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GKids to Release Patema Inverted in N. American Theaters
posted on by Egan Loo
Distribution company GKIDS will release Patema Inverted, the new anime film by Time of Eve and Pale Cocoon creator Yasuhiro Yoshiura, in theaters in North America in 2014 or later. The film is also slated for release in the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea, and Taiwan.
Patema Inverted takes place in an underground world where tunnels extend everywhere. Even though they live in dark and confined spaces, people wear protective clothes and lead quiet and enjoyable lives. Patema, a princess in her underground village, loves to explore the tunnels. Her favorite place is a "danger zone" that her village prohibits people from entering. Even though she's scolded, Patema's curiosity can't be held back. No one ever explained what the supposed danger was.
On her usual trip to the "danger zone," Patema faces unexpected events. When hidden secrets come to light, the story begins to unfold, starting with a boy who lives upside-down to her world. "When you let go of her arm, the girl falls to the sky."
Yukiyo Fujii (Btooom!'s Yuki, Sket Dance's Yukie) plays Patema, the princess of an underground village. She was raised being waited on hand and foot, but thanks to her innocent personality, she is liked by everyone. Due to her active personality, she often causes worry for those around her when she goes to explore the underground.
Nobuhiko Okamoto (A Certain Magical Index's Accelerator, Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream's Wataru) plays Age, a boy with a pure conviction who is having trouble fitting in with the totalitarian Aiga society. In a society with a custom to avoid looking up at the sky, Age often sneaks out of the school dormitory to go to the town outskirts and look at the sky alone.
Shintarou Oohata (Beck's Chiba, Innocent Venus's Kyoushirou) plays Porta, a young boy who lives in the underground village. He's quite cheeky, but he is earnest and zealous when it comes to Patema. He has doted on her since they were young, and often climbs up into the mayor's house in order to see her. He tries to hide his feelings for her from those around him.
Patema Inverted premiered at France's Annecy animation festival in June, and it won the Judge's Award and the Audience Award at Edinburgh's Scotland Loves Animation festival last month. The film then opened in Japan last Saturday.
GKIDS also orchestrated or collaborated in the theatrical release of the anime films Summer Wars, From Up On Poppy Hill and A Letter to Momo. Its release of two European films, The Secret of Kells and CHiCO and Rita, led to Oscar nominations for both.
Source: animeanime.jp
Images © Yasuhiro Yoshiura/Sakasama Film Committee
