It's easily one of the more anticipated western releases, and we can now reveal that it is indeed rolling into the west, as Sentai Filmworks have today announced their acquisition of Girls und Panzer der Film, with rights which include the UK.
This film, which follows the Girls und Panzer TV series as Ooarai Girls High School find themselves facing new challenges in the sphere of sensha-dou, will be enjoying a theatrical release in North America alongside a more traditional home video release. We suspect that this acquisition also includes the franchise's OVA episode, Girls und Panzer: This is the true battle of Anzio!
We can confirm that a UK distributor has already sub-licensed the title from Sentai Filmworks for its UK release - we aren't currently at liberty to say who by, but if you bought the TV series on home video you can probably guess...
The film is also due to be screened at this year's Scotland Loves Anime in Edinburgh where it'll enjoy a European premiere, although its cinema listing is currently Missing In Action while details are finalised with the film's production committee.
For now though, we'll leave you with Sentai Filmworks' press release containing the announcement:
SENTAI FILMWORKS SNAPS UP GIRLS UND PANZER DER FILM
NORTH AMERICA THEATRICAL RELEASE IMMINENT
HOUSTON, September 27, 2016 – Sentai Filmworks, a leading independent distributor of Japanese anime and pop culture programming, announced today that they have acquired extensive distribution rights to the highly acclaimed, record-breaking Japanese anime film, Girls und Panzer der Film, for North America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other territories. Sentai Filmworks will release additional information on Girls und Panzer der Film shortly, including distribution, release date, and streaming offerings.
“After seeing Girls und Panzer der Film last year, I knew we had to add this title to our already acclaimed library of movies. It’s one of the most exciting titles we’ve acquired this year,” said John Ledford, President of Sentai Filmworks. “Sometimes we choose films because they are critically acclaimed. Sometimes we pick films because they’re runaway hits. Girls und Panzer der Film is the perfect combination of both.”
During its recent Japanese theatrical run, Girls Und Panzer Der Film was ranked the highest-grossing movie of opening weekend and earned more than $21 million total at the Japanese box office. It is directed by Tsutomu Mizushima, the same director of the 2012-2013 Japanese TV anime series, Girls und Panzer, which was also extremely popular and well received. The film continues where the beloved anime series Girls und Panzer left off, which takes place in a society where humanity exists in cities built atop gigantic carrier ships. A sport called “tankery” is a popular staple activity among high school girls. The girls of the Oarai High School tankery team are in for a new challenge, as they work together to defeat rival schools in order to keep their school from being closed down.
Girls und Panzer der Film shattered both Japanese 2015 box office and DVD sales records, including:
- Sold more than one million tickets and grossed more than $1.2 million U.S. in its opening weekend in Japan, becoming the number-one film in gross at the time
- Earned more than $2.3 billion yen ($21 million U.S.) total at the Japanese box office
- Won the prestigious Seiun Award Best Dramatic Presentation
- Awarded the Sanctuary Award from the 25th Japan Movie Critics Award
- Number one for the first week of its domestic home video release, and the fourth-highest selling Japanese animation Blu-ray Disc to date among all anime (for first-week sales)
Girls und Panzer der Film will kick off its multi-pronged campaign at this year’s AkibaFest, an anime fan festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, from October 15-16. Fans can take pictures with Girls und Panzer der Film cosplayers, create shareable GIFs at a GIF booth, shop exclusive merchandise, and score free swag.
For Sentai Filmworks’ latest announcements regarding this and other great titles, be sure to like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. In addition, everyone is encouraged to share pictures, GIFs, Tweets, and more using #GuPderFilm.
