Summary
- Maboroshi, Mari Okada's new film, will be available on Netflix on January 15. It explores a rural town stuck in time after an explosion.
- Gurren Lagann movies will be re-released for their 15th anniversary, dubbed in English for the first time, starting on January 16.
- Given Movie: Hiiragi Mix, the first part of the two-part anime film, will be released on January 27, showcasing the story of Mafuyu's childhood friends.
It's not uncommon that the start of a year is seen as a slow period for entertainment where not much is coming out, but in anime, it's almost like the reverse is true when winter rolls around. This coming January has a few notable films worth keeping an eye on, whether they'll be released internationally, or just another addition to the 2024 watchlist.
2023 had its share of major anime film releases, the biggest one undoubtedly being The Boy and the Heron, which has enjoyed great success since its release in North America on December 8. Other anime films released this year include Trigger's Gridman Universe, Blue Giant, Psycho-Pass: Providence, and soon to arrive just in time for Christmas, Spy x Family CODE: White.
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Maboroshi
Starting with the films that will be available to watch outside of Japan, there's Mari Okada's long-awaited new film, Maboroshi, coming to Netflix on January 15. The film depicts a rural town in the middle of a dreary late autumn after an explosion at a nearby factory causes the town to be trapped in time, its inhabitants unable to grow or change.
The story follows Masamune Kikuiri and Mutsumi Sagami, two teens who encounter Itsumi, a feral young girl who bears a striking resemblance to Sagami, found in the depths of the factory. It is a melodrama depicting the turmoil of those disallowed from changing, and an examination of how this conflicts with humanity's unstoppable propensity for romance.
Maboroshi was initially released in Japan this year on September 15. Okada is writing and directing the film alongside assistant director Tadashi Hiramatsu. Additionally, the film's main theme, "Shin-on," is sung by Miyuki Nakajima, one of Japan's most prolific singers and songwriters. The soundtrack is composed by Masaru Yokoyama (Fate/Apocrypha, Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans).
Gurren Lagann The Movie 15th Anniversary
Directly following Maboroshi's release on Netflix, North American viewers are being treated to the 15th-anniversary re-release of the Gurren Lagann movies. The entire 27-episode series was compiled into two films back in 2008 and 2009, and just in time for the anniversary, the films have also been dubbed in English for the first time, with the original cast from the series.
Gurren Lagann The Movie: Childhood's End starts the festivities on January 16 in Japanese and January 17 in English. Next, Gurren Lagann The Movie: The Lights in the Sky Are Stars will be released the following week on January 23 in Japanese and January 24 in English. Not only are the films coming to theaters, but fans will get to see them in 4K and 4D.
Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp
While these next films won't be hitting North America in January, they'll undoubtedly be getting releases in theaters or on streaming in the months following their releases in Japan. First up is another old favorite returning to theaters but in a new form. Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp is a re-edit of the titular film trilogy from 2016-2017, combining all three into one.
Depending on who one asks, this is arguably how the story should have been released initially, though it's unknown what the runtime is and how much might be cut. Aniplex of America has promoted the project heavily on social media, with a poster in English, which hopefully means that it will get a theatrical release in North America. In the meantime, it will hit theaters in Japan on January 12.
Given Movie: Hiiragi Mix
Lastly, fans of Boys Love are surely already aware, but Natsuki Kizu's Given is receiving two new anime films in 2024, split into two parts, the first of which is scheduled to release on January 27. Studio Lerche is animating the films, with BL anime film company Blue Lynx attached to the films as producer, just as they were for the previous film from 2020.
A new teaser was just dropped on Friday, December 15, showcasing the first footage from the film. The story this time centers around Hiiragi Kashima and Shizusumi Yagi, Mafuyu's childhood friends from before he joined the titular band. The films are being directed by Noriko Hashimoto and written by Yuniko Ayana, with music by Michiru.
Given is one of the most acclaimed Boys Love stories of the past decade. The Best War Games's Danielle Ordoñez wrote in 2022 about how it was changing the genre for the better, depicting same-sex relationships more realistically and eschewing more problematic tropes. The series has received an 11-episode TV anime, a film in 2020, and an OVA in 2021.
These four films have a little something for everyone and are all coming out at the start of the year, give or take a few months for them all to make their way to the West. With the growing popularity of theatrical anime and animated films in general, the time between release in Japan and the release internationally seems to be constantly shrinking. It's a great time to be an avid movie-goer and anime fan.