Interest

Totoro, Doraemon, Bakugan Shown Free in Quake Areas

Since April 7, Studio Ghibli has been collaborating with the non-governmental organization Peace Winds Japan to screen My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, and other works for free in areas hit by the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake disaster (Higashi Nihon Daishinsai). A "caravan" has been travelling from area to area with Ghibli DVDs, a projector, and a screen. In the first two weeks alone, the caravan went to 16 places in Miyagi Prefecture's Kesenuma City, Iwate Prefecture's Rikuzentakata City, and other areas.

A representative of Peace Winds Japan explained that the disaster has traumatized children, and the Peace Winds and Japan and Ghibli agreed they can do something to soothe them.

Similarly, the film Doraemon: Nobita no Kyoryu [2006] (Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur) is being screened for free in the affected areas from Friday to Sunday during the Golden Week holidays. The organizer of this effort, Akira Tanaka, is reporting on his travels on his Twitter account @akiratequila. In a related development, Shogakukan and Yahoo! Japan have been offering five Doraemon manga stories for free on iPhones, iPads, and personal computers from April 27 to May 10, all to support the quake recovery efforts.

Also in response to the earthquake and tsunami, TMS Entertainment is streaming four family and children's television anime for free on its Movie Square site from April 28 to May 12. The four titles are Mameushi-kun, Pururun! Shizuku-chan Aha, Zenryoku Usagi, and Bakugan Battle Brawlers.

The Kinder Film Festival in Tokyo is not only organizing a Tōhoku Ōen Jōeikai Kodomo Anime Caravan in four cities from May 1 to May 5, but voice actress Keiko Toda is personally coming to dub the children's program Thomas and Friends live at each locale. The caravan will also show Pingu, Shaun the Sheep, and Komatori Eiga Komaneko.

Sources: Sports Nippon, Cinema Today, hon.jp, Anime Anime Japan (link 2)

Images © Peace Winds Japan