Anime season on at the BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX

The two-month season dedicated to Anime is on at the BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX, writes Adam Davidson.

It was originally planned for 2020 as part of the BFI’s major survey of Japanese cinema BFI JAPAN.

It gives dedicated fans, or novices the chance to explore the rich culture and history of Japanese animation while watching staples of the genre like Akira, Cowboy Bebop, Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.

Created by BFI lead programmer Justin Johnson along with writer and academic Hanako Miyata, this season of more than 40 features covers a variety of genres, telling contemporary, fantastical or other-worldly stories, many of which are uniquely Japanese.

It will take the audience on a journey through anime history from a series of rare shorts dating from 1917 right up to the latest releases including the Belle, which was released this year.

The season also features a number of special events, starting with a panel discussion Exploring Anime on March 31, where experts will explore what anime is, its history and origins, and how it’s viewed within Japan and internationally.

The BFI will be holding Family Funday, featuring free workshops for children prior to a screening with arts-and-crafts tables, inspired by Studio Ghibli classics My Neighbor Totoro on April 24 and Castle in the Sky on May 8.

There will also be an important spotlight on emerging female voices, in a male-dominated genre, including Mari Okada’s Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, Naoko Yamada’s A Silent Voice and Liz and the Blue Bird.

There will be an opportunity to see anime classics on the biggest screen in the UK as the BFI Imax will be showing screenings of Ghost in the Shell, Belle and Your Name, amongst others.

Anime will be running at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX until May 31.

Image:  Spirited Away