FROM UP ON POPPY HILL Coming to Blu-ray and DVD

: 31 May 2013

Artwork and Specs for North American Release Source: GKIDS Inc., Cinedigm Official Site: gkids.tv/poppyhill Special Thanks to Eric Beckman, Jill Newhouse Calcaterra and Luis Garza Following its US premiere at NY Int`l Children`s Film Festival, a three month NYC theatrical run, and the ongoing 200+ theater national release, FROM UP ON POPPY HILL (???????, Kokuriko-Zaka Kara, 2011), the wonderful new film from Studio Ghibli, is now coming to Blu-ray and DVD on the GKIDS animation label.

From the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of SPIRITED AWAY, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, KIKI`S DELIVERY SERVICE, and THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY, comes another animated triumph. The setting is Yokohama, 1963: Japan is picking itself up from the devastation of World War II and preparing to host the Olympics. The mood is one of both optimism and conflict as the young generation struggles to throw off the shackles of a troubled past. Against this backdrop of hope and change, a friendship begins to blossom between high school students Umi (Sarah Bolger) and Shun (Anton Yelchin) -- but a buried secret from their past emerges to cast a shadow on the future and pull them apart. From a screenplay by Academy Award-winner Hayao Miyazaki and featuring an all-star English voice cast! The Blu-ray and DVD release of FROM UP ON POPPY HILL contains over three hours of bonus materials and includes: original Japanese language and English language versions with subtitles and dubtitles; feature-length storyboards; celebrity cast recording featurette with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews; an interview with director Goro Miyazaki; original Japanese trailer and TV spots; the music video for the theme song by Aoi Teshima; and a featurette about Yokohama, exploring the history of the sea-side setting where the film takes place. Bonuses exclusive to the Blu-ray edition include a staff speech and press conference by Hayao Miyazaki days after the Fukushima earthquake; and a 20-page booklet containing the original project proposal by Hayao Miyazaki and a letter from Goro Miyazaki. Release Date: September 3, 2013 Studio: Cinedigm Format: Blu-ray/DVD Special Edition SRP: $34.95 Format: DVD SRP: $29.95 Audio tracks: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Language: Japanese, English Subtitles: English, English Dubtitles Running Time: 91 minutes Special Features Feature-Length Storyboards Celebrity Cast Recording Featurette Interview with Goro Miyazaki Original Japanese Trailers and TV Spots Music Video "Summer of Farewells - From Up On Poppy Hill" performed by Aoi Teshima Yokohama - Stories of Past and Present Featurette Blu-ray/DVD Special Edition Exclusive Features Hayao Miyazaki Press Conference Hayao Miyazaki Staff Speech Booklet including letters by Goro and Hayao Miyazaki

About Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by animation directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and is one of the most successful and well-respected animation studios in the world. Cultivating a creative force of talented directors, animators, and storytellers under the revered brilliance of Miyazaki and Takahata, Studio Ghibli’s films have been praised for their originality, dazzling animation, and epic storytelling. The films have become a beloved part of Japanese popular culture, and have garnered worldwide acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Hayao Miyazaki’s SPIRITED AWAY won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002 and in 2005 Miyazaki was named one of "the most influential people" by Time Magazine.

About GKIDS

GKIDS is a distributor of award-winning animation for both adult and family audiences. Theatrical releases include Tomm Moore’s Oscar nominated THE SECRET OF KELLS, Michel Ocelot’s acclaimed AZUR & ASMAR, European Film Award Best Animated Feature winner MIA AND THE MIGOO, Nina Paley’s multiple-award-winning SITA SINGS THE BLUES, and Japan Academy Prize winner SUMMER WARS by Mamoru Hosoda. Upcoming GKIDS releases include 2011 Berlin official selection A CAT IN PARIS and Annecy winner ELEANOR`S SECRET. GKIDS is also producer of New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival, North America’s largest festival of film for children and teens. NYICFF is an Oscar-qualifying event and jury members include Uma Thurman, Susan Sarandon, Gus van Sant, Matthew Modine, James Schamus, Michel Ocelot, and Christine Vachon.

For more information on FROM UP ON POPPY HILL, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: