The 2014 Japanese anime feature film ‘Giovanni’s Island’ made huge box office waves in Japan’s box office and received numerous accolades, but only received a limited release in North America. GKids has announced that they have acquired the distribution rights to release it in that jurisdiction.
“GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of animation for adult and family audiences, announced today it has acquired the North American distribution rights for GIOVANNI’S ISLAND, the award-winning historical drama from Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell), and director Mizuho Nishikubo. The 2014 feature garnered fourteen recognitions worldwide, including the Jury distinction at the 2014 Annecy International Animated Film Festival, both Children’s and Adult Jury Prizes at the, 31st Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, and the Satoshi Kon Award for best animated feature film at the Fantasia Film Festival,” they wrote on their website.
You can check out the trailer below:
Bang Zoom! Entertainment produced an English dub of the movie with Wendee Lee working on the project as ADR director.
GKids describes the synopsis as follows,
“From Production I.G, the studio behind Ghost in the Shell, and director Mizuho Nishikubo comes the award-winning historical drama Giovanni’s Island, winner of the Satoshi Kon Award at the Fantasia Film Festival.
Brothers Junpei and Kanta live in Shikotan, a tiny fishing island that has been spared from the devastations of World War II. The two children are named after Giovanni and Campanella from their late mother’s favorite book, Night on the Galactic Railroad, which becomes a source of solace in the aftermath of Japan’s defeat. When Soviet forces arrive with their families to settle in the island, Junpei meets Tanya, the daughter of the commander. Despite their language barrier and growing tension, the children soon form an unlikely friendship.”
The movie won Best Animation Film at the 2014 69th Mainichi Film Awards.
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