It is definitely a good time to be an Otaku.
With the recent success of the Rurouni Kenshin live action movie being shown last year-gaining the title of highest ever box office opening for a Japanese film in the Philippines and earning $647,922.00 in the box office; it is no surprise that more Anime movies are coming our way to local Cinemas.
Movie Punch - Pioneer films Philippines is bringing top Anime titles to your nearest SM Cinema in the next following months.
Social Media was all a buzz with news that movies from Naruto, One Piece and Hunter X Hunter are already being negotiated to be shown exclusively in SM Cinemas.
Along with so many other Filipino Otakus I'm really excited about this news so I reached out to the ever hard working people from Movie Punch (Pioneer Philippines) and asked a few questions about the impending arrival of an Anime Movie Invasion. I have also included a short write up/preview on the anime movies to be shown. ^_^
Would you say that these Anime movies are being shown because of the success of the Rurouni Kenshin live action movie?
Yes, and it means there is really a large fan base that follows Japanese Anime movies here in the Philippines. Rurouni Kenshin has proven that.
What are you looking to accomplish by showing these Anime movies?
Firstly, we were not aware of the large following, SM Cinemas suggested Rurouni Kenshin to us because of the "persistent clamor" of fans. This led us to research and we found out that there is a huge request from anime fans (to have Rurouni Kenshin in Cinemas) but it was still a gamble for us since this is going to be the first time for us to show this kind of film genre, so in short we gave in to the "clamor" and got the rights to show it here in the Philippines- we hope to accomplish the excitement we will be bringing to the younger generation and to anime fans as well, by bringing in all their favorite TV programs (Anime series) and a chance to watch it on the big screen!
Naruto the Movie: Road to Ninja: Showing on April 10, 2013
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| From Samurais to Ninjas - Now it's Naruto's turn to charm Filipino audiences. |
As for the anime series, it's interesting to note that Naruto has actually won some awards in the Philippines specifically: 'Best Full-Length, Animation Program Award' during the 3rd UStv Student's Choice Awards which was held in the University of Santo Tomas in Manila on February 19, 2009.
Online episodes of Naruto: Shippuuden are also claiming record hitting numbers with an average of 160,000 viewers a week.
The movie which will be shown exclusively on SM Cinemas on April 10, 2013 - (Yes! Just 15 days to go!) Movie Punch wanted to release the movie before it comes out on DVD and Blu-ray in Japan (April 24, 2013). After the DVD is released it will already be available for streaming and downloading online - but seriously if you can watch it in the movie house-it would definitely be a better experience. So you guys better start reserving tickets online or making plans to catch this movie with your friends! :) Why resort to piracy and crappy downloads with bad subtitles if you can enjoy watching the movie in the comfort of the movie theater right?
Naruto the Movie: Road to Ninja was released in Japan on July 28, 2012 (yup- we are waaaay behind), it is the ninth overall Naruto film but only the sixth Naruto Shippuuden film. It's interesting to note that series creator Masashi Kishimoo supervised the movie.