Shout! Factory and Animatsu Entertainment Enter Film Distribution Deal
“IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD”
Los Angeles and London – January 31, 2017 – Shout! Factory, a multi-platform media company, and Animatsu Entertainment, a London-based producer, licensor and distributor of anime in the UK and Ireland, have entered into an exclusive film deal to distribute the new animated feature In This Corner of the World in North America. Based on the award-winning manga by Fumiyo Kouno, the film is written and directed by Sunao Katabuchi. Director Katabuchi began his career working closely with Hayao Miyazaki before directing his own animated films, including the acclaimed animated features Mai Mai Miracle and Princess Arete. Produced by GENCO and Japanese animation studio MAPPA, IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD, bolstered by emotionally resonant storytelling and exquisite hand-drawn animation, is an empowering coming-of-age tale that captures the resilience and triumph of the human spirit. The announcement was made today by Shout! Factory's founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and Animatsu Entertainment's Chief Operating Officer, Jerome Mazandarani.
Shout! Factory has secured all distribution rights to In This Corner of the World, including theatrical, video on-demand, digital, broadcast and home entertainment for cross-platform releases in U.S. and Canada. Shout! Factory plans a strategic rollout of this movie across multiple entertainment platforms, beginning with a North American theatrical launch this summer.
“Shout! Factory is a fantastic partner for this film. We were incredibly impressed by their work on Long Way North, and have been fans of their commitment to content curation and serious film and television fans in North America for a long time,” said Jerome Mazandarani, COO of Animatsu Entertainment. “It's been clear throughout our discussions with the team that we couldn't find a more committed and passionate company to handle this beautifully delicate film.”
“This truly is a unique and exquisite film, one which only comes around once every few decades, and we are incredibly proud to be involved with it. Unique films deserve unique partners and Shout! Factory are an absolute perfect match given their passion, expertise and back catalogue of releases.” said Andrew Hewson, Head of Acquisitions & Marketing at Animatsu Entertainment. “It will be a genuine pleasure to work closely with them to bring this masterpiece to North American audiences!"
“We couldn't be more excited and honored about this new opportunity with Animatsu, Sunao, GENCO and MAPPA animation studio. Beautiful and deeply moving, In This Corner of the World is a captivating, socially relevant film that will impact everyone who sees it,” said Melissa Boag, Senior Vice President of Kids & Family Entertainment at Shout! Factory. “We look forward to presenting this remarkable hand-drawn animated film to animation enthusiasts and North American movie audiences this year."
“Here is a film to celebrate. At once heartbreaking and inspiring, light and melancholy, it's a profoundly intimate work with dimensional characters persevering and finding their humanity in the most challenging of circumstances. Sunao Katabuchi has created an instant classic,” said Jordan Fields, Vice President of Acquisitions at Shout! Factory.
Movie synopsis
The award-winning story of IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD follows a young lady named Suzu Urano, who in 1944 moves to the small town of Kure in Hiroshima to live with her husband's family. Suzu's life is thrown into chaos when her town is bombed during World War II. Her perseverance and courage underpin this heart-warming and inspirational tale of the everyday challenges faced by the Japanese in the midst of a violent, war-torn country. This beautiful yet poignant tale shows that even in the face of adversity and loss, people can come together and rebuild their lives.
Written and directed by Sunao Katabuchi, based on the original work by Fumiyo Kouno. Produced by Masao Maruyama (MAPPA Co., Ltd), Tarō Maki (Genco, Inc.). Original music by kotringo.
About Animatsu Entertainment, Ltd.
Founded in 2014, Animatsu Entertainment is a specialist UK-based distribution, production and international rights management company primarily focusing on Japanese content. Along with the award-winning film In This Corner of the World, the company also has several projects in development including an original animated series. Headquartered in London and an affiliate company of Manga Entertainment, Animatsu Entertainment released the hugely successful game-to-live-action adaptations Halo: Nightfall and Dead Rising: Watchtower, as well as Rooster Teeth series RWBY. Spearheaded by Jerome Mazandarani and Andrew Hewson, who have been key to Manga Entertainment's decade of success. Find out more at www.animatsu.com
About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory's entertainment offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials. In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast entertainment distribution network which delivers culturally relevant programming, movie and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America and across multiple platforms. Shout! Factory owns and operates Shout! Factory Productions, Scream Factory, Shout! Factory Kids, Shout! Factory Films, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Timeless Media Group and Shout! Factory TV. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Los Angeles, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.
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