Crunchyroll Announce 'The Concierge' and 'Trapezium'
Ever since Crunchyroll merged with Funimation to become the biggest anime company in the world, they have been stepping up their theatrical releases. They are releasing more, not only of movies based on TV series they stream but also original features. The company has released two of the latter are coming up this September.
They have released North American theatrical dates for two movies, as well as select international markets. Crunchyroll will release anthropomorphic fantasy The Concierge on September 11 and Trapezium, a drama set within Japan's idol-obsessed culture on September 18. Both films will be released by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment for one day only in North America.
The Concierge will also be released in Italy on September 23, Germany on September 24, Australia on September 26, and Spain on September 27. The Trapezium will be released in Germany on November 26 and France on November 19.
The Concierge follows Akino, a trainee concierge at the Hokkyoku Department Store, which caters exclusively to animals. Under the watchful eye of the floor manager and senior concierges, Akino runs around trying her best to fulfil the wishes of customers and in pursuit of her dream to become a full-fledged concierge.
The Concierge is directed by Yoshimi Itazu and produced by Production IG (Ghost In The Shell). The film had its premiere at the Annecy International Animation Festival in June of 2023, and had its North American Premiere at The Fantasia Festival in July 2023. The film has also been selected and screened at several other festivals worldwide 2023-2024.
Trapezium is the story of Yu Azuma a first-year high school student with a burning passion to become an idol. To try and make her dream come true she recruits one girl from each of the four High Schools in the region.
Along with these four girls and Shinji Kudo, her "collaborator" and confidante, Yu sets off on her path to stardom. Along the way they encounter unexpected trials, rigorous demands, setbacks and pressures, threatening to undo all they have worked so hard to achieve.
The film is based on the novel of the same name by Kazumi Takayama. It was written by Yuko Kakihara and is directed by Masahiro Shinohara. Animation is by Cloverworks. The main voice cast includes Asaki Yuikawa, Hina Youmiya, Reina Ueda, and Haruka Aikawa.
