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Animation industry can either make or break an animator’s career. And Mamoru Hosoda is no exception to this. The famed animator is praised for his masterpieces such as The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Belle, and Mirai.

But what most fans don’t know is that he was previously associated with Ghibli. Of late he has received recognition for his impeccable storytelling and stellar animation. But there was a time when he too had qualms regarding a certain project by the famed studio.

Mokoto in a still from The Girl Who Leapt Through Time | Credit: Madhouse

In an interview, Hosoda opened up about his apprehensions regarding a Ghibli movie. As a result, what would have been a collaborative project had the animator dropped out. He stated his concerns along with his qualms regarding the celebrated film.

And while it makes sense considering Miyazaki’s staunch standpoints and perspectives, one question remains.

Mamoru Hosoda is one of the most well-known moviemakers in the Japanese film industry. Some of his most popular works include The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars. In fact, his 2018 movie, Mirai, was nominated in the Best Animated Feature Film Category of the 91st Academy Awards.

Mirai (2018) directed by Mamoru Hosoda | Credits: Studio Chizu

Due to his popularity, Hosoda has been often compared with the likes of Hayao Miyazaki, another legend in the anime film department. However, the director is himself a fan of Miyazaki’s works and humbly admitted why the Ponyo and Spirited Away creator is irreplaceable.

Mamoru Hosoda on Being Compared to Hayao Miyazaki The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), directed by Mamoru Hosoda | Credits: Madhouse

Since Mamoru Hosoda is a successful anime film director and animator, it is obvious that he would be compared to Hayao Miyazaki at some point in time. In...

Prabhas Once Revealed Being Awkward With Kissing In Front Of The Camera( Photo Credit – Instagram )

South Indian movies have gained more audience over the past few years. SS Rajamouli is one of the reasons for this. His Baahubali 1 & 2 increased people’s interest, and it would not have been possible without the actors. Prabhas was so dedicated to this movie that he gave it his five years. The actor is passionate about his projects and can perform different kinds of stunts on screen, yet he gets uncomfortable doing intimate scenes. The Kalki 2898 Ad actor once revealed he gets jittery while locking lips on screen. Scroll below for the deets.

He is fondly referred to as the Rebel Star and has done around twenty movies. He got his breakthrough with the 2004 drama Varsham. His stardom increased with movies like Darling and Billa. The Kalki 2898 Ad star’s popularity exploded with Rajamouli...

Is Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi 2 Happening? ( Photo Credit – Prime Video )

Tharun Bhascker’s super hit Telugu-language film Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi (Ene) is all set to get a sequel! The movie developed a cult following among the youth over the years. Many follow the film even today. Makers hinted about having a sequel a long time ago. Meanwhile, fans continued to ask Tharun Bhascker about when they would see a follow-up of the 2018 buddy comedy.

Fans have long been waiting for the sequel to see the light of the day. The wait finally seems to end with makers trying to provide a positive update on the same. The Ene team will reportedly return for Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi 2. The sequel will feature the original cast: Vishwak Sen, Abhinav Gomatam, Venkatesh Kakumanu, Simran Chowdary, Anisha Ambrose, and Sushanth Reddy.

Trending Nidhhi Agerwal Set To Sparkle In ‘Mirai’ With A Show-Stopping Item Song! Here’s...

Karthi is returning as Dilli in ‘Karthi 2 – The End Card for Lcu’ directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. ( Photo Credit – Instagram; Twitter )

Lokesh Kanagaraj is one of the most successful filmmakers in Tamil cinema. He is known for starting the cinematic universe trend. His next film is Coolie, starring Superstar Rajinikanth. He confirmed that Coolie is a standalone film with no ties to the Lokesh Kanagaraj Cinematic Universe (Lcu). However, he announced that his next film will be Kaithi 2.

“The opening is strong and is now in the structure phase. The universe has only three films, while the others are standalone. The fourth film will set the foundation, the fifth will build on it, the sixth will serve as the pre-climax, and the seventh or eighth will conclude the series,” he explained.

“My next film after Coolie will be Kaithi 2, and then I plan to make a standalone film called Rolex.

Nidhhi Agerwal in Pawan Kalyan’s ‘Mirai’ item song ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Teja Sajja is one of the young actors in the film industry who is enjoying great fame. The young hero recently achieved a blockbuster. He scored a hit with HanuMan. After this success, the makers are confident they will produce more pan-Indian films with him. Now, we have an exciting project titled Mirai. Nidhhi Agerwal is the latest addition to the film.

Exciting updates regarding the cast have recently emerged. Ritika Nayak has been confirmed to play the heroine. There are also strong rumors that Nidhi Agarwal will be in the film. Nidhhi Agerwal is famous for her performance in iSmart Shankar. The actress is currently busy with Pawan Kalyan’s Harihara Veeramallu and Raja Saab, which are starring Prabhas.

Nidhhi Agerwal will appear in a particular song in Mirai, a special highlight in the film. There is...

When people think of Asian animated films, Studio Ghibli often comes to mind first. With iconic films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, the studio has become synonymous with high-quality animation and captivating storytelling. However, Asia’s animation industry is vast and diverse, with many other studios and filmmakers contributing unique and innovative works that deserve recognition. This article explores the rich landscape of Asian animated films beyond Studio Ghibli, highlighting some of the most remarkable productions from different countries.

The Rise of South Korean Animation

South Korea has become a significant player in the global animation industry, producing a variety of films that cater to both domestic and international audiences. One standout is Leafie, A Hen into the Wild (2011), directed by Oh Sung-yoon. This film, based on a popular Korean children’s book, tells the story of a hen who dreams of freedom beyond the farm. Its success...

Teja Sajja’s upcoming action-adventure film “Mirai” is generating significant buzz, especially following the success of his previous film, “HanuMan.” On his birthday, the film’s producers, People Media Factory, revealed a striking new poster showcasing Teja’s character, titled the “Super Yodha.” The poster, which features Teja in an intense pose holding a blazing iron rod against the backdrop of what appears to be an ancient temple, has heightened anticipation for the film, set to release on April 18, 2025, in both 2D and 3D formats.

The poster release has not only excited fans but also sparked discussions due to the close proximity of “Mirai’s” release to another major film, “Raja Saab,” starring Prabhas and directed by Maruthi. “Raja Saab,” which shares the same production house, People Media Factory, is slated for release just a week earlier on April 10, 2025. This scheduling has led to some concerns among fans, who worry...

UK distributor Anime Limited and Germany’s Plaion Pictures have acquired UK, France, Italy and Germany rights to the catalogue of Japanese director Mamoru Hosoda.

Three titles have been newly acquired by the two companies: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars and Wolf Children. Plaion Pictures has also picked up The Boy And The Beast for Germany and Italy.

The films join two further Hosoda titles on the slates of Anime and Plaion: Oscar-nominated Mirai, and his most recent film, 2021’s Belle.

The companies are working on a ‘World of Mamoru Hosoda’ theatrical season, releasing one of the...

The seventh edition of Animation is Film (Aif), a Los Angeles-based sister event to France’s prestigious Annecy Animation Festival, will run October 18-20 at the Tcl Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood this fall.

Launched in 2017, “The Festival embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form on par with live action and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of their work to the fullest range of expression that the medium is capable of,” reads the Aif mission statement.

The festival’s executive director, Matt Kaszanek, put it more succinctly during last year’s event: “Animation Is Film is not just the name of our festival; it is its mission.”

Animation is Film fills a gap in the U.S. market, which has no dedicated animation festivals on par with those in Europe, Asia, and Canada. The annual autumn event is also becoming something of an Oscar-season bellwether.

This article contains spoilers for "Shōgun."

It already feels safe to say that FX's "Shōgun'' is the TV breakout of 2024. FX, noticing the comparisons of "Shōgun" to "Game of Thrones," has concluded they have a golden goose and picked up the limited series for two more seasons.

"Shōgun" is set in Japan during the year 1600. Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) gains an ally in John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), a shipwrecked European sailor. Blackthorne came to Japan to ensure the Portuguese didn't seize the island nation before his homeland England could get a trading foothold. When he arrives, he doesn't speak a word of his new companions' language.

One of the first Japanese words that Blackthorne learns is "Teki" — "Enemy." I remember as I watched the scene, I recognized the word myself. I don't speak Japanese, but I have picked up a few words from watching many different anime series.

US outfit Gkids has partnered with the UK’s Anime Ltd. to secure international rights to The Colors Within, the highly anticipated anime feature directed by Naoko Yamada.

It was revealed today that the upcoming feature will receive its world premiere in competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 9-15).

The two companies secured the rights – which exclude Asia, the Middle East and North Africa – from Japan’s Story Inc. and have appointed Paris-based Charades to handle sales for select territories.

Gkids has rights for North America, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. Anime Ltd. has rights for the UK,...

Two of France’s fastest-rising young stars, Lyna Khoudri and Rio Vega, will lead the French voice cast of animated feature “In Waves,” an unconditional first love story, and tale of loss and memories adapting American illustrator Aj Dungo’s same-titled multi-prized graphic novel.

An anticipated banner prestige animation title from Paris-based Silex Films, “In Waves” lead producer, the feature also marks the first animated co-production of both Anonymous Content and Charades, behind sales of Jeremy Clapin’s “I Lost My Body” and Mamoru Hosoda’s “Mirai,” both Oscar nominated titles.

In Waves is directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen, a former student of French animation schools Gobelins and La Poudrière who helmed episodes of the Silex-produced animated series “Brazen” and was Oscar-shortlisted for her short “My Home,” “In Waves” has just been announced as one of five titles at the Annecy Animation Showcase, part of Cannes’ Animation Day on May...

Jr Ntr’s Devara Earns A Big Amount By Selling Theatrical Rights?(Photo Credit –Facebook)

This year, we are going to see some really big pan-India films, one of which is Devara. The film features Jr Ntr, Janhvi Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan in key roles. While there’s still a lot of time in the release, the film is already making all the noise due to its pre-release deals. Now, the latest we learned about the biggie is about the theatrical rights deal. Keep reading to know more!

For those who don’t know, the film will be made in two parts, the first of which is titled Devara: Part 1. Initially, it was planned for a summer 2024 release, but as per the recent official update, it is now scheduled to arrive in theatres on 10 October 2024, thus aiming to enjoy the benefit of the Dussehra holidays.

After Rrr, Jr Ntr...

Angry Thalapathy Vijay Fans Troll The Greatest Of All Time Composer Yuvan Shankar Raja? (Photo Credit –Instagram/YouTube)

Thalapathy Vijay is all set to shift his gears from films to politics soon, but before doing that, the superstar is going to complete his already-signed films, and The Greatest Of All Time is among the projects that have already been committed. The promotions are in full swing, and recently, the first single was dropped from The Goat album. However, the reception has been average so far among audiences. Keep reading to know more!

For the unversed, all recent films of Vijay started their promotional journey on a good note, with their first single turning out to be a big hit. Be it Master, Beast, Varisu, or Leo, all these films built immense buzz around themselves due to the first chartbuster single. However, the thing isn’t similar in the case of...

News Wrap Apr 18, 2024: Pushpa 2’s Digital Rights Deal, Srk-Suhana Khan’s Film, Shilpa Shetty-Raj Kundra’s Legal Mess. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Koimoi’s Entertainment news wrap is here for you! In today’s news, Pushpa 2: The Rule secured a record-breaking digital rights deal, Teja Sajja’s action film Mirai unveiled its first look, and Chiyaan Vikram’s Veera Dheeran Sooran Part 2 began filming. 8 Indians were well-represented on Time’s 100 Most Influential List. Sandeep Vanga criticized Adil Hussain over Kabir Singh, while Ar Rahman defended himself against Subhash Ghai’s criticism. Security was increased for Shah Rukh Khan following threats, but they were unrelated to the Salman Khan attack. Reality TV stars Abhishek Kumar and Ayesha Khan trended online, and Shah Rukh Khan will reportedly share the screen with his daughter Suhana Khan for the first time. And Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra faced legal trouble...

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Box Office Collection Day 20: Crosses 1 Crore Mark Again!( Photo Credit – IMDb )

It was back to 1 crore+ earning for Hollywood flick Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire as the film brought in 1.10 crore on Wednesday. The film had collected 0.87 crore the day earlier and grew a bit. Two factor played a role in this. Firstly it was Ramanavami partial holiday and secondly, it’s also a set film and the competition is hardly coming into play.

The film has now collected 88.74 crores and will come quite close to 90 crores mark today. Then there would be growth over the weekend and though it would be tough for the film to enter the 100 Crore Club by end of next week, it will certainly happen well within the weekend that follows.

Thankfully this holdover release had been liked by the audience due to which exhibitors have something to play.

Varshangalkku Shesham Box Office Collection Day 7: Surpasses Malaikottai Vaaliban Lifetime Total (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Vineeth Sreenivasan’s directorial venture Varshangalkku Shesham has displayed steady collections throughout its first week at the box office, proving its mettle against another major Malayalam release, Aavesham. Read further to know how the period drama fared at the box office on Day 7, i.e., 1st Wednesday.

While Aavesham captured headlines with its action-comedy genre, Varshangalkku Shesham held its own, averaging a decent 2.5 crore collection on weekdays. The film garnered 2.65 crore on its first Monday, followed by 2.35 crore and 2.10 crore (estimated) on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. With a total collection of 20.20 crore after seven days, trade analysts predict it will comfortably reach 22 crore by the end of its first week (eight days).

This performance is particularly noteworthy considering Varshangalkku Shesham’s focus on a different genre compared to Aavesham. The film’s 36.10% Malayalam occupancy rate...

The first look of Teja Sajja’s next Super Yodha Film ‘Mirai’ Was Released Today. ( Photo Credit – People Media Factory / YouTube )

It’s been quite the start for major south releases. After HanuMan‘s major success, Tejja Sajja is ready to star in another major hit. People Media Factory, a thriving production house in Tollywood, just revealed their upcoming project, Production No. 36. Directed by the incredibly skilled Karthik Gattamneni, it stars Super Hero Teja Sajja as Super Yodha.

Tg Vishwa Prasad, who possesses impeccable taste and is highly passionate about filmmaking, is financing the film on a massive scale, with high production and technical standards. As promised, the makers revealed the film’s title, first-look poster, and teaser today. The film’s name is Extraordinarily Mirai, meaning “Future.” The Title logo is designed in a Japanese font. In the first-look poster, Teja Sajja stands atop an exploding volcano, sporting a...

Teja Sajja will be next seen in the upcoming multi-lingual film ‘Mirai’ based on the fictional story of King Ashoka and his ‘Secret 9’.

The title logo of the film, designed in a Japanese font, was unveiled on Thursday.

The first look poster showcases Teja Sajja in a Super Yodha appearance, wielding a Yo (Staff Stick), standing atop an erupting volcano against the backdrop of an eclipse.

Teja’s character is tasked with preventing the eclipse from reaching Ashoka’s Secret 9. He excels in Karra Samu (stick fights) and other forms of fights.

The cinematography for the film is handled by Karthik Gattamneni, with background score by Gowra.

Karthik has also penned the screenplay, alongside Manibabu Karanam, who has written the dialogues.

The film is bankrolled by Tg Vishwa Prasad and People Media Factory.

The makers, through the glimpse, have announced the release of ‘Mirai’ in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam,...

Following the success of “HanuMan,” Teja Sajja joins forces with director Karthik Gattamneni for a new pan-India film titled “Mirai” [3D]. The title glimpse has been unveiled, generating excitement among fans.

Starring Teja Sajja and Ritika Nayak, “Mirai” is produced by T G Vishwa Prasad of People Media Factory. The film is slated for release on April 18, 2025, across multiple languages including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, and Chinese.

With anticipation building for Teja Sajja’s next venture, “Mirai” promises to be an immersive cinematic experience, catering to audiences across different regions and languages. Directed by Karthik Gattamneni, known for his expertise in storytelling, the film is expected to captivate viewers with its engaging narrative and visual effects in 3D.

As the release date approaches, fans eagerly await further updates and glimpses into the world of “Mirai.” With its pan-India appeal and diverse language release, the film aims to reach...

Gkids has announced the acquisition of North American rights to Mamoru Hosoda’s entire film catalog.

Hosoda’s films include “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,” “Wolf Children,” “Mirai” and “Belle.”

Gkids’ President David Jesteadt said, “One of Gkids’ earliest distribution projects was the theatrical release of ‘Summer Wars,’ when Mamoru Hosoda had already cemented his position as one of the most exciting animation directors. We were honored to deepen our relationship with the release of his two latest films, ‘Mirai’ and ‘Belle,’ and are excited to now be able to showcase the full breadth of Hosoda’s ambitious storytelling across his film catalog, featuring some of the most acclaimed and successful Japanese animated films of all time.”

Hosoda’s six features have all been nominated for, and five have been awarded, the Japan Academy Prize for “Animation of the Year.” He also landed an Oscar nomination for 2018’s “Mirai...

“Close to You,” the Elliot Page-starring drama directed by BAFTA winner Dominic Savage, will be introduced to international buyers at the European Film Market by former Charades exec Jean-Félix Dealberto.

The film, which was written by Savage and Page, and also stars Hillary Baack (“Sound of Metal”), had its world premiere in Toronto, where Greenwich Entertainment acquired U.S. distribution rights.

“Close to You” follows Sam (Page), who moved to Toronto from his small town on Lake Ontario, Canada, and finally decides to return home to visit his family for his dad’s birthday. On his journey, he has a chance encounter with a friend from high school (Baack) that sparks old feelings. It is on this trip where Sam can finally confront long-buried feelings, a first love that was never properly resolved, his relationship with his family and a newfound love and confidence in himself.

The film was...

An anime film was bound to make it into the Oscar nominations this year, and the contender this time around is Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron . Ghibli's latest film was nominated in the Animated Feature Film Category, where it will compete with Elemental , Nimona , Robot Dreams and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse . Other nominations include Godzilla Minus One , which is up for the Visual Effects category , and Japanese/German co-production Perfect Days —directed by Wim Wenders and written by Wim Wenders and Takuma Takasaki—which is up for Best International Feature Film . We'll find out who wins when the 96th annual Academy Awards ceremony airs live on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 4:00pm Pacific Time. Related: The Boy and the Heron Awarded Golden Globe for Best Animated Film Miyazaki previously won an Academy Award in 2002 for Spirited Away , making anime history. His Howl's Moving Castle film was nominated in...

Charades has taken on worldwide sales rights outside of Japan for anime master Mamoru Hosoda’s library.

Charades has taken on worldwide sales rights outside of Japan for anime master Mamoru Hosoda’s library and has partnered with acclaimed animation house Studio Chizu to expand the brand across borders.

Hosada’s full library will now be consolidated under the Charades banner after the two powerhouse companies previously joined forces for sales on the filmmaker’s Oscar-nominated 2018 coming-of-age anime Mirai and 2021 metaverse fairytale Belle that premiered in Cannes and was a box office hit in Japan, the US and other global territories.

In just a few weeks, the 18th recipient of the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature will be revealed. While it is highly likely that the new winner will share a 3D visual style in common with nearly all of its predecessors, voters may instead decide to finally honor a fully hand-drawn movie for the first time. Fittingly, this monumental distinction would be credited to the legendary Studio Ghibli and its esteemed cofounder, Hayao Miyazaki, who suspended his brief retirement in order to make his dozenth film, “The Boy and the Heron.”

With an original plot that pointedly references the classic Japanese novel “How Do You Live?,” “The Boy and the Heron” is the 25th entry in Studio Ghibli’s animated canon and the company’s 10th film released after the creation of this Golden Globe category. Although four of its post-2005 productions earned Oscar notices for Best Animated Feature,...

Exclusive: There’s been much celebratory talk here at the Tokyo Film Festival about a new dawn of internationally-minded Japanese artists led by directors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Makoto Shinkai, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.

One of the key creative voices often mentioned amongst this new Japanese set is Genki Kawamura, known internationally by audiences as the writer of If Cats Disappeared from the World, one of Japanese literature’s most successful contemporary novels, and the filmmaker who brought that book and titles such as Suzume, Weathering with You, and, most recently, Kore-eda’s Cannes prize-winning Monster to the big screen.

Born in Yokohama in 1979, Kawamura began his career at entertainment juggernaut Toho, where he was identified early as a promising talent. He cut his teeth on pics like Tetsuya Nakashima’s 2010 feature Confessions, which was shortlisted for the Best International Feature Oscar, and Mamoru Hosoda’s The Boy and the Beast.

“Chicken for Linda!” has been acquired for domestic distribution by Gkids. The hand-painted comedy-drama will play in competition at this year’s Annecy International Film Festival and was an official Cannes selection in this year’s Acid program.

“Linda veut du poulet!” is directed by husband-and-wife team Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach, who work together frequently on both live-action and animation productions.

Malta primarily works in live-action filmmaking and is best known for “Simple Women” (co-wrote with Laudenbach). Laudenbach is best known for his Annecy Jury Prize-winning debut “The Girl Without Hands.” Gkids will release “Chicken for Linda!” in theaters in 2024 following a release in France this October.

“Chicken For Linda! is a breath of fresh air in animation,” Gkids president David Jesteadt said. “Through pairing such a unique and daring visual style with a deeply emotional and universal story about family, directors Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach have given...

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” has swung into theatres with aplomb, matching (if not beating) the excitement and love that the first movie, “Into the Spider-Verse,” garnered in 2018.

“Across the Spider-Verse” follows on from that first movie with Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) now a successful Spider-Man in his own universe. But another encounter with Hailee Steinfeld‘s Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman leads to Miles being launched into the Spider-Verse wherein he encounters a society of Spider-People, led by Oscar Isaac‘s Miguel O’Hara, and a new foe — Spot (Jason Schwartzman). The film ends on an outrageous cliffhanger, teasing the conclusion of the series with next year’s “Beyond the Spider-Verse.”

For now, however, fans will have to be satisfied with this excellent addition to the Spider-Man canon, which currently stands at an impressive 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the site’s critical consensus reading: “Just as visually dazzling and action-packed as its predecessor,...

If you’re wondering what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in June, the answer is a lot. The streamer has a solid slate of movies heading into summer 2023. From the first two “Creed” films to “Love, Rosie,” “Yours, Mine & Ours” and other clever romantic comedies, the streamer has a range of options for viewers with different tastes. Newer theatrical releases arriving on the streamer in June include “TÁR,” “Armageddon Time,” and “M3GAN.”

TV premieres to look forward to include Boots Riley’s “I’m A Virgo” and the fourth and final season of John Krasinski’s “Jack Ryan.” “Crazy Rich Asians” arrives early in June, followed by “Interstellar” for all Christopher Nolan and Matthew McConaughey lovers. Even though “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” doesn’t release in theaters until November, all four “Hunger Games” films land on Prime Video this June. Perfect timing — maybe even with a reread...

With its list of new releases for June 2023, Prime is bringing a handful of Amazon Originals and many recent movie hits to the fold.

It’s actually quite a busy month for non-American programming in Amazon Originals department. Shows and movies like Deadloch, My Fault, and Medellín all originate from outside the U.S. and U.K. For the American and British crowd, however, the streamer is debuting two big tentpoles.

The first is I’m a Virgo on June 23. Acclaimed director Boots Riley’s TV followup to Sorry to Bother You will tale the surreal and satirical tale of a giant in Oakland. That will be followed by the more conventional (assumedly) fourth season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on June 30.

The real fireworks this month come from a ludicrously deep bench of library TV and movie titles. Give them a look for yourself below but if we were to highlight just a few,...

The fourth and final season of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” arrives on Prime Video on June 30. It finds Ryan — now the new acting CIA director — unearthing internal corruption and suspicious black ops that leaves the United States vulnerable to attack. John Krasinski stars as the tough-as-nails Ryan.

Watch the “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” trailer:

“Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” is a new docuseries that reveals the truth behind the myth of the wholesome religious family and their involvement with the predatory Bill Gothard and The Institute in Basic Life Principles. The organization’s abusive practices — and the insidious long political game it plays — is revealed on June 2. The Duggars and their 19 “happy” kids are exposed as frauds, while also being manipulated by Gothard and enduring the scandal of Josh, their sexually abusive son.

Check out the “Shiny Happy People” trailer:

When a body is found on the beach in the Tasmanian town of Deadloch,...

Exclusive: Paris-based sales and production company Charades and London-based production and financing studio Anton are partnering on the worldwide sales of Oscar-winning Australian director Adam Elliot’s upcoming stop-motion drama Memoir Of A Snail.

The poignant tale of a young lonely misfit is the second feature after the award-winning 2019 animation Mary And Max for Elliot, who won an Oscar for the 2004 short Harvey Krumpet.

The partners have unveiled a first image as well as some first members of international voice cast featuring Jacki Weaver (Yellowstone), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Elvis), Dominique Pinon, Magda Szubanski, and Eric Bana (The Dry).

The lead cast has yet to be announced.

The animated feature is produced by Arenamedia, with Liz Kearney (Paper Planes) as producer, and Robert Connolly (The Dry) and Robert Patterson as Executive Producers.

The film is currently shooting in Melbourne, Australia, with an expected release date...

Anonymous Content has come on board California surf-themed animated feature adapted from illustrator Aj Dungo’s celebrated graphic memoir, “In Waves.”

Produced by Paris-based Silex Films, “In Waves” marks the feature debut of Phuong Mai Nguyen (“Brazen”), and is being penned by Fanny Burdino and Samuel Doux, whose screenwriting credits include “After Love” and “The Origin of Evil.”

The feature is produced by Priscilla Bertin and Judith Nora, co-Founders of Silex Films, alongside Charades and Nick Shumaker, Garrett Kemble, and David Levine who will executive produce on behalf of Anonymous Content.

“We fell in love immediately with ‘In Waves’ on first read,” said Nick Shumaker on behalf of Anonymous Content. “Its themes of first love, loss, and memory will speak to worldwide audiences across age ranges and demographics, and is a needed anecdote to help inject positive emotion back into our everyday,” Shumaker continued. He pointed out the projects marks...

Gkids has snapped up North American rights to Keiichi Hara’s Lonely Castle in the Mirror, after serving as the distributor in the territory for his past animated features Summer Days with Coo and Miss Hokusai. The film based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Mizuki Tsujimura, featuring animation from A-1 Pictures, is slated for a theatrical release in both its original Japanese language and an all-new English dub this summer.

Reuniting Hara with collaborators including screenwriter Miho Maruo, composer Harumi Fuuki and artist Ilya Kuvshinov, Lonely Castle in the Mirror follows shy outcast Kokoro, who has been avoiding school for weeks when she discovers a portal in her bedroom mirror. She reaches through and finds herself transported to an enchanting castle where she is joined by six other students. And when a girl in a wolf mask explains that they have been invited to play a game,...

Gkids has acquired North American rights to Unicorn Wars — the latest genre-bending animated feature from Goya and Annecy Cristal-winning director Alberto Vázquez (Birdboy: The Forgotten Children) — ahead of its U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest. The horror-comedy will be released in theaters by Gkids in early 2023, following its domestic release in Spain this fall.

Billed as Bambi meets Apocalypse Now, Unicorn Wars‘ logline is as follows:

For ages, teddy bears have been locked in an ancestral war against their sworn enemy, the unicorns, with the promise that victory will complete the prophecy and usher in a new era. Aggressive, confident teddy bear Bluet and his sensitive, withdrawn brother Tubby could not be more different. As the rigors and humiliation of teddy bear bootcamp turn to the psychedelic horrors of a combat tour in the Magic Forest, their complicated history and increasingly strained relationship will come to determine the fate of the entire war.

Gkids has acquired the North American distribution rights to “Unicorn Wars,” ahead of the adult animated film’s U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. The news was announced Thursday.

Set during an ancestral war between teddy bears and unicorns, the horror-comedy film follows Bluet and Tubby, teddy bear brothers who are polar opposites to each other. When their time at teddy bear bootcamp leads to a combat tour in the Magic Forest, Bluet and Tubby’s complicated history and tense relationship could affect the fate of the war, including whether the teddy bears will fulfill the prophecy and usher in a new era.

“Unicorn Wars” is directed and written by illustrator Alberto Vázquez. Prior to this deal, Gkids distributed Vázquez’s Goya Award-winning feature “Birdboy: The Forgotten Children” and animated short “Decorado.”

“There is nobody on Earth who could make a film like ‘Unicorn Wars’ except Alberto Vázquez,...

"Beauty and the Beast" truly is a tale as old as time, and has been retold in countless ways, like the Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton TV series of the same name, the Fran Drescher comedy "The Beautician and the Beast," the teen rom-drama "Beastly," or even in an episode of "Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater." Recently, legendary Japanese filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda delivered "Belle," a magnificent animated sci-fi fantasy film that thrusts the tale out of the world of old and into the techno future.

The story takes place in the not-so-distant future where the internet has evolved into a legitimate virtual reality called U, where avatars are created by users' scanned biometric information. A teenager named Suzu creates an avatar named Belle who becomes a pop superstar, but everything changes when her virtual concert is interrupted by the seemingly undefeatable fighter The Dragon (or "The Beast"), who she quickly becomes infatuated with.

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "Belle"

Where You Can Stream It: HBO Max

The Pitch: Mamoru Hosoda, the Academy Award-nominated director of films like "Mirai," "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time," "Wolf Children," and the single best episode of "Digimon Adventure," wowed audiences at Cannes with his latest film, "Belle" — which received a 14-minute standing ovation. The sci-fi musical takes place in a world where the internet has grown to become a massive virtual reality called...

The post The Daily Stream: Belle Makes the Internet a Place of Good (and Rocks Out While Doing So) appeared first on /Film.

August is here, which means summer is winding down and the options at your local multiplex are starting to become a bit slimmer. Not to worry, though, because a bevy of new titles are streaming this month, offering a ton of new movies — both newly streaming films and genuine new releases — to enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Below, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the best new movies to stream in August, which runs the gamut from a new “Predator” prequel to a vampire action comedy to a pair of brand new animated films.

Belle Studio Chizu

August 1, HBO Max

One of last year’s very best animated features, “Belle” hails from Japanese filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda. A 21st century take on “Beauty and the Beast,” “Belle” concerns a young girl who refashions herself as a pop princess in a virtual space known as the U.

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...

Welcome to International Disruptors, a feature where we shine a spotlight on key executives and companies outside of the U.S. shaking up the offshore marketplace. With the 75th Cannes Film Festival less than two weeks away, we’re speaking with well-respected French sales exec Carole Baraton, co-founder of international sales and production outfit Charades. The company has four titles in selection and Baraton tells us about the company’s ambitions and why she’s looking forward to being back on the Croisette.

It’s been five years since French sales veteran Carole Baraton joined forces with former Gaumont exec Yohann Comte and former Studiocanal exec Pierre Mazars to launch Charades and in that short period of time the trio have managed to carve out a boutique sales and production label that has quickly become synonymous with quality independent fare.

The Paris-based company is a regular fixture on the international...

Photo: 'Belle' Director Mamoru Hosoda may be one of the unsung heroes of animation in the past decade and change, especially when it comes to the wide realm of Japanese animation. Since his breakout hit with ‘The Girl Who Leapt Through Time’ in 2006, Hosoda has put out a feature film every three years without fail, all of them of remarkably consistent quality. In 2019, when the Academy Awards announced nominees for Best Animated Feature, Hosoda’s ‘Mirai’ became the first Oscar-nominated anime feature not made by Studio Ghibli. Now with his latest film, ‘Belle’, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021 to much applause, Hosoda paints on the widest canvas he can manage, giving us a true epic for the digital age. Don’t worry about the film’s message, though; this is not a pessimistic tale about the evils of the internet, but rather about how the...

‘The Souvenir Part II’, ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ both open.

Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Feb 4-6) Total gross to date Week 1. Sing 2 (Universal) £5.1m £13m 2 2. Jackass Forever (Paramount) £2.1m £2.1m 1 3. Belfast (Univeral) £1.5m £9m 3 4. Spider-Man: No Way Home (Sony) £1.15m £91.7m 8 5. Moonfall (Efd) £1m £1.16m 1

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.35

Paramount’s Jackass Forever has set a franchise opening record with a £2.1m start at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend, as Sing 2 kept top spot with an impressive second session.

Jackass Forever played in 537 locations, taking a location average of £3,911 – a decent total for an 18-rated film.

‘Moonfall’, ‘The Souvenir Part II’, ‘Belle’ among busy weekend.

Paramount Picitures’ non-fiction comedy Jackass Forever heads the new openers at the UK-Ireland box office this weekend, on a busy weekend that also features sci-fi Moonfall, festival favourite The Souvenir Part II and anime Belle.

The fifth theatrically-released film in the Jackass franchise, Jackass Forever reunites Johnny Knoxville, Steve-o, Chris Pontius and the gang of miscreants for what they claim is their final outing under the Jackass name; although this was previously asserted after the 2002 first film, Jackass: The Movie.

Forever opens in 537 locations – a significant increase on the previous films...

This weird postmodern drama sees a lonely teenager join a virtual world where she becomes a hugely successful singer

There’s some amazing big-screen spectacle in this weird postmodern emo photo-love drama from Japanese anime director Mamoru Hosoda, whose previous film Mirai elevated him to auteur status. Suzu, voiced by Kaho Nakamura, is a deeply unhappy and lonely teenager at high school, who lives with her dad. Her mum died some years ago, attempting (successfully) to save a child from drowning and Suzu can’t come to terms with the zero-sum pointlessness of this calamity: a total stranger was saved but her mother died. Or not zero in fact: while her loss increased the sum-total of unhappiness, the most popular boy in school – a friend since they were little – is tender and protective towards Suzu.

Her life is complicated further when she is persuaded to join a virtual reality meta-universe called U,...

The boxing dreams drama is fifth fiction feature by Japanese director Shô Miyake who was last in Berlin in 2019.

Paris-based sales company Charades has boarded Japanese director Shô Miyake’s drama Small Slow But Steady ahead of its premiere in the Encounters section of the Berlinale.

Yukino Kishii stars as a hearing-impaired young woman with dreams of becoming a professional boxer. The Covid-19 pandemic combined with the threatened closure of her boxing club and the illness of its ageing president (played by Tomokazu Miura), who has been her biggest supporter, push her to the limit.

Miyake, whose career spans fiction,...

Even in the midst of a massive Covid wave this January, box office receipts continue to surprise. One of the most impressive openings of the pandemic era so far didn’t feature a franchise superhero, but the pop star avatar of a teenage girl in Mamoru Hosoda’s critically acclaimed anime epic “Belle.” The Gk Films release took in over $2 million in just 1,300 theaters this weekend racking up the third-best per screen behind “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and the latest “Scream.” Oh, and the Cannes premiere could find the “Mirai” filmmaker with a second Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.

Continue reading Mamoru Hosoda On Creating A Virtual ‘Beauty And The Beast’ For ‘Belle’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

Belle is set to top $2 million Thurs.-Mon. on 1,326 screens, according to distributor Gkids. With Saturday’s actuals, it said, the gross surpassed $1.2M, making it director Mamoru Hosoda’s highest grossing film in the U.S. That was previously 2018’s Mirai with $812K.

Hosoda’s (The Boy and the Beast) latest film with Studio Chizu was also his first to screen in Imax and a hit in Japan when it was released last summer.

Gkids director of distribution Chance Huskey said Belle also stands as the top grossing original anime film — meaning not affiliated with a TV franchise as most are — since 2020’s Weathering With You made $8M. Gkids distributed Mirai and Weathering with You. Belle is by far its widest U.S. Huskey said its performing best on the West Coast, the East may be getting dinged by weather.

This is a musical film seeing lots of organic engagement on TikTok and Twitter,...

Fathom Events presents Betty White: A Celebration in 1,529 locations nationwide, a one-day-only special event on Monday honoring the actress who died Dec. 31 just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. The star-studded reflection on White’s life and career, which had already been set by filmmakers Steven Boettcher and Mike Trinklein to celebrate her centennial Jan. 17, will run three showtimes at 1 pm, 4 pm and 7 pm.

As for weekend openings, a pair of solid documentaries and two dramas — about memory loss and global apocalypse by pink gas — debut in a frame where there isn’t much new. Distributors are carefully weighing expansion for award hopefuls already out amid the ongoing surge in Omicron and ahead of Oscar nods Feb. 8.

Newcomers include Magnolia Pictures’ drama Italian Studies in seven theaters including New York and LA, and on demand. Directed by Adam Leon it stars Vanessa Kirby, Simon Brickner,...