Viz Media Europe Will Present Two Movies at Cannes' Marché du Film

Paris, May 10, 2017 — Viz Media Europe is pleased to present two Japanese animated hit movies at the 2017 Cannes' Marché du Film: Annecy-nominated A Silent Voice adapted from the eponymous manga series, and YO-KAI WATCH: THE MOVIE, the theatrical adaptation from the successful kids franchise.

A Silent Voice
A Silent Voice is a powerful and captivating full-length feature film that finely encompasses sensitive topics such as school bullying and disability. The film Director, Naoko Yamada, whose work has been awarded on several occasions, is part of this new generation of Japanese Directors who will soon be key-producers on an international level. With this adaptation, she brilliantly connects with the story and cleverly adapts it, resulting in a poetic movie filled with grace, that succeeds in subtly addressing delicate issues. (Studio: Kyoto Animation. Duration: 129')

Shoya Ishida is a reckless young boy who spends his free time defying his comrades with increasingly extravagant challenges. When deaf Shoko Nishimiya joins their school, some changes are bound to happen in the class' day-to-day habits. From polite interest to exasperation, Shoya grabs the opportunity to level up: mockery, bullying, persecution... all this under the indifferent gaze of the teachers. But everything changes dramatically when Shoko finally gives in and leaves school while Shoya is considered as responsible by everyone: he is singled out and given the same treatment. A couple of years later, Shoya, stricken by remorse, starts looking for Shoko to apologize for his behaviour.

Screenings: Hotel Gray d'Albion, room Gray 5
May 19, May 22 and May 23, all at 6pm (original version, English subtitles)

YO-KAI WATCH: THE MOVIE
Based on the iconic franchise, YO-KAI WATCH: THE MOVIE hit the theaters in Japan on 12/20/2014 and was a hit at the box office, establishing a new record during its opening weekend (¥1.629 billion), as well as being the highest-grossing Japanese movie at the Japanese box office in 2015 (¥7.8 billion). (Level-5. Duration: 97')

One morning, Nate wakes up to find his Yōkai Watch has suddenly disappeared from his wrist. Together with Jibanyan and Whisper, he travels back in time -60 years into the past- in order to retrieve his missing watch. 60 years in the past, a group of wicked Yo-kai are trying to stir up trouble between the humans and Yo-kai, who had up until that point been peacefully living together. As Nate, Jibanyan, and Whisper try to find a way to settle the dispute, they solve the mystery of how the first Yōkai Watch was originally created...

YO-KAI WATCH: THE MOVIE will hit the theaters in France on August 9!

About Viz Media Europe Group
Headquartered in Paris, France, Viz Media Europe (VME) specializes in managing the development, marketing and distribution throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa of Japanese animated entertainment and graphic novels (manga). Owned by three of Japan's largest creators, publishers and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha, Inc., Shogakukan, Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Ltd., VME handles the comprehensive distribution, licensing and promotion of some of the most popular Japanese manga and animation properties for consumers of all ages. VME administers an integrated product line including graphic novels, consumer products, DVD and music. Current VME properties include more than 150 films and many award winning movies (Mamoru Hosoda's Wolf Children, Makoto Shinkai's Garden of Words, Keiichi Hara's Colorful) as well as classics (Piano Forest, Grave of the Fireflies, Professor Layton, Summer Wars, The Girl who leapt through Time, Journey to Agartha...)

About Marché du Film
The Marché du Film takes place in tandem with the Festival and is the most important meeting place for film professionals who come from all over the world to buy and sell film rights, find co-producers and network. The Marché du Film fosters exchanges and gives visibility to participants by offering a wide range of services such as meetings, exhibition spaces and screenings.