The week consisted of a review of Prometheus, and a clip for Ai to Makoto and a trailer for 
an exquisite looking anime named School in the Crosshairs. I’m putting together a new podcast which will materialise next week. As far as Anime UK News goes, three of four articles I put together previewing the summer anime season are up with the final one due tomorrow and I’m also taking part in a simulwatch for Kino’s Journey (キノ の 旅) which gives me an excuse to place a picture here.
The Japanese movie box-office chart looks different this week.
- Hotaru: It’s Only a Little Light in my Life
- Men in Black III
- Thermae Romae
- Dark Shadows
- We Bought a Zoo
One of last week’s releases, Hotaru: It’s Only a Little Light in my Life, dominates the charts bringing its TV/manga audience to the cinema. We Bought a Zoo is the only other new release. Amazingly Thermae Romae is still in the top three after seven weeks. Sadako 3D is hanging on at eight while Space Brothers is at ten.
What new Japanese films get released this weekend? Takashi Miike’s latest, that’s what!
The Legend of Love & Sincerity 
Romaji: Ai to Makoto
Japanese Title: 愛 と 誠
Release Date: 16th June 2012 (Japan)
Running Time: 134 mins.
Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Takayuki Takuma (script), Ikki Kajiwara (manga)
Starring: Satoshi Tsumabuki, Emi Takei, Takumi Saito, Sakura Ando, Ito Ono, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Kimiko Yo, Ken Maeda, Yo Hitoto
This is Takashi Miike’s most recent film and it was at Cannes where it received great reviews. It is an adaptation of Ikki Kajiwara’s romance manga of the same name. Kajiwara is a famous name for manga fans from his work on Tiger Mask and Ashita no Joe. The film sees Miike reunite with Emi Takei and Takumi Saito (13 Assassins), the two stars from his previous film Ace Attorney. It also stars Satoshi Tsumabuki (Villain) and Sakura Ando (Love Exposure).
High school student Makoto Taiga (Tsumabuki) is an ultra-delinquent who has arrived in Tokyo to avenge an incident from his past. That will have to wait as he falls in love with the angelic Ai (Takei) who comes from a respectable family. Things will get complicated as Iwashimizu (Saito) is in love with Ai while Gamuko (Ando) has feelings for Makoto.
Empty 
Romaji: Karappo
Japanese Title: からっぽ
Release Date: 16th June 2012 (Japan)
Running Time: 117 mins.
Director: Shogo Kusano
Writer: Shogo Kusano (script), Yokoawa (manga)
Starring: Naoya Shimizu, Airi Taira, Ren Osugi, Makoto Yuki Miura, Junko Miyashita, Toru Shinagawa, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Masaki Miura
This sci-fi tale has shades of Moldiver (a protagonist who loses their clothes when they use their special powers). It stars Naoya Shimizu (Confessions), Airi Taira (20th Century Boys), Ren Osugi (Cure, Exte) and Masaki Miura (Cold Fish).
Coban Kato (Shimizu) is a high school student with the ability to teleport to different places. There’s one drawback: he loses his clothes when teleporting. When Kato is kicked out of his family home he teleports and just happens to reappear right in front of a beautiful woman named Sheena (Taira). Far from being freaked out at the sight of a teleporting naked guy, Sheena is fascinated by Coban’s abilities and the two begin to live together.
Library War: The Wings of Revolution
Production I.G. turns its successful TV anime into a movie. Adapting Hiro Arikawa’s light novel into an anime movie is director Takayuki Hamana who has worked on titles as diverse from Jin-Roh: The Wolf Bridgade to Prince of Tennis to Chocolate Underground. J-Rock act Base Ball Bear are providing the theme song which can be heard in the trailer.
Synopsis
In near future Japan, the Media Enhancement Law has led to the censoring of all media including books To counter this, the Library Defence Force s created and act as a military task force attached to all libraries. Iku Kasahara is the first woman to join the Library Task Force and we follow her and her squad as they protect books and other artefacts from the Media Enhancement Law commission.
The voice actors involved are reprising their roles from in the original TV series with Tomoaki Maeno (Junichi in Amagami SS) taking the role of Atsushi, Marina Inoue (Yoko in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) taking the role of Iku Kasahara and Haruo Satou (Teillagory in Le Chealier D’Eon) voicing Kazuichi.
Staff: Takayuki Hamana (Director), Takeshi Konuta (Screenplay), Hiro Arikawa (Light Novel), Sukumo Adabana (Original Character Design), Base Ball Bear (Theme Song)
Voice Actors: Tomoaki Maeno (Atsushi Doujou), Marina Inoue (Iku Kasahara), Kanji Suzumori (Genda Ryuusuke), Haruo Satou (Kazuichi Inamine)
Studio: Production I.G.
Genkinahito 