‘No Game No Life Zero,’ the highly anticipated prequel film to the popular anime series ‘No Game No Life,’ is set to kick off the Los Angeles Anime Film Festival on September 15, while Katsuhiro Otomo’s cyberpunk masterpiece ‘Akira’ will mark the finale.
‘No Game No Life Zero’
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Anime Film Festival, presented by international creative company Rydgen Inc. in partnership with L.A. based film distribution company Azoland Pictures, has announced its opening and closing night films slong with the full lineup. No Game No Life Zero, the highly anticipated prequel film to the popular anime series No Game No Life, is set to kick off the festival on September 15, while Katsuhiro Otomo’s timeless cyberpunk masterpiece Akira, will mark the finale of the event on September 17. The LA-AFF takes place September 15–17, 2017 and all programs will be showcased at the Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center in Downtown Los Angeles.
LA-AFF will screen a diverse slate of anime feature films, including recently popular hits in Japan and also classic titles that are fan favorites. The festival will feature a full list of events in addition to the film screenings including an opening night red carpet gala and Q&A sessions with directors, voice actors and film creators.
2017 marks the 100th year since animation film was born in Japan, and to mark this centennial celebration, LA-AFF will screen one of the first Japanese animated short films created in 1917 by Junichi Kouichi called Namakura Katana during the opening ceremony on September 15.
In addition to the previously announced titles, the lineup will include the North American Premiere of King of Prism by PrettyRhythm which garnered major success among Japanese fans earning over 7 million dollars in Japanese box offices. One of the key features that led to this film’s major success lies in the unique “cheering screening style,” which allows the audience to engage with the movie just as they would during a live music event by bringing their own glow sticks and cheering the characters during the presentation. The lineup will also include Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro and Porco Rosso, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, Love Live! The School Idol Movie, Metropolis, Paprika in 35 mm presentation, Red Turtle and Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.
Anime, also known as Japanese animation, has gained worldwide popularity through the accessibility of the internet and with streaming sites such as Netflix and Hulu including many anime series in their programming. The goal for the LA-AFF is to further promote the appreciation of anime films abroad, and to present a place where people can enjoy anime films with full quality of image, music and acoustics. LA-AFF has prepared a lineup that represents the full range of artistic expression and diversity of anime films. This is a chance for people to get to know the world of anime like never before. Tickets for each screening are now available and on sale at: http://la-aff.eventbrite.com.
Opening Gala Screening - Friday, September 15
No Game No Life Zero, dir. Atsuko Ishizuka, Japan, 2017
*North American Premiere
Namakura Gatana (Special Presentation)
Closing Film - Sunday, September 17
Akira, dir. Katsuhiro Otomo, Japan, 1988
Festival Lineup
- 009 Re:Cyborg 3D, dir. Kenji Kamiyama, Japan, 2012
- Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, dir. Tatsuyuki Nagai, Japan 2013
- Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, dir. Shinichirō Watanabe, Hiroyuki Okiura, Yoshiyuki Takei, Japan, 2001
- Ghost in the Shell, dir. Mamoru Oshii, Japan, 1995
- Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, dir. Mamoru Oshii, Japan, 2004 (35mm)
- Kiki’s Delivery Service, dir. Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 1989
- King of Prism by PrettyRhythm dir. Masakazu Hishida, Japan, 2016 *North American Premiere
- Love Live! The School Idol Movie, dir. Takahiko Kyogoku, Japan, 2015
- Metropolis, dir. Rintaro, Japan, 2001
- Miss Hokusai, dir. Keiichi Hara, Japan, 2015
- My Neighbor Totoro, dir. Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 1988
- Paprika, dir. Satoshi Kon, Japan, 2006 (35mm)
- Pigtails, dir. Yoshimi Itazu, Japan, 2015
- Porco Rosso, dir. Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 1992
- Red Turtle, dir. Michaël Dudok de Wit, France/Belgium/Japan, 2016
- Summer Wars, dir. Mamoru Hosoda, Japan, 2009
Source: Los Angeles Anime Film Festival
