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Ghost Cat Anzu U.K. Cinema Screenings Begin on Sunday

The annual Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, a touring programme of 26 Japanese films, includes the French-Japanese anime film Ghost Cat Anzu. The details of the venues and screenings are given here.

The story is described as follows:

"11-year-old Karin (voiced by Noa Gotō) isn't happy when her good-for-nothing father drops her off at her grandfather's temple to stay while he runs away from the loan sharks on his tail, nor is she excited when she meets Anzu (voiced by Mirai Moriyama): her grandfather's 37-year-old, six foot tall, bipedal, talking cat. Anzu is a bakeneko, or a ghost cat. He works part-time as a chiropractor, rides a moped and likes going down to the pachinko parlour.

"At first, Anzu is reluctant to look after Karin. But seeing her desperate wish to be with her deceased mother once again on the anniversary of her death, he joins her. Together, this unusual pair set off on an extraordinary, magical journey, where they even find themselves on the path down to the underworld itself! Directed by Yōko Kuno, this quirky French-Japanese co-production is a visually stunning joy to watch that brings the world of yokai (ghosts) to vibrant, charming life."

Both Moriyama and Gotō also acted as the characters in footage that served as a reference for animating the characters, with their spoken lines during the filming of their movements also being used in the film.

As of writing, there are screenings scheduled at the QUAD in Derby (February 9, 6.45 p.m.), King Street Cinema in Ipswich (February 13, 7.30 p.m.), the Firstsite cinema in Colchester (February 15, 2 p.m.), the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in London (February 15, 3.30 p.m.), Depot in Lewes (February 15, 6 p.m.), Storyhouse in Chester (February 16, 5 p.m.), Hyde Park Picture House (February 22 at 2 p.m.), Showroom Cinema in Sheffield (February 23 at 12.30 p.m.), The Dukes in Lancaster (February 23 at 1.30 p.m.), Cube Cinema in Bristol (February 23 at 5 p.m.), HOME cinema in Manchester (March 1 at 1 p.m.), Queen's Film Theatre in Belfast (March 2 at 3 p.m.), Dundee Contemporary Arts (March 2 at 3.45 p.m), Broadway in Nottingham (March 15), Aberystwyth Arts Centre (March 16), Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle (March 19 at 8.15 p.m.), Eden Court in Inverness (March 22 at p.m.), Chichester Cinema (March 24 at 6 p.m.), Phoenix in Leicester (March 29), Exeter Phoenix (March 29 at 4 p.m.) and Brewery Arts Cinema in Kendal (March 29 at 5 p.m.)