Hi one and all! We know that a lot of you use our regular newswire updates to keep tabs on our latest home video releases each month (and yes, those newswires will be returning soon, we’ve been busy in the background working on big forthcoming releases so we’ll have plenty to talk about in due course), but moving forward we want to extend our regular communications by also keeping you appraised of our ever-growing theatrical release plans.
So, with that in mind, welcome to our first ever theatrical newswire – we’ll broadly be looking to put these together on a monthly basis with a reminder of what’s coming up in cinemas, as well as some sneak peeks and previews of other titles to expect on the big screen in the months to come.
So, without further ado, let’s get down to business!
AKIRA
Of course, our current major forthcoming release is the return to the seminal classic AKIRA to cinemas across the UK and Ireland – the big screen is the perfect way to appreciate the incredible visuals and sheer artistry of this touchstone work of animation, so be sure not to miss it!
“Iconic and game-changing, AKIRA is the definitive anime masterpiece! Katsuhiro Otomo’s landmark cyberpunk classic obliterated the boundaries of Japanese animation and forced the world to look into the future. AKIRA’s arrival shattered traditional thinking, creating space for future generations of ground-breaking movies.
July, 1988— World War III breaks loose. Then, in 2019, in megalopolis Tokyo…
As the leader of a group of young robust delinquents, Kaneda spent his nights tearing through the urban wastes, racing his motorbike against rival groups. One night while riding with his gang, his friend Tetsuo suddenly encounters a strange boy― the product of human experimentation— and is injured in the ensuing crash. Shortly thereafter, a military squadron appears on the scene to take the boy and Tetsuo away to an army research facility. Determined to free Tetsuo from capture, Kaneda sneaks into the army research lab. However, a regimen of extreme experimental procedures has awakened a new power in his friend, and now he is consumed by madness…”
AKIRA is screening with both Japanese with English subtitle and English dub options, as well as subtitled screenings in IMAX. Whether it’s your first time experiencing this incredible film or making the most of this opportunity to see it again, head over to our official web site to find a screening near you and book your tickets!
Now, let’s take a look at some of the other films that we’ll be bringing to the big screen as we move towards the end of spring and into the summer….
Angel’s Egg
Sticking on the topic of classics, we’ve had lots of you asking (begging, even) for us to bring Mamoru Oshi’s mind-blowing Angel’s Egg to cinemas, giving you an opportunity to wrap your head around it in all of its majesty. With that in mind, it would be remiss of us not to oblige, and so we’re very happy to confirm that we’ll be bringing Angel’s Egg to the big screen very soon… and in a glorious new 4K edition, no less!
“In an underwater city, a young girl takes care of a large egg she holds carefully in her arms. A boy with a gun arrives in search of a bird he saw in his dream. At first, it seems as if feelings of sympathy are developing between the two.
The film is a creative collaboration between acclaimed director Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell), who wrote and directed the feature, and revered artist Yoshitaka Amano (Final Fantasy, Vampire Hunter D). The film beautifully intertwines Oshii’s thematic reflections on philosophy and theolog with Amano’s distinctive ink painting style, culminating in an arrestingly beautiful hand-drawn allegorical fantasy.“
Stay tuned on all of our usual channels, and sign up to our theatrical news mailing list via the link at the bottom of this post for the latest news on all of our cinema releases.
Grave of the Fireflies
We’re not done with the classic film releases, as coming to UK cinemas this summer will be Studio Ghibli’s harrowing classic Grave of the Fireflies. Isao Takahata’s masterpiece is a difficult watch, but an important and unforgettable one that’s not to be missed.
“When an American air raid kills their mother in the final days of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his 4-year-old sister Setsuko are left to fend for themselves in the devastated Japanese countryside. After falling out with their only living relative, Seita does his best to provide for himself and his sister by stealing food and making a home in an abandoned bomb shelter. But with food running short, the siblings can only cling to fleeting moments of happiness in their harsh reality.
Based on the personal accounts of survivor Nosaka Akiyuki, Grave of the Fireflies is hailed as one of the most stunning contributions to animation and cinematic history. Deftly depicting the beauty of the human spirit as well as its devastating cruelty, Grave of the Fireflies is a singular work of art from Academy Award-nominated director and Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata.”
Prior to this wider theatrical release, the film will be making its first appearance in cinemas courtesy of the Prince Charles Cinema’s Bleak Week festival of programming, which explores the world of gritty cinema. For more details on Bleak Week and to book tickets, check out the official web site.
We’ll be updating you all with the date for our wider theatrical release in due course, so as always watch this space!
ChaO
Also coming this summer will be ChaO, a film that will be familiar to those of you who attended last year’s Scotland Loves Anime. This original film from STUDIO4°C is, as you might expect, a visual treat, with an energetic and entertaining literal fish out of water story to boot!
“In a fantastical future, humans and mermaids share a troubled coexistence. Stephan, an anxious employee at a shipbuilding company, has big ideas to save the sea. But his life explodes into ecstatic chaos when bubbly mermaid princess Chao proposes marriage out of the blue. Between shopping sprees, giant robots, and actual fireworks, the unlikely pair flounder through their new romance and unlock their true feelings.
Crafted over 7 years by the acclaimed STUDIO4°C and veteran animator Yasuhiro Aoki, ChaO is an inventive and genre-defying delight bursting with color and character. Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, ChaO’s singular narrative is an ode to boundless love.”
Again, sign up to our theatrical mailing list for all of the latest about this release as we move into the summer and have a release date confirmed! If you’re based in Ireland however, we do have a few sneak preview screenings this month as part of the 2026 Japan Film Festival! More details below:
The film will also be screening on May 9th at Birmingham’s Flatpack Festival, affording another opportunity to catch the movie early!
Godzilla Minus Zero
Last but certainly not least, a brief reminder that we’ll be releasing the sequel to the Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One towards the end of this year – we’ll be updating you regularly on this cinema sensation as we move through 2026, so watch this space!
Catalogue screenings
Whether it’s catching a film you missed when it originally hit cinemas, or getting to enjoy your favourite film on the big screen again, we’re always happy to work with cinemas to bring our collection of great anime movies to cinemas around the UK for special screenings. In this section, we’ll be keeping you updated with forthcoming screenings of our film catalogue around the UK, so look out for screenings near you!
Currently confirmed screenings over the coming month include chances to see The End of Evangelion in both London and Newcastle, and a unique opportunity to catch the incredible Memories in 4K!
| Film | Venue | Screening date | Book tickets |
| EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)² / THE END OF EVANGELION | Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle | 5th April, 7:15PM | HERE |
| ALL YOU NEED IS KILL | Prince Charles Cinema, London | 7th April, 6PM | HERE |
| Millennium Actress | Ireland (Various) | 11th / 17th April | HERE |
| Perfect Blue | Prince Charles Cinema, London | 21st April, 6PM | HERE |
| Memories (4K) | Prince Charles Cinema, London | 23rd April, 6:10PM | HERE |
| The Last Blossom | Chapter Cinema, Cardiff | 26th April, 3PM | HERE |
| 100 Meters | Chapter Cinema, Cardiff | 26th April, 4:50PM | HERE |
| EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)² / THE END OF EVANGELION | Prince Charles Cinema, London | 1st May, 8:10PM | HERE |
| your name. | Prince Charles Cinema, London | 9th May, 3PM | HERE |
Watch our social media channels and follow your local cinemas, as there’s always new screenings being arranged in various locations!
And that’s all we have for this first theatrical newswire update – let us know what you think, and if there’s any other information you’d like to see added or covered! We still have lots of other plans in the pipeline throughout the year that we can’t talk about just yet, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for updates on what is going to be an incredibly busy year of anime in the cinema!
As mentioned, one easy way to keep up with all of the latest is to sign-up for our theatrical newsletter, which you can do via the form below.
Subscribe
Until next time, take care!