AX Cinema Nights has been showing off hit anime films in theaters for a while now. Now it seems that they’re ready to show more of such anime films to bring the world of anime to a wider audience. 5 anime films, to be precise. Which anime films, you might ask? Well, let’s find out together, shall we?

AX Cinema Nights 2023-2024: Details

AX Cinema Nights logo on white background.
I still wonder if anime in general is going to become mainstream, or has it happened already?

Iconic Events Releasing is proud to bring us the latest slate of anime films for AX Cinema Nights. The list this time includes a grand total of 5 anime films. These range in genre from various flavors of sci-fi to even a Christmas tragicomedy. In fact, 3 of the anime films are masterpieces by the late director Satoshi Kon. If you’re a fan of thought-provoking anime films, then this incoming slate might be one to watch out for.

But that’s enough rambling from me now. Here’s the full list of anime films that will make up the incoming slate for AX Cinema Nights below:

Perfect Blue 25th Anniversary – AX Cinema Nights Satoshi Kon Fest

Perfect Blue 25th Anniversary – AX Cinema Nights Satoshi Kon Fest poster.
You can already tell that there’s going to be some amount of horror in this anime film.

Screening Dates: Sept. 6th (sub), Sept. 7th (dub), Sept. 10th

Anime Expo Cinema Nights invites you to revisit PERFECT BLUE, the groundbreaking and rarely screened first film from the legendary director Satoshi Kon (Paprika, Paranoia Agent), as it returns to theatres for its 25th anniversary. Rising pop star Mima has quit singing to pursue a career as an actress and model, but her fans aren’t ready to see her go… Harboring feelings of guilt and haunted by visions of her former self, Mima’s reality and fantasy meld into a frenzied paranoia. As her stalker closes in, in person and online, the threat he poses is more real than even Mima knows, in this iconic psychological thriller that has frequently been hailed as one of the most important animated films of all time.

Ghost in the Shell – AX Cinema Nights

Ghost in the Shell – AX Cinema Nights poster.
I see they’re going full cyberpunk with this poster.

Release Dates: Nov. 8th (sub), Nov. 9th (sub), Nov. 12th (encore screening)

Anime Expo Cinema Nights invites you to return to the visually stunning and poignant classic GHOST IN THE SHELL. 2029: A female cybernetic government agent, Major Motoko Kusanagi, and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are hot on the trail of “The Puppet Master,” a mysterious and threatening computer virus capable of infiltrating human hosts. Together with her fellow agents from Section 9, Kusanagi embarks on a high-tech race against time to capture the omnipresent entity. Director Mamoru Oshii’s award-winning cyber-tech thriller, based on the comic book by Shirow Masamune, is lauded as one of the leading Japanese animation films of all time.

Tokyo Godfathers 20th Anniversary – AX Cinema Nights Satoshi Kon Fest

Tokyo Godfathers 20th Anniversary – AX Cinema Nights Satoshi Kon Fest poster.
Not your typical Christmas film here, as you can plainly see from the poster.

Release Dates: Dec. 11th (sub), Dec. 12th (sub), Dec. 13th (encore screening)

Anime Expo Cinema Nights invites you to celebrate TOKYO GODFATHERS, the acclaimed holiday classic from master director Satoshi Kon (Paprika, Perfect Blue), as it returns to theaters to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a 4K restoration under the supervision of the original art director and producers. On Christmas Eve, three homeless companions stumble upon a baby girl in a garbage heap. They name her Kiyoko, and vow to care for her as they track down her family. Haunted by memories of their own broken pasts and pursued by a cast of shadowy characters from Tokyo’s nightlife, Hana, Gin and Miyuki overcome their differences and learn to trust one another as a new, makeshift family.

With the New Year fast approaching, the mystery behind baby Kiyoko deepens, and these unlikely heroes discover the surprising — and sometimes miraculous — connections that have brought them all together. Co-written by Keiko Nobumoto (Cowboy Bebop) and featuring a whimsical score by Keiichi Suzuki, TOKYO GODFATHERS is a masterpiece by turns heartfelt, hilarious and highly original, a tale of hope and redemption in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie – AX Cinema Nights

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie – AX Cinema Nights poster.
One of the most difficult anime films to find in home video form. One that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, at any rate.

Release Dates: Jan. 21st (sub), Jan. 22nd (sub), Jan 23rd (encore screening)

Anime Expo Cinema Nights presents COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE. Caught up in a world of dreams, lost in the cruelty of reality. What should have been an easy bounty turns into biological war after a terrorist gets hold of a deadly virus. Drawn in by the pretty price on the mastermind’s head, Spike and the Bebop crew are ready to collect a much-needed reward. Unfortunately, the gang’s about to find themselves in more trouble than money when the terrorist threatens to unleash the virus on Halloween–effectively killing everyone on Mars. With little time and leads that seem more dreamy than helpful, they’ll have to use their own bag of tricks to stop a dangerous plot.

Paprika – AX Cinema Nights Satoshi Kon Fest

Paprika – AX Cinema Nights Satoshi Kon Fest poster.
You can tell just from this poster that this is going to be one weird anime film.

Release Dates: Feb. 7th (sub), Feb. 8th (sub), Feb. 11th (encore screening)

Anime Expo Cinema Nights presents the final film by visionary director Satoshi Kon with his mind-bending thriller, PAPRIKA, which has been restored in 4K for the first time. When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patients’ dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist, Paprika, can stop it.

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