“Spring Break Anime” Clash
3 movies in March
Kadokawa’s Harmagedon to challenge Yamato
Anime and idol movies are the backbone of the Japanese film industry today. And so, as always, spring break in March will be filled with a lineup of anime films. From the conclusion of the familiar Space Battleship Yamato to Kadokawa Pictures’ first foray into anime Harmagedon, and even Dr. Slump and Doraemon, it’s a lively lineup.
Space Battleship Yamato, The Final Chapter (released by Toei) is the final installment of Leiji Matsumoto’s Yamato series, which sparked today’s anime boom. Harmagedon (from Toho/Towa) and Crusher Joe (from Shochiku/Fuji) are likely to threaten Yamato‘s popularity.
Harmagedon is the first film with which Kadokawa Pictures has finally made its foray into the world of anime. It is an animated adaptation of a manga by Shotaro Ishinomori based on the original work Genma Taisen by Kazumasa Hirai.
Crusher Joe is being released by Nippon Sunrise, creators of the hugely popular Mobile Suit Gundam series, in the hopes of following in Gundam‘s footsteps with a hit. Of these three works, all of which are targeted at young people, which one will survive? This is sure to be of endless interest to anime fans.