Movie Monday: Okko’s Inn (review and giveaway)

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this DVD, free of charge,from Shout Kids, for review and giveaway purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it, all opinions are my own


And now off to Japan!

Kitaro Kosaka’s stunning anime feature Okko’s Inn from the famed studio Madhouse will be released on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download on July 2, 2019 from GKIDS and Shout! Factory.

Okko’s Inn dvd cover

Nominated for the 2019 Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year, the film comes to home video following its nationwide theatrical release earlier this April. Bonus features include interviews with the director and Seiran Kobayashi (Okko). The latest feature from famed anime studio Madhouse and director Kitaro Kosaka, who was a key animator on numerous classic films at the venerable Studio Ghibli, seamlessly blends immersive, idyllic landscapes with the storybook charm of Okko's beloved guests. Okko's Inn delivers a rare ghost story that is firmly grounded in the trials and joys of humanity.

Synopsis:

After losing her parents in a car accident, Okko goes to live in the countryside with her grandmother, who runs a traditional inn near an ancient spring said to have healing waters. Okko soon discovers there are spirits living there only she can see – welcoming ghosts who keep her company, play games and help her navigate her new environment. Okko strives to be a gracious host, and this is soon put to the test by a string of challenging guests with different stories. But ultimately Okko discovers that dedicating herself to others becomes the key to taking care of herself.


Special Features:
·Interview with the Director
·Interview with Seiran Kobayashi (Okko)
·Q&A with Director and Producers at Japanese Premiere
·Trailers


Trailer:



Review:

This movis is aimed at kids 9+ and is perfect for family movie night, thanks to its themes of believing in yourself and serving others. Kids and adults alike will be drawn to the colorful animation, amazing backgrounds and memorable characters, as you saw in the trailer, even if you aren't a fan of anime. Admittedly I'm not, but Miss Grace is quickly becomming a HUGE fan, so she grabbed this DVD as soon as she saw it in the mail! The movie is a bit over the top for adults, but younger kids and tweens will delight in the anime. The messages are good, and the movie lends itself to easy family discussions. For kids looking for a step up from traditional cartoons! 




flashing Win

Giveaway:

One BTHM reader will win their own copy of this adorable film!



About GKIDS
GKIDS is a producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. Since 2010, the company has scored an astounding eleven Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita in 2012, Ernest & Celestine in 2014, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea in 2015, Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There in 2016, My Life as a Zucchini in 2017, The Breadwinner in 2018, and Mirai in 2019. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world’s most coveted animation collections with titlesSpirited AwayMy Neighbor TotoroPrincess Mononoke and others. GKIDS also produces the annual LA-based film festival, ANIMATION IS FILM, which embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of their work to the fullest range of expression that the medium is capable of.

About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s entertainment offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials. In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast entertainment distribution network which delivers culturally relevant programming, movie and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America and across multiple platforms. Shout! Factory owns and operates Shout! Studios, Scream Factory, Shout! Factory Kids, Shout! Factory Films, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Timeless Media Group and Shout! Factory TV. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based inLos Angeles, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.


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