News
Fireworks Cinema Release on November 15
posted on by Andrew Osmond
Anime Limited has announced that it will release Uchiage Hanabi, Shita kara Miru ka? Yoko kara Miru ka? (Fireworks, Should We See it from the Side or the Bottom?), the anime film adaptation of director Shunji Iwai's 1993 live-action drama, in cinemas on November 15 in the UK and Ireland. An official website giving venues and booking links is here.
The film will be in Japanese with subtitles, and was rated 12A by the BBFC.
Hitoshi Ōne (live-action Bakuman., Moteki) scripted the upcoming film and Nobuyuki Takeuchi (key animator on Spirited Away, Penguindrum, Bakemonogatari) directed the film at studio SHAFT. Akiyuki Simbo (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Nisekoi) is chief director. Iwai is credited with the original work.
Ōne's script will add modern elements to Iwai's original story. The film is set on one day during summer vacation, and follows a group of boys who try to view a fireworks display from the town lighthouse to see if they look round or flat when viewed from the side. Meanwhile, one of the boys, Norimichi, receives an invitation from his crush Nazuna to run away with her.
The anime film stars Suzu Hirose (The Boy and The Beast, live-action Chihayafuru) as Nazuna, Masaki Suda (live-action Princess Jellyfish, Gintama) as Norimichi, and Mamoru Miyano (Steins;Gate, Chihayafuru, Yuri!!! on Ice) as Yūsuke.
The original 45-minute television drama premiered in Japan in August 1993 as part of the If: Moshimo series, and it won Iwai the New Directors Award from the Directors Guild of Japan that year. The film starred Megumi Okina and Yūta Yamazaki.
Iwai wrote, directed, and composed the music for The Case of Hana & Alice, his first-feature length anime film and prequel to his earlier live-action film Hana & Alice. The anime film debuted in February 2015.
