FUNimation and Lionsgate are bringing the classic 1995 film back to the big screens!
[dropcap size=small]T[/dropcap]his year is a big one for fans of Masamune Shirow’s seminal manga and anime series, Ghost in the Shell. Ahead of the much talked about live-action adaptation due out this March, US fans will be treated to a two day screening of the original 1995 anime film this February.
The good folks over at FUNimation are partnering up with Lionsgate to bring Mamoru Oshii’s iconic film back to the big screens for fans to enjoy:
“We’re excited to be partnering with Lionsgate to bring the original ‘Ghost in the Shell’ movie back to U.S. theaters,” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and founder of Funimation. “’Ghost in the Shell’ is truly a seminal work in anime cinema and it helped firmly establish a market for the genre with U.S. movie audiences.”
“’Ghost in the Shell’ is an iconic property and it is great that fans will be able to watch it on the big screen for the first time in 20 years,’ said Kevin Carney, VP Marketing Lionsgate. “Many fans will be seeing the movie in a theater for the first time and Funimation has been a terrific partner to help make this possible.”
Screenings will run for two days from February 7 – 8 in 110 theaters across the US, and will include showings of the Japanese Subtitled version on the first day, and the English Dubbed version to follow on the second.
For those who don’t know, Ghost in the Shell follows the story of a cyborg policewoman by the name of Major Motoko Kusanagi. Together with the agents of the security intelligence department Section 9, Motoko investigates a mysterious threat while pursuing the elusive figure known as “The Puppet Master”.
The influential 1995 film is widely considered to be one of the best anime films out there, and we’d have to agree. Ghost in the Shell is a truly remarkable sci-fi film, with masterful animation and story-telling that’s all tied together with the perfect blend of nuance and action. Whether you’re a long-time fan, or you’re new to the series, the classic film is definitely worth re-visiting.
If you get the chance to see it in theaters, it’s an opportunity you won’t regret seizing!
If you want to find out if Ghost in the Shell is playing in a theater near you, you can do so here.
