Shout! Factory Secures U.S. Rights To Suano Katabuchi’s “In This Corner Of The World”

Shout! Factory Secures U.S. Rights To Suano Katabuchi’s “In This Corner Of The World”

January 31st, 2017

Jerry Beck

Shout! Factory and Animatsu Entertainment (London-based producer, licensor and distributor of anime in the UK and Ireland), have entered into an exclusive film deal to distribute the new animated feature In This Corner Of The World in North America. Based on the award-winning manga by Fumiyo Kouno, the film is written and directed by Sunao Katabuchi.

Director Katabuchi began his career working closely with Hayao Miyazaki before directing his own animated films, including the acclaimed animated features Mai Mai Miracle and Princess Arete. Produced by GENCO and Japanese animation studio MAPPA, IN THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD, bolstered by emotionally resonant storytelling and exquisite hand-drawn animation, is an empowering coming-of-age tale that captures the resilience and triumph of the human spirit. The announcement was made today by Shout! Factory’s founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and Animatsu Entertainment’s Chief Operating Officer, Jerome Mazandarani.

Shout! Factory has secured all distribution rights to In This Corner of the World, including theatrical, video on-demand, digital, broadcast and home entertainment for cross-platform releases in U.S. and Canada. Shout! Factory plans a strategic rollout of this movie across multiple entertainment platforms, beginning with a North American theatrical launch this summer.

“We couldn’t be more excited and honored about this new opportunity with Animatsu, Sunao, Genco and Mappa animation studio. Beautiful and deeply moving, In This Corner of the World is a captivating, socially relevant film that will impact everyone who sees it,” said Melissa Boag, Senior Vice President of Kids & Family Entertainment at Shout! Factory. “We look forward to presenting this remarkable hand-drawn animated film to animation enthusiasts and North American movie audiences this year.”

“Here is a film to celebrate. At once heartbreaking and inspiring, light and melancholy, it’s a profoundly intimate work with dimensional characters persevering and finding their humanity in the most challenging of circumstances. Sunao Katabuchi has created an instant classic,” said Jordan Fields, Vice President of Acquisitions at Shout! Factory.

Synopsis
The award-winning story of In This Corner Of The World follows a young lady named Suzu Urano, who in 1944 moves to the small town of Kure in Hiroshima to live with her husband’s family. Suzu’s life is thrown into chaos when her town is bombed during World War II. Her perseverance and courage underpin this heart-warming and inspirational tale of the everyday challenges faced by the Japanese in the midst of a violent, war-torn country. This beautiful yet poignant tale shows that even in the face of adversity and loss, people can come together and rebuild their lives.

Written and directed by Sunao Katabuchi, based on the original work by Fumiyo Kouno. Produced by Masao Maruyama (MAPPA Co., Ltd), Taro Maki (GENCO, Inc.). Original music by Kotringo.

Author
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Jerry Beck

Writer, cartoon producer and author of more than 15 books on animation history. A former studio exec with Nickelodeon and Disney; currently on the faculty at both CalArts in Valencia and Woodbury University in Burbank, California.