GKIDS and Shout Factory Reveal Makoto Shinkai Collection, 'Panda Go Panda' June Releases

GKIDS Films and their distribution partner Shout Factory have revealed the release date and details for a number of their upcoming home releases.Both of these announcments happen to relate to the early works of anime directors who went on to much bigger things.

GKIDS announced a short time ago they had aquired the rights to a number of the early films of the acclaimed director of Your Name and Weathering With You, Makoto Shinkai. GKIDS will release new Blu-Ray editions of Shinkai's debut feature The Place Promised In Our Early Days, along with early releases 5 Centimers Per Second and The Children Who Chase Lost Voices.

All three films contain what would go on to become Shinkai's trademarks. These include visually sumptious animation, star-crossed teen lovers and emotionally resonant sci-fi or fantasy. Each film is packed with new bonus features including audio commenatries, interviews and more. Included in the release of 5 Centimers Per Second are Shinkai's breakthrough short films Voices Of A Distant Star and She and Her Cat, both making their debut on Blu-Ray.

All three movies will be available on June 7, 2022 and are available to preorder now.

The Place Promised in Our Early Days Bonus Features

· Interviews with Japanese voice cast
· Interview with director Makoto Shinkai
· Trailer collection

 

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5 Centimeters Per Second Bonus Features

· Voices of a Distant Star short film
· Feature-length storyboard (5 Centimeters Per Second)
· Interview with Shinkai (5 Centimeters Per Second)
· Interview with cast
· Music video
· Trailers
· She and Her Cat short film
· Interview with Makoto Shinkai (Voices of a Distant Star)
· Storyboards (Voices of a Distant Star)
· Trailer Collection 

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Children Who Chase Lost Voices Bonus Features

· Audio commentary with Shinkai and staff
· Interviews with staff and cast
· Making of Children Who Chase Lost Voices
· Japanese promotional video
· Japanese trailers
· Works of Makoto Shinkai 

 

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The other announcment concerns an early work from none other than Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki. Panda Go Panda consists of two featurettes- Panda Go Panda and Rainy Day Circus, originally released in 1972 and 1973 respectively. Both films were directed by the late Takahata, with Miyazaki penning the scripts. GKIDS announced plans to release the film theatrically this year, in celebration of its 50th Anniversary, but it will also be getting a home release this June, in a Blu-Ray and DVD Combo-pack.

The release will include special features which will feature archive conversations between Takahata and Miyazaki, originally recorded in 1994, as well as featurettes "From Mimi to Heidi, From Papanda to Totoro" and "Panda! Go Panda! Exhibit : The Impact of Hayao Miyazaki's Image Boards".

The Blu-Ray will be available from June 21, 2022 and is available to preorder now.

 

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