Toon In Series, Anime Weekend! April 9, 2010

When:
Pom Poko- Friday April 9th, 7pm
The Girl Who Leapt through Time- Saturday April 10th, 5:30pm
Barefoot Gen- Sunday April 11th, 4:30pm

Where: The Toonseum, 945 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh

Price: Free, donations welcome

Can't get enough manga and anime at the Tekkoshoccon? Join the ToonSeum in welcoming the convention to the city of Pittsburgh with special screenings of three favorites from anime masters Hosoda, Takahata, Masaki and Nakazawa. In conjunction with Dreaming Ant, the ToonSeum will host informal evening screenings of three of our favorite anime films here in our Downtown gallery space. Each film showcases the unique combination of animated artistry and storytelling that makes anime one of the world's most popular film genres.





Pom Poko, 1994, dir. by Isao Takahata, story by Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki. An environmental parable from Studio Ghibli, legendary animator Takahata introduces us to a colony of shape-shifting tanuki, playful raccoon-like creatures struggling to adapt to encroaching urban development. With an equal amount of silliness, bawdy humor, and social insight, Takahata is the best kind of fantasy: imagination and fun with a healthy dose of thought-provoking. Pom Poko is rated PG for adult themes and mild violence. 112 min.



The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, 2006, dir. by Mamoru Hosada, based on the novel by Tsutsui Yasutaka. A popular story in Japan for over 30 years, Hosada's (Summer Wars) adaptation introduces us to Makoto, a sweet and quirky teenage girl who stumbles upon the ability to time travel, which doesn't make her life one bit easier. After a modest release in Japan, Girl quickly became one of the highest grossing films of 2006 and has received universal praise worldwide. Rated PG-13 for teen humor and mild violence. 98 min.



Barefoot Gen, 1983, dir. Mori Masaki, based on the manga by Keiji Nakazawa. Recognized alongside Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies as one of the most powerful anti-war films ever made, Barefoot Gen brings Nakazawa's stirring manga autobiography to the screen in an unforgettable adaptation. In the final days of World War II, young Gen's family is running out of food and wondering how much longer the war can possibly go on. What follows is a harrowing tale of holocaust and survival, love and hope. This film is Not Rated and is not recommended for children under 13. Themes of nuclear war throughout.



The ToonSeum and Dreaming Ant are proud to present these incredible films for anime newcomers, animation aficionados, and bona-fide otaku alike! Films are presented on a donation basis and we encourage discussion afterwards.

Official Website: http://www.toonseum.org