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Expelled from Paradise, the smash hit that released in Japan on Nov. 15, is already making the jump abroad. Toei Animation, the production company behind the film, confirmed that the film will be released in North America on Dec. 20. As for Expelled from Paradise being an original anime with a small-scale release, it has already produced record-breaking numbers. Box office earnings from its two-day opening weekend in 13 theaters totalled more than 29 million yen.
Along with the confirmation of its North American release, Aniplex USA, a Japanese anime company in the U.S., has opened an official site for the English version of Expelled from Paradise and has begun distributing information. According to the information on the site, the film will release in theaters sequentially in December. Ticket sales began on Nov. 20.
Fifteen theaters located primarily in large cities have already signed on to screen the film including theaters in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and San Diego. This number even exceeds the film’s 13-screen release in Japan.
There are plenty of works that are released all over the U.S. as blockbuster hits that play on 3,000-4,000 screens, but on the other hand, having a small release is a rare characteristic. Because of this, the film is even screening in few theaters in Japan, regardless of the fact that there are many passionate fans there. Presently, there are many talked-about works that are screened on a small scale. This means that Expelled from Paradise is a much-discussed work that has pierced the hearts of highly receptive anime fans. The film is even gaining attention in Japan for its new CG work, and this seems to be an indication that interest will spread overseas as well. Above all, T-Joy, which distributes in Japan, has had high success in distributing Japanese anime in Asia.
This North American release is the first phase of Toei Animation’s worldwide expansion. It seems we can expect even more overseas activity from the company to come. And it seems chances will increase for this film to reach fans in all areas of the world, beginning in Asia.
Expelled from Paradise
© Toei Animation Co. Ltd., Nitroplus / Expelled from Paradise Society
Source: animeanime
