MELBOURNE, Tuesday, 19 June 2012 : Madman Entertainment proudly presents REEL ANIME 2012 – showcasing four of the freshest anime feature films this side of Japan, screening at selected cinemas around the country during September, 2012.

Following the sold-out success of the 2008 and 2010 REEL ANIME showcases – which featured Evangelion: 2.0 You Can [Not] Advance, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars, the hand-picked suite of cutting-edge films selected for the 2012 showcase are some of the most highly-anticipated amongst fans, and will have something to offer everyone.

The REEL ANIME 2012 program will showcase From Up On Poppy Hill, the latest masterpiece from the Academy Award-winning Studio Ghibli; Wolf Children, from Mamoru Hosoda, critically-acclaimed director of Summer Wars; Berserk – The Egg of the King, the action-packed first feature film in a brand-new trilogy, based on the best-selling manga and anime series, Berzerk; and Children Who Chase Lost Voices, a visually stunning adventure film from cult director Makoto Shinkai (Voices of a Distant Star, 5 Centimetres Per Second). All films will be screened in Japanese language with English subtitles.

REEL ANIME brings the spectacle of Japanese animation back to the big screen, providing hardcore fans, cinephiles and casual crowds alike the rare opportunity to relish the eye-popping action, masterful storytelling and moving moments that anime has to offer. The 2012 showcase also marks the first time that the program has featured a film from the acclaimed Studio Ghibli.

REEL ANIME 2012 will screen in selected cinemas during September, 2012. Cinema locations and dates will be confirmed in future announcements. For detailed information on each film, please see ‘NOTES TO EDITORS’ section below.