Will these Anime movies reach our cinemas this year? |
There may be only a handful of western animation released in a year, but in the land of anime, it is a constantly packed annual schedule. Aside from feature-length episodes of the most popular anime series, there are also studios making original anime solely for the big screen. While we don't know how many, if not all, of these anime movies would make it to cinemas, here are some of the anime movies we would like to see soon!
Made In Abyss: Dawn Of The Deep Soul
As Riko and Reg, and their new friend Nanachi, enter into the 5th layer of the Abyss, they are taken in by the White Whistle delver Bondrwed and his adopted daughter Prushka. As the young adventurers are shown around the Sea of Corpses, they begin to realise their presence may not be the most welcomed or welcomed in ways they did not expect. After two compilation movies, the "Made in Abyss" series receives its first true continuation before the series resumes its next season to uncover more of the deep and dark secrets of the Abyss. Directed by series director Kojima Masayuki together with the returning cast, even with the addition of Inori Minase to voice as Prushka, "Made in Abyss" fans know they would not be leaving a layer of the Abyss mentally unscathed.
Goblin Slayer: Goblin's Crown
On a quest to rescue a noble swordswoman, Goblin Slayer and his party travels to the freezing north to investigate the missing adventurers and the goblins they have encountered. Upon encountering the goblin's cave, they are about to meet with a new breed of goblins with a new level of sophistication in their cruel methods. Adapted from the fifth volume of the light novel which shares the same name, the merciless slaying of goblins (and hard-earned survival of its slayers) continues in this adaptation directed by series director Takaharu Ozaki, and written by Hideyuki Kurata. Controversial as always for its mature subject matter and depictions of violence, this will have to sate the bloodlust of fans until the next season is announced.
Fate/stay night Movie: Heaven's Feel - III. Spring Song
After being revealed as a Master in the Holy Grail War and losing Saber, Shirou and Rin pledge to save Sakura by ending the war once and for all. Entering into the finale of the Heaven's Feel trilogy, it's been a long time coming for fans for the franchise to see Ufotable complete their adaptation of all the routes in the Fate/stay Night visual novel, that made the name of the animation studio. With their trademark dedication to high quality animation and flashy battle scenes, scored by none other than Yuki Kajiura, the end of this will be a beginning for the anime future of the franchise.
Shirobako Movie
Set four years after the anime series, Musashi Animation is about to embark on their first theatrical project, placing studio assistant Aoi Miyamori in charge. With tighter deadlines and bigger headaches, Miyamori is having doubts that their studio is able to keep up, until a new colleague joins the company. Shirobako fans have been hankering for a second season since it ended five years ago, and this would be the closest they would get for a sequel. With the return of the original cast and staff, along with new additions such as Sakura Ayane (and undoubtedly a whole bunch of voice actor and staff cameos), this is already one interesting meta trip of watching a movie of an animation studio making a movie.
Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna
As Tai and the other DigiDestined have grown up and facing their own troubles with adulthood, a new Digimon appears to rob the consciences of other DigiDestined. As Tai and the gang reunite to end this threat, they also learned that as they use the power of their Digimons, their bond with them will eventually break. Made for the 20th anniversary to the anime series that started the whole Digimon craze in the early 2000s, this is meant to be a nostalgic revival and farewell to the children who grew up with their digital pet monsters (that wasn't Pokemon). Other than bringing back the original cast to voice their now adult roles, the feature will be under new directions of Tomohisa Taguchi, with the screenplay provided by Akatsuki Yamatoya, and Koji Wada returning to compose.
High School Fleet Movie
Set after the events of the television series, the all-girl school of the Yokosuka Girls' Marine High School find themselves facing its greatest challenge. All hands are on deck to reprise their voice roles for the entirety of the Harekaze crew and then some, with the main staff returning to set sail for another adventure on the high seas with female sailors manning battleships (rather than being the battleships themselves).
Ongaku
Based on the self-published manga by Hiroyuki Ohashi, "Ongaku" tells the story of three punks who decide to form a band, despite knowing zero to nothing about playing a musical instrument. Funded by a Kickstarter campaign and taking 7 years to complete, this humble project of going down the bittersweet path of becoming a musician was actually a grand prize winner at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Directed by Kenji Iwaisawa, this will not only feature some simple but innovative visuals, but also real-life musicians in its cast.
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0
Intended to follow shortly after "Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo" in 2015 before it was delayed due to creator and director Hideaki Anno's breakdown, who went on a hiatus to direct "Shin Godzilla". After resuming production in 2017, Studio Khara has taken its time to refine the graphics and it's completion, so now we had plenty of time to be ready for the final chapter in the "Evangelion Rebuild" tetralogy that would most likely have a conclusion that is more mind blowing than the original anime series.
Princess Principal: Crown Handler 1
After ending its run in 2017, the adventures of the lady spies in the Queen's Mayfair School continues in this first of a six-part film series. Series director Masaki Tachibana returns to helm this large film project, with new screenwriter Kimura Nobura penning the new arc. Also returning to provide the soundtrack is Yuki Kajiura, along with the original voice cast of the main characters, except for Ange's actress Ayaka Imamura, who has since retired from voice acting.
Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare
After a fateful meeting at the train station, two highschool girls would meet each other again as they explore love in different directions with people from both sides. Based on the shoujo manga by Io Sakisaka that ended its run in 2019, 2020 will see a live-action and anime adaptation. For this feature length anime adaptation, it will be handled by A-1 Pictures, with Toshimasa Kuroyanagi as director, Erika Yoshida for writing and Yuu Yamashita for character design. Debut voice actress Suzuki Marika will be voicing as Yuna beside Megumi Han as Akari. Meanwhile, Nobunanga Shimazaki will voice as Akari's brother, Rio, and Souma Saitou as Yuna's childhood friend Kazuomi Inui.
Nakitai Watashi wa Neko wo Kaburu
After falling in love with her classmate, Miyo has pursued Kento to no avail until she discovers a magic mask that can turn her into a cat. Bursting into the feature anime scene with a rather impressive adaptation of "Penguin Highway" from 2018, Studio Colorido is ready with their second feature length with an original story, written by "O Maidens in Your Savage Season" writer and creator Mari Okada. Co-directed by Junichi Satou and Tomotaka Shibayama, Mirai Shida makes her fourth feature appearance as the lovestruck Miyo, over Natsuki Hanae's Kento.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash
After the end of the Second Neo Zeon War, the Zeon Republic is accepted back into humanity's fold of the Earth Federation. However, as the underprivileged spacenoids are deported to undesirable space colonies, Hathaway Noah forms a terrorist organization to exact revenge on the corrupted Earth Federation officials. Considered semi-cannon in the Gundam novels, Sunrise has picked up the challenge of adapting and animating this expansion to the Universal Century timeline, extending the ideological battles of Ray Amuro and Char Aznable. Aside from the high-quality production that Sunrise has always provided for this mecha franchise, and the impeccable soundtrack by Hiroyuki Sawashiro, its themes also share some disturbing similarities with our reality of anti-migration and xenophobia.
Kimetsu no Yaiba Movie: Mugen Ressha-hen
As the pervading anime series of 2019, it was immediately announced at the end of its first season run that the "Demon Slayer" series will be receiving its sequel in a feature length anime form. Adapting the Infinity Train arc from the manga that is centered on the Flame Hashira Rengoku Kyoujurou, series director Haruo Sotozaki continues his directing duties, along with the original cast and Satoshi Hino as the flame pillar taking center stage. This will be another title on the delicious visual plate from ufotable, making 2020 a year full of treats for franchise anime fans.
Cinema Online, 14 March 2020