Ainosuke Kataoka Salifa voiced by Aoi Morikawa Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku is based on the original work by Monkey Punch. Takeshi Koike directs the film at animation studio Telecom Animation Film. Yuya Takahashi provides the script, James Shimoji provides the music and Katushito Ishii serves as creative advisor. Tms Entertainment overseas production and Toho Next will distribute the film. Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku theatrical poster Related: Lupin the IIIrd New Anime Movie Streams Zenigata-Featured Prequel Episode on June 20 The...

Lupin the IIIrd: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin ("Zenigata and Two Lupins"), a prequel episode to the upcoming anime feature film Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku ("The Immortal Bloodline"), will stream on Japanese streaming services on June 20, 2025, one week before the film's theatrical release. The episode will also air on Japanese satellite TV channel Wowow two days later, along with the three previous episodes of the Lupin the IIIrd series — The Gravestone of Daisuke Jigen (2014), Goemon's Blood Spray (2017), and Fujiko Mine's Lie (2019). Key visual with a tagline: "What was stolen was yourself—". As its title suggests, it is a hard-action story with Inspector Zenigata as the main character. All of the film's main staff members, including director Takeshi Koike, scriptwriter Yuya Takahashi, soundtrack composer James Shimoji, and creative advisor Katsuhito Ishii, are attatched to the prequel episode as well. The synopsis reads (translated): An airport bombing in the Roviet Union,...

Previously announced back in November , a new teaser trailer and art have been revealed for Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku (“The Immortal Bloodline”). The official theme song performer for the film was also announced. The film will screen in Japanese cinemas beginning on June 27. Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku Teaser Trailer B'z performs the official theme song for the film, which is entitled “The IIIrd Eye” and which is sampled in the teaser trailer. Based on the original work by Monkey Punch, Takeshi Koike directs the film at animation studio Telecom Animation Film. Yuya Takahashi provides the script, James Shimoji provides the music and Katsuhito Ishii serves as creative advisor. Tms Entertainment oversees production and Toho Next will distribute the film. Lupin the IIIrd the Movie: Fujimi no Ketsuzoku teaser art Related: New Lupin the 3rd Anime Film Announced for 2025 Release The story of...

It's not hyperbole to say that The Matrixchanged blockbuster filmmaking forever upon its release in 1999. The Wachowskis' sci-fi epic introduced new ideas and techniques to the world of science-fiction cinema, spawning countless parodies and imitations that tried to recapture some of its magic. Not only did it make more than seven times its initial budget, it became a bona fide cultural sensation whose influence continues to be felt to this day.

With the first film being so successful, it was inevitable that Hollywood would want more Matrix. Its two sequels, 2003's The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, did good business but saw some diminishing creative returns, as the Wachowskis labored to turn a standalone film into a three-part epic. But beyond its mainline sequels, the saga also took a side trip into animation, and the result was probably the most satisfying Matrix property outside the original film: 2003's The Animatrix.

Phantom thieves might be making a comeback in anime, if the recent announcement of Lupin the Third's first 2D movie in decades is any indication. For the uninitiated, Lupin the Third is a story about a master thief by the same name, grandson of fictional French gentleman thief Arsène Lupin. Lupin has a singular voice, bridging comedy and adventure with action, heart, and sex appeal. It's an essential formula in entertainment—because it works.

Debuting in 1967, the series would go on to become one of the most renowned and timeless anime franchises, with Lupin developing an iconic status in Japan and Italy and a devoted cult following elsewhere in the world. Lupin the Third has spawned countless movies, TV releases, and countless manga. Fans have even gotten in on the action, since Lupin's episodic format lends itself well to one-off stories that aren't "canon", per se. However, despite its prolific catalog of adventures,...

The official X account of Lupin anime announced on Nov 29, 2024, that the franchise is set to return to the big screen in 2025 with a brand-new theatrical release titled Lupin The Iiird The Movie (working title).

This marks the first 2D feature-length animated film in the series in nearly 30 years, following the release of Lupin the Third: Dead or Alive in 1996.

Lupin III: The First movie, which released in 2019, was a completely computer animated film produced by Tms Entertainment.

A teaser trailer was revealed to commemorate the announcement.

Takeshi Koike will return to direct the new film, with Yuya Takahashi in charge of the script. James Shimoji will compose the music, and Katsuhito Ishii will serve as the creative advisor. Koike had previously directed three movies from the franchise between 2014 and 2019.

Telecom Animation Film will handle the animation production.

Lupin the IIIrd is a Japanese media franchise created by Monkey Punch.

The shining jewel of Monkey Punch's beloved library of works, Lupin the 3rd , is officially returning to theaters in 2025 with the franchise's first 2D animated feature film since 1997's Lupin the 3rd: Dead or Alive . An exciting announcement video for the tentatively titled "Lupin The Iiird The Movie" was shared today, along with initial staff and cast details. A longer version of the trailer is being shown at 45th-anniversary screenings of Lupin the 3rd The Castle of Cagliostro , which commenced today in Japan. Lupin The Iiird The Movie Teaser Trailer Related: Lupin The 3rd The Castle of Cagliostro Adds IMAX Screenings for 45th Anniversary Takeshi Koike directs the new Lupin the 3rd anime film at studio Telecom Animation Film, with a script by Yuya Takahashi ( Lupin the 3rd Part IV ) and music by James Shimoji ( Redline ). Katsuhito Ishii ( Redline original creator) serves as creative advisor and Toho Next is distributing the film.

The Animation Is Film Festival has announced its 2024 lineup, with films including “The Colors Within,” “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” and “Memoir of a Snail.”

The seventh edition of the annual festival runs through the weekend of Oct. 18-20 with three major features each day, along with filmmaker master classes, extended showings and plenty of premieres. The festival is held at the Tcl Chinese Theatres in Hollywood.

The festival opens on Oct.18 with the North American premiere of the melodic and bold feature from the Japanese animation studio Science Saru, “The Colors Within,” directed by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Naoko Yamada, known for “A Silent Voice.”

On Oct. 19, the centerpiece will be the North American premiere of Warner Bros. Animation’s “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” directed by award-winning filmmaker Pete Browngardt. The film is distributed by Ketchup entertainment.

The festival will conclude Oct.

The seventh Animation Is Film Festival (Aif) will open October 18 at the Tcl Chinese Theatres in Hollywood with the North American premiere of “The Colors Within,” the acclaimed anime from director Naoko Yamada (“A Silent Voice”), Japanese animation studio Science Saru, and distributor GKids. The prestigious festival (which runs through October 20) is produced by GKids in partnership with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and is considered an Oscar predictor.

“The Colors Within,” which had its world premiere this year at Annecy, concerns a high school student who forms a band with the ability to see the “colors” of others.

The centerpiece on October 19 will be the North American premiere of Warner Bros. Animation’s “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” from award-winning director Pete Browngardt (“Looney Tunes Cartoons”) and distributed in the U.S. by Ketchup Entertainment, which acquired it from Warner Bros. Daffy Duck...

There are tons of animation studios in Japan, but few come close to Madhouse. Madhouse has been in the animation business since 1972 and completed five decades in the anime and manga industry. The studio has produced several big names like Hunter x Hunter (2011), Yu Yu Hakusho, Death Note, One Punch Man, etc.

But in 2009, the studio was left in a sorry state after producing one of the flop anime movies of the year. The movie was called Redline, and it caused the studio to lose millions of dollars. Currently, in 2024, Redline has become one of the cult-classic anime movies even after miserably failing at the Japanese box office.

Redline Has Become A Cult-Classic Movie Redline (Credits: Madhouse)

Redline was released on October 9, 2009 in Japan. But before that, it had been premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival on August 14, 2009. At that time, no one thought it was going to suffer massive losses.

The Animatrix proved that anime series and movies can enhance Hollywood franchises like The Matrix, suggesting Terminator Zero will do the same. The animation medium allows stories to go beyond live-action limitations, making it perfect for sci-fi franchises like Terminator. Terminator Zero, helmed by Production I.G, is set to release on August 29, 2024.

Terminator Zero is an upcoming Netflix anime based on the Terminator franchise, and while this is a first for the saga that began in 1984, there is a sci-fi anime based on a different American franchise that proves it will work. Terminator Zero is more exciting than Terminator 7 for many reasons, starting from the fact that the Terminator franchise has only had one TV show since its inception, The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The anime series will be set in 1997, which is the year Judgment Day happened in Terminator 2s original timeline.

Timothy Olyphant has been cast in Terminator Zero,...

Anime is bigger than ever. With dedicated streaming services such as Crunchyroll enjoying a meteoric rise, rivals Netflix and Prime Video getting in on the action with their own dedicated selection, and even Disney – the arbiter of western animation – now boasting a growing number of exclusive anime series on Disney+, the availability and popularity of Japanese animation has never been greater.

Yet it's in film where anime has enjoyed the biggest boom, with the likes of Your Name and Miss Hokusai heralding a new era of excellence in animation, adding to a canon of definitive works such as Akira and My Neighbour Totoro. But with decades of brilliance to choose from, getting started on anime – or just choosing what to watch for movie night – can be daunting.

We've plucked out the best of the best to get you started, with a selection that highlights the medium's rich diversity of genres and styles,...

Japanese director Katsuhito Ishii will attend the 22nd edition of the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (Nifff), which will take place from June 30th to July 8th, 2023. The Nifff will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of his cult debut film Shark Skin Man And Peach Hip Girl (1998), a restored version of which will be presented in world premiere at the festival. In addition to showing several of his feature films, this eclectic artist will talk in depth about his rich, genre-blending filmography at the Nifff Extended conferences. A unique opportunity to explore the kaleidoscopic works of an auteur whose visual style never fails to dazzle.

The World’S First Retrospective Of His Versatile Body Of Work

After graduating, Katsuhito Ishii switches, as early as 1992, to directing commercials for the Tohokushinsha Company. In 1998, his first feature film Shark Skin Man & Peach Hip Girl, adapted from a Minetaro Mochizuki manga, takes everyone...

Japan Society is pleased to announce the launch of Monthly Anime

The rarely-screened Matrixanthology film The Animatrix—featuring works by Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichiro Watanabe, Vampire Hunter D’s Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Akira animator Koji Morimoto—screens in 35mm on May 27, 2022. Masaaki Yuasa’s The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, a Japan Cuts 2018 selection and Tomihiko Morimi adaptation, screens on June 17, 2022. Finally, to commemorate 25 years since its 1997 release, Hayao Miyazaki’s mystical epic Princess Mononoke screens in 35mm on July 22, 2022.

Tickets: 15/12 students and seniors /5 Japan Society members. Lineup and other details are subject to change.For complete information visit japansociety.org.

Screening Schedule

The Animatrix – Friday, May 27, 2022 at 7:00 Pm

Dir. Peter Chung, Andy Jones, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Takeshi Koike, Mahiro Maeda, Koji Morimoto, Shinichiro Watanabe; 2003, 102 min., 35mm, color, in English. With Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Clayton Watson.

A straight-to-dvd classic, the anime companion to The Matrix series received a...

Japan Society is pleased to announce the launch of Monthly Anime on April 15, 2022, which will kick-off with a screening of Mamoru Oshii’s seminal cyberpunk classic, Ghost in the Shell. Offering an eclectic range of classic, underseen, and contemporary visions from Japanese animation, Monthly Anime explores the widely influential legacy of anime. Tracing the lineage of anime from modern-day digital animation back to the days of hand-drawn cel animation, this program aims to uncover the multifaceted and remarkable variety of stylistic, technological, and generic possibilities that have kept the medium at the forefront of popularity not just in Japan, but worldwide.

Following Ghost in the Shell in April, the rarely-screened Matrix anthology film The Animatrix – featuring works by Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichiro Watanabe, Vampire Hunter D’s Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and Akira animator Koji Morimoto – screens in 35mm on May 27, 2022. Masaaki Yuasa’s The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, a...

Long before What If…? or Star Wars: Visions, there was The Animatrix, a collection of nine animated short films set in the world of The Matrix. Released in 2003, between The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, The Animatrix told nine (mostly) distinct stories only tangentially related to the ongoing plot of the Matrix series proper, and Lana and Lilly Wachowski did it by collaborating with some of the best directors working in Japanese animation at the time. I would say that The Animatrix walked so What If…? and Star Wars: Visions could run… except for the fact that The Animatrix fucking soared.

What is The Animatrix?

The Animatrix is comprised of nine short films, with stories ranging from a “historical file” of how the Matrix was created out of the war between humanity and machines in two-parter “The Second Renaissance” to the minimalist black-and-white noir of “A Detective Story” to...

“Yasuke,” the upcoming Netflix series from creator LeSean Thomas, has released its first trailer ahead of an April 29 release. The streaming giant provided the following synopsis along with key art Monday afternoon.

The tale is set in a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, and the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords.

All of that is found within the first trailer as the audience meets Yasuke, voiced by Academy Award nominee Lakeith Stanfield. Yasuke stands up for others despite being an outsider due to his former status as a slave. The animation looks beautiful — a mix of anime and light tones generally...

Lakeith Stanfield brings the legend of Yasuke, the real-life Black samurai in feudal Japan, to screen in the trailer for Netflix and Mapaa’s latest anime series that premieres this week.

The Oscar-nominated Judas and the Black Messiah actor takes on the titular character, a servant-turned-fierce hero in the series created by LeSean Thomas. Set in a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the series follows the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, who struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords.

The trailer teases Yasuke’s closest circle, his gory past, the series’ big bad and a fresh track from Grammy-nominated music producer Flying Lotus. The voice cast also features Ming-Na Wen,...

Starz announced that “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” will premiere on July 18.

Set in ’90s South Jamaica, Queens and serving as a prequel to the original Power franchise, the series stars Patina Miller, Mekai Curtis, Omar Epps, London Brown, Malcolm Mays, Hailey Kilgore, Joey Bada$$, Tony Sandeman, Shanley Caswell, Lovie Simone and Quincy Brown.

Creator and showrunner Sascha Penn executive produces alongside Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Courtney A. Kemp, Mark Canton, Chris Selak, Danielle De Jesus, Shana Stein and Bart Wenrich.

Also in today’s TV news roundup:

Dates

ABC announced that the special tribute episode of “General Hospital,” which will celebrate actor John Reilly, will air on May 21. The episode features “General Hospital” fan-favorites Kristina Wagner, John J. York, Finola Hughes, Genie Francis and Jon Lindstrom reprising their respective roles as Felicia Scorpio, Malcolm “Mac” Scorpio, Anna Devane, Laura Collins and Kevin Collins. While mourning the death of World Security...

Lakeith Stanfield is set to voice history’s first African samurai in “Yasuke,” Netflix’s upcoming anime series. The streaming service released a trailer for the show on Thursday evening, which you can watch below.

Per Netflix, the six-episode series “is set in a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, [where] the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords.”

“Yasuke,” which will premiere April 29 on Netflix, is created by LeSean Thomas (“Cannon Busters”), who also serves as director and executive producer. The series will feature music from Grammy-nominated musician Flying Lotus, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Stanfield. The series’ character designs...

Anime Limited are delighted to announce that Screen Anime, their curated channel dedicated to showcasing the pinnacle of Japanese animated films past and present, can now be enjoyed on the big screen at home or on the go with apps for Android and Amazon Fire TV devices available to download and watch now, with apps for iOS and Apple tvOS coming soon.

Since its launch in May 2020, Screen Anime has offered fans of the growing medium and film at large the opportunity to enjoy a rotating, curated monthly line-up of 4 films and 1 TV series that have ranged from recent smash-hits, to vintage classics, and cult curiosities, from only £3.98 a month.

Until 25th November, Screen Anime is hosting the expanded online line-up of Scotland Loves Anime, an annual film festival that had to scale back its physical events this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, two-thirds of all membership...

In a year that has proven challenging for films and the venues that show them, the Screen Anime channel is delighted to announce that it will host the digital line-up of Scotland Loves Anime, a celebration of Japanese animation that has attracted tens of thousands of visitors over 11 years, and help to support the local cinemas that host it.

Andrew Partridge, CEO of Anime Ltd and founder of Scotland Loves Animation explains, “Supporting cinemas through what has been a tough year is something really important to all of us at Anime Limited and Scotland Loves Animation. We can’t wait to show off what the festival has to offer on Screen Anime and help out our friends at both the Filmhouse and the Glasgow Film Theatre as much as we can.”

From 25th October until 25th November 2020, enjoy a celebration of two iconic franchises – Monkey Punch’s charismatic master thief Lupin III,...

It was always obvious to me that Katsuhito Ishii’s style would fit greatly in anime and the fact that the director of “Redline” is Takeshi Koike, who was in charge of the excellent style of animation featured in Ishii’s films “Funky Forest” and “The Taste of Tea”, was another guarantee of excellence. Add to all that the fact that Madhouse was the production studio behind the anime and that the cast of voice actors included Tadanobu Asano, Yu Aoi and Takuya Kimura, and you could easily say that nothing could go wrong with this one. Well, apart from the fact that the production took seven years to finish, particularly due to the over 100,000 hand-drawn frames, nothing did, in one of the best anime movies of the 21st century.

“Redline” is screening at Anime Film Festival 2019

The film revolves around “Sweet” Jp, a frantic and reckless rockabilly car racer...

The brand new Anime Film Festival is taking place on Saturday 7th September in London’s West End, with a programme of visually stunning and captivating films from Japan which will keep keen anime fans, as well as families and younger audiences, spellbound.​

Anime Film Festival was created by Reuben Ramanah, an avid anime fan who has long felt that, despite its strong following in the UK, anime is rarely given the spotlight it deserves in cinemas here. Working with a team of close friends adept in digital marketing and partnering with Picturehouse cinemas, an exciting festival has been created that has already received the backing of Manga UK and Anime Limited as well as creative support from YouTuber Beyond Ghibli and Picnic Animation Studio.

Festival Programme

​Mirai (2018) by Mamoru Hosoda

From acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda comes “Mirai”, a daringly original story of the importance of family across generations, and...

The racing movie has been a staple of Hollywood filmmaking for years. From classics such as Le Mans to the modern-day Fast & Furious franchise, there have always been racing movies and there have always been racing movie fans… The latest entry into the racing film genre is Death Race 3: Inferno, which continues the fight to the death Car-nage that the series is famous for. In honour of that films release of, we decided to take a look at the Top 10 Best Racing Films.

10) Initial D: Drift Racer

18-year-old Takumi (Jay Chou) delivers tofu for his hard-drinking dad, and works part time at his best friend’s garage. When he is unexpectedly asked to drive in an upcoming race, Takumi’s shock victory opens up a whole new world of possibilities, and his overnight fame is soon leading him to even more hellraising and dangerous races. But as Takumi pushes...

Anchor Bay Entertainment's Manga brand has now released the Madhouse, 2009 Japanese science fiction auto racing anime feature "Redline" on Blu-ray and DVD.

The directorial debut feature of Takeshi Koike features the voices of Takuya Kimura, Yū Aoi and Tadanobu Asano, based on an original story by Katsuhito Ishii.

"Redline" is set in the distant future, where a man known as 'Jp' takes on great risks for the chance of winning the 'underground' race :

"...'Sweet Jp', named for his personality, retro style and refusal to mount weapons on his racecar, nearly wins the "Yellowline" race against various sorts of racers, including aliens, most who use massive vehicles with jet engines loaded with guns and missiles. But just before the finish line Jp's car is sabotaged by an explosive device placed by his friend and mechanic 'Frisbee'.

"The 'Redline' race takes place on 'Roboworld', a militarized planet ruled by cyborgs.

Anchor Bay Home Entertainment is releasing Redline on Blu-ray and DVD January 17. We have a new contest to celebrate this anime title, and we're giving away copies of the Blu-ray to our readers. These high-def discs will certainly go fast, so enter this contest today.

Winners Receive:

Redline Blu-ray

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

Redline is about the biggest and most deadly racing tournament in the universe. Only held once every five years, everyone wants to stake their claim to fame, including Jp, a reckless dare-devil driver oblivious to speed limits with his ultra-customized car - all the while, organized crime and militaristic governments want to leverage the race to their own ends.

We’ve got an exclusive clip from the Takeshi Koike’s racing thriller Redline. This film won the Audience Official Selection Award for Animation at Fantasia and the Outstanding Achievement in Feature Filmmaking – Animation Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Redline is about the biggest and most deadly racing tournament in the universe. Only held once every five years, everyone wants to stake their claim to fame, including Jp, a reckless dare-devil driver oblivious to speed limits with his ultra-customized car – all the while, organized crime and militaristic governments want to leverage the race to their own ends. Amongst the other elite rival drivers in the tournament, Jp falls for the alluring Sonoshee – but will she prove his undoing, or can a high speed romance survive a mass destruction race? Watch the exclusive preview now showing off the final race: Redline hits Blu-ray and DVD on January 17, 2012. The film will have a limited NYC.

[1] Today's Amazon Gold Box Deal of the Day is The Ultimate Matrix Collection Blu-Ray for $25.49 [2] ($65 msrp). The Gold Box Deal of the Day is only good for 24 hours and will disappear at midnight. So act fast. This seven-disc collection contains the complete Matrix Trilogy in high definition video and lossless high definition 5.1 audio (Dolby TrueHD) — each with hours of special features including Whv's ground-breaking In-Movie Experience. The Animatrix, the nine-part anime film, three additional bonus discs include more than 35 hours of additional features and a digital copy of The Matrix. Full list of special features after the jump. Also, they have a one day only deal on It's A Wonderful Life, selling the Blu-ray for only $13.99 [3] ($30 msrp) and the two disc collector's DVD set for only $8.99 [4] ($20 msrp). Disc #1 - The Matrix (1999) In-Movie Experience Written introduction by the Wachowski brothers Philosophers commentary by Dr. Cornel West, Ken Wilber Critics commentary by Todd McCarthy,...

Well it’s the start of another week, so you know what that means – yet more DVD and Blu-ray releases hit the high street, ready and waiting to swallow up all your hard-earned cash! So here’s the rundown of what’s available to buy from today, November 14th 2011.

Pick Of The Week

Franklin & Bash: Season 1 (DVD)

When Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer), two young attorneys with a no-holds-barred courtroom style, are hired by Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell), life at his buttoned-down law firm will never be the same. Working with their equally oddball staff – researcher Pindar Singh (Kumail Nanjiani) and paralegal Carmen Phillips (Dana Davis) – Franklin and Bash shake things up at the firm with their audacious tactics and immediately find an enemy in its star lawyer, Infeld’s nephew Damien Karp (Reed Diamond). While the sexual tension between Jared and senior partner Hanna Linden...

(And Manga UK is the first one out of the gate, followed by Madman with Anchor Bay closely trailing in third...) It's not often that I write two reviews for the same film almost within a month from each other, but for Takeshi Koike's "Redline" I will gladly make an exception. Now for those with a big wallet this film was actually available already from Japan with English subtitles, but the first truly English-friendly version (meaning: with an English dub as well) will be released by Manga UK within a week in several editions, with even the most pimped version costing only a fraction of the Japanese disc. "Redline" is one of my favorite films out of all I've seen this year and sure is...

Redline

Directed by Takeshi Koike

2010, Japan, 102 minutes

Lots of people are saying that anime hit Redline is like taking acid. Frankly, that doesn’t quite do the film justice. Let’s do better. If Speed Racer and Heavy Metal had a child, but the child was exposed to a lot of drugs in utero, was born during a Gwar concert, only ate magic mushrooms, suffered a nerdy, angst-ridden youth, then contracted malaria, and suffered a dream infected with delirium, that dream would be Redline. Watching Redline made me feel party to a war crime. I’m pretty sure that I left the theatre on some kind of government list. I loved every minute of it.

In a nutshell: taking place in a galaxy of bizarre creatures, cyborgs, and magic, racing is the most important thing. Racer Sweet Jp (Takuya Kimura), a long shot with mob connections, wins a spot in the galaxy’s biggest race,...