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Eiga Sai to Screen The Anthem of the Heart Anime Film in Philippines

The Japan Foundation, Manila announced during the O-kun Fiesta 3 event on Sunday that it will screen The Anthem of the Heart (Kokosake or Kokoro ga Sakebitagatterun Da.) anime film for its annual Eiga Sai event this year. The Japan Foundation, Manila will also screen The Sting of Death (Shi no Toge), Memories of You (Kaisha Monogatari: Memories of You), and Departures (Okuribito) live-action films. Ryōta Nakano's Her Love Boils Bathwater (Yu o Wakasu Hodo Atsui Ai) is this year's feature film.

The anime film opened in Japan in September 2015.

The anime film reunited staff members from the anohana and Toradora! anime. Tatsuyuki Nagai (A Certain Scientific Railgun, Waiting in the Summer) again directied the film at the studio A-1 Pictures. Mari Okada (A Lull in the Sea, Hana-Saku Iroha) wrote the script, and Masayoshi Tanaka (Highschool of the Dead, your name.) designed the characters. Like the anohana anime, the story of the film is set in Chichibu. The idols of the Nogizaka46 group contributed their 13th single, "Ima, Hanashitai Dareka ga Iru" (Now, There Is Someone I Want to Talk With) as the film's theme song.

The official English website for the anime film describes the story:

Jun is a girl whose words have been sealed away. She was once a happy girl, but because of a [certain thing] she said when she was very young, her family was torn apart. One day, the egg fairy appeared in front of her and sealed away her ability to talk in order to stop her from hurting anybody else. Since this traumatic experience, Jun lives in the shadows away from the limelight. But, one day she is nominated to become an executive member of the "community outreach council." On top of that, Jun is also appointed to play the main lead in their musical...

The Anthem of the Heart ranked as the 35th highest grossing domestic Japanese film for 2015, and earned 1.12 billion yen (about US$9.46 million). The film is inspiring a live-action film adaptation that will open in Japan on July 22.

The Japan Foundation, Manila will screen films at this year's Eiga Sai at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on July 1 and 2, at the Shang Cineplex Cinema in Shangri-La Plaza on July 6 to 16, and at the University of the Philippines Film Institute on August 16 to 19. The opening ceremonies are scheduled for July 6, with Nakano in attendance.

The Japan Foundation, Manila holds the Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival every year in celebration of Philippines-Japan Friendship Month in July.

[Via AnimePH]