Shout! Factory and Funimation Films are jointly launching the Japanese animated feature “In This Corner of the World” on Aug. 11 in the U.S.
The movie recently won the Animation of the Year award at this year’s 40th Japan Academy Prize and has been selected to premiere in competition at the LA Film Festival in June.
Based on the Japanese manga by Fumiyo Kouno, the film is written and directed by Sunao Katabuchi. Produced by Genco and Japanese animation studio Mappa, the film is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of World War II.
Suzu, the key character, moves to the small town of Kure in Hiroshima to live with her husband’s family. Her life is thrown into chaos when her town is bombed.
“‘In This Corner of the World’ is an incredibly exquisite, artful and socially relevant film that will impact everyone who sees it,” said Shout! Factory’s Melissa Boag. “We’re really proud in presenting this remarkable, hand-drawn animated film to North American movie audience.”
Variety‘s Maggie Lee said in her review, “Dwelling more on culinary feats with food rations than on the unutterable horror of the atomic bomb, Japanese period anime ‘In This Corner of the World‘ is a wistfully nostalgic time capsule of civilian life under the catastrophic tide of war.”
Katabuchi began his career working closely with Hayao Miyazaki before directing his own animated films, including the animated features “Mai Mai Miracle” and “Princess Arete.”
