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Anime Expo Hosts U.S. Premiere of Liz and the Blue Bird Anime Film
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Anime Expo announced on Saturday that it will host the United States premiere of the Liz and the Blue Bird anime film. The film will screen on July 6 at 3:00 p.m. Music composer kensuke ushio (DEVILMAN crybaby, Space Dandy both seasons, A Silent Voice), who composed the music for the film, will also attend the convention.
The film opened in Japan on April 21. The film ranked #11 and earned 53,573,900 yen (about US$492,400) in its opening weekend. The film screened out of competition at this year's Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
The film is part of the Sound! Euphonium franchise, and tells a new story of third-year students Nozomi Kasaki and Mizore Yoroizuka.
Naoko Yamada (K-ON!, A Silent Voice) directed the film off scripts by Reiko Yoshida (K-ON!, Yowamushi Pedal). Futoshi Nishiya (A Silent Voice, Free!, episode animation director for both television anime seasons), returned to design the characters. Mutsuo Shinohara (A Silent Voice, Clannad) returned as art director.
The official website for the Sailor Moon franchise also revealed on Wednesday that Sailor Moon manga editor Fumio Osano will also attend Anime Expo, and will host a talk show at the Kodansha Comics/Vertical booth. Osano is also the editor-in-chief of Kodansha's Shonen Magazine Edge magazine, and also served as a supervisor on all three Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal anime series.
The event will also feature a Sailor Moon Store, and the opportunity for fans to sign up for "Pretty Guardians," the official Sailor Moon fanclub.
This year's Anime Expo will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 5 to July 8, with a pre-show event on July 4.
Sources: Anime Expo, Sailor Moon franchise official website
