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Anime Limited Launches Mai Mai Miracle Kickstarter for U.S, U.K. Release
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
British distributor Anime Limited will launch a Kickstarter campaign for Sunao Katabuchi and Madhouse's anime film of Nobuko Takagi's Mai Mai Miracle (Mai Mai Shinko to Sennen no Mahō) novel on Monday.
The basic fundraising goal will be set at US$30,000, and it will feature an English-subtitled release of the film in the United States and United Kingdom. Anime Limited has already licensed the film, so the Kickstarter funds will be allocated to production costs and extras. The campaign will also mirror AnimEigo's Bubblegum Crisis crowdfunding campaign by using "Crowd Production" to decide where money is spent.
Supporters — regardless if they buy the set — can access a downloadable wallpaper. Supporters at the $10 level or higher will also receive a postcard of thanks from Anime Limited. Those who support at $25 or more will receive digital copies of the artbook, wallpaper, and movie with the option of a dub if produced. Other possible gifts are collector's edition printing of DVD and Blu-ray Disc copies, printed art book, cinema quad, and a trip to Japan.
Anime Limited describes the story:
Shinko, is a third grade elementary school student with a magically active imagination. She spends a lot of her time listening to her grandfather's history lessons, imagining what her town was like 1,000 years earlier. One day, a sad and sombre girl called Kiiko transfers to Shinko's school from Tokyo. A strong friendship soon grows between the two girls as Shinko helps Kiiko come out of her shell and deal with her loss - all thanks to their adventures, both imagined and real.
Mai Mai Miracle opened in Japan in 2009 and premiered in the U.S. in 2010. It won the Audience Award for the Best Animated Feature for adults at Belgium's Brussels Animation Film Festival, Best Animated Feature Film at Montreal's Fantasia Festival, and the Excellence Prize at the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards.
Update: After a delay, the project's Kickstarter campaign page is now live.
this article has been modified since it was originally posted; see change history