Looking for something to do over the final week of Spring Break? The VIFF has a number of anime films playing at their theatre in downtown Vancouver now through the beginning of April.
If you missed them on the big screen before, now’s your chance to catch them! Here’s what’s on the schedule:
On-Gaku: Our Sound
What do three bored teenagers do? Start a band! With two basses and a less-than-full drum set the trio play on anyways, looking to amaze the only friend outside of their group, and to keep their distance from another gang.
Directed by Kenji Iwaisawa and premiered January 11th, 2020. Shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
Promare
Most of humanity perish due to spontaneous combustion; some of those who survive acquire pyrokinetic abilities. Years after the event, Galo Thymos of the Burning Rescue team battles a suspected group of pyro-terrorists, but learns they’re not the ones really causing trouble…
Directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and premiered May 24th, 2019. Shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
Belle
Suzu finds comfort following her mother’s passing by adopting the online persona of a popular singer named Belle in “U”, a virtual world. Here she is able to truly be herself, but her online performance is disrupted by a beast being chased by virtual vigilantes. Suzu joins the hunt which she hopes will uncover who the monster is and more about her own self.
Directed by Mamoru Hosada and premiered on July 16th, 2021. Shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
Blue Giant
Dai Miyamoto’s life is turned upside down the day he discovers jazz. A former high school basketball player, Dai picks up a saxophone and begins practicing day and night, determined to become one of the greatest of all time. He leaves his sleepy hometown for the bustling nightclubs of Tokyo, but soon finds the life of a professional musician is not for the faint of heart. His passion eventually wins over the cocky but talented pianist Yukinori, and after Dai convinces his friend Shunji to learn the drums, they launch a new jazz trio whose rough sound contains a raw energy that quickly wins attention from local audiences. But what does it take to truly be great?
Directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa and premiered on February 17th, 2023. Shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
Goodbye, Don Glees!
Three friends form a group, the Don Glees — Toto Mitarai, Roma Kamogawa and Drop Sakuma. After spending all of Roma’s savings on a drone to recored a fireworks show, the drone is lost during an attempt at their own fireworks display in a field. The trio are blamed for a forest fire that sprouted around the same time, but the boys can prove their innocence if they can find their missing drone.
Directed by Atsuko Ishizuka and premiered on February 18th, 2022. Shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
The First Slam Dunk
Ryota Miyagi is a prodigy in basketball. Inspired by his older brother, Ryota picked up a ball and joined his high school’s team. In his second year with Shohoku, Ryota make it to the Inter-High School National Championship only to face the defending champs, Sannoh Kogyo High School.
Directed by Takehiko Inoue and premiered on December 3rd, 2022. Shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
5 Centimeters Per Second
Akari Shinohara arrives at Takaki Tono’s elementary school and the two quickly form a friendship that grows closer. Due to the nature of Akari’s parents work, she moves away from Takaki, but they continue to write each other letters. Despite this, their lives take them on differing journeys and leading them to wonder what might have been.
Directed by Makoto Shinkai and premiered on March 3rd, 2007. Shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
Suzume
Suzume Iwato is just your average 17-year-old student, but when a stranger enlists her help to find a door on her home island of Kyushu, everything changes. Random doors around Japan become portals where chaos seeps into the world and it’s up to Suzume who must shut them at all costs.
Directed by Makoto Shinkai and premiered on November 11th, 2022. Shown in Japanese with English subtitles.
Check the VIFF website for the schedule and to purchase tickets.
© Blue Giant Partners
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