Japanese anime lovers are surely celebrating the number of anime movies hitting the big screen this year. As international fans are probably crying their hearts out to see these films, they finally have a chance to do so. Crunchyroll has announced that three of the biggest anime movies of the year, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom, and Blue Lock the Movie -Episode Nagi- will come to North American theaters and reveal two of the films’ release dates and other major details.
Crunchyroll has acquired the rights to release Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom, and Blue Lock the Movie -Episode Nagi- in North America and other select regions. Sony domestic distribution chief Adrian Smith introduced the anime streaming service’s first-ever presentation at the Las Vegas exhibitor and studio confab, CinemaCon, and Crunchyroll SVP of Global Commerce Mitchel Berger unveiled a host of their new acquisitions, like these anime movies.
Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle
Originally released in Japan on March 29, Haikyuu! The Dumpster Battle has grossed over $60 million to date, making it the biggest local title of the year so far. It tells the story of Shoyo Hinata joining Karasuno High’s volleyball club to follow in the footsteps of his idol, the former Karasuno player known as Little Giant. However, as he joins the group, little does he know that he has to team up with his middle school enemy, Tobio Kageyama. Amid their conflict, they use their hate for each other as their weapon to defeat their rival, Nekoma High.
You can read the synopsis below:
Shoyo Hinata joins Karasuno High’s volleyball club to be like his idol, a former Karasuno player known as the “Little Giant.” But Hinata soon finds that he must team up with his middle school nemesis, Tobio Kageyama. Their clashing styles turn into a surprising weapon, but can they beat their rival Nekoma High in the highly anticipated ‘Dumpster Battle,’ the long-awaited ultimate showdown between two opposing underdog teams?
The movie is set to be released worldwide starting on May 30, 2024. The film will be available in Japanese with English subtitles and English dubbed. For other release dates and locations, you can check the list below:
May 30: Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland (Italian-speaking), Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama), Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru
May 31: Canada, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States
June 7: Turkey
June 12: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland (French-speaking)
June 25: Austria, Germany
June 27: Switzerland (German-speaking)
Blue Lock the Movie -Episode Nagi-
Before it heads to the international silver screen, Blue Lock the Movie -Episode Nagi- is set to hit Japanese cinemas on April 19, 2024. It will follow the story of Mikage Reo, who dreams of winning the World Cup. After discovering Nagi Seishiro’s hidden talent, he’s quickly inspired by him to play soccer. He then gets the invitation to join the mysterious Blue Lock Project and is surprised to know that he will be working with some of the finest strikers from across the country.
You can read the synopsis below:
‘That’s a hassle.’ That was second-year high schooler Nagi Seishiro’s favorite phrase as he lived his dull life. Until Mikage Reo, a classmate who dreamed of winning the World Cup, discovered Nagi’s hidden skill, inspiring him to play soccer and share his outstanding talent. One day, he receives an invitation to the mysterious BLUE LOCK Project. What awaits him there is an encounter with the finest strikers assembled from across the country. Nagi’s dream of becoming the best, alongside Reo, will take this prodigy to a world he’s never known. A prodigy can only be shaped when someone discovers him….now, striker Nagi Seishiro’s incredible talent and persona will set the soccer world ablaze.
Blue Lock the Movie -Episode Nagi- is slated to premiere on June 28, 2024, in North America. It will also be released in other select regions in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at a later date. The film will be available in Japanese with English subtitles and English dubbed.
Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom
Ains Ooal Gown will soon be seen on the big screen. The movie will pick up where the fourth season left off, with Momonga logging into his favorite MMORPG game after 12 years. However, he will find himself transported into the game’s world and will be playing indefinitely while his avatar will become Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown. Here, he will be battling the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth and his villainous demi-human army. The neighboring territory, the Slane Theocracy, will be crying for help, which Momonga will heed. Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown will then fight the Sorcerer Kingdom, alongside the Sacred Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy, to defeat the Demon Emperor.
You can read the synopsis below:
After twelve years of playing his favorite MMORPG game, Momonga logs in for the last time only to find himself transported into its world, playing it indefinitely. Throughout his adventures, his avatar ascends to the title of Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown. Once prosperous but now on the brink of ruin, The Sacred Kingdom enjoyed years of peace after the construction of an enormous wall protecting them from neighboring invasions. But, one day this comes to an end when the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth arrives with an army of villainous demi-humans. Fearing an invasion of their own lands, the neighboring territory of the Slane Theocracy is forced to beg their enemies at the Sorcerer Kingdom for help. Heeding the call, Momonga, now known as the Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown, rallies the Sorcerer Kingdom and its undead army to join the fight alongside the Sacred Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy in hopes to defeat the Demon Emperor.
Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is set to be released in Japan in the fall, but its international release date has yet to be revealed. Aside from North America, it will also be seen in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
Which of these anime movies are you excited to see? Whether it’s Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom, and Blue Lock the Movie -Episode Nagi- having a chance to see these films in North American theaters is a big feat.
