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Crunchyroll Expo Hosts U.S. Premiere of Keiichi Hara's The Wonderland Anime Film
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
Crunchyroll Expo announced on Thursday that this year's convention will host the United States premiere of Keiichi Hara's The Wonderland (Birthday Wonderland) anime film on August 30 at 2:00 p.m. Eleven Arts will also release the film.
Crunchyroll describes the film:
On the day before her birthday, young Akane meets the mysterious alchemist Hippocrates who brings her through a basement and into a fantastical world full of magic and color. He reveals that this world is in danger, and as the "Green Goddess" it is her destiny and responsibility to save this world. The only problem? Akane just wants to go home.Join them on this gorgeously animated fantasy directed by Keiichi Hara (Miss Hokusai, Colorful) and with character designs from fan favorite Ilya Kuvshinov.
The film opened in Japan on April 26 and screened in competition at this year's Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June. Fantasia Festival in Montreal, Canada also screened the film in July.
Russian artist Ilya Kuvshinov designed the characters and visuals, Miho Maruo wrote the script, and milet performed the image song "Wonderland." The film is an adaptation of Sachiko Kashiwaba's 1981 children's book Chikashitru Kara no Fushigi na Tabi (Strange Journey From The Basement).
Hara's most recent work, Miss Hokusai, debuted in May 2015. The film won the Jury Prize at Annecy in June 2015. Hara also won the Asiagraph 2015 Tsumugi Prize in recognition of individuals who have made valuable contributions to digital art.
Crunchyroll Expo will be held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California from August 30 to September 1.
Source: Crunchyroll
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