©Hajime Ishiyama / Kodansha
Filipino anime fans had been abuzz on social media this week, when Jennessy Rae Cordero spotted the “poster” of upcoming live-action adaptation of the highly-popular Attack on Titan series at Robinson’s Place Manila, which he posted on social networking site Facebook on Monday.
The poster being displayed is reportedly unofficial, which was made by Japanese movie concept artist Kouji Tajima in 2013, but the visual include the text “From the company [that] gave you Rurouni Kenshin.“
But who will be the one distributing the highly-anticipated movie to local cinemas?
In a phone interview with Anime Pilipinas, a representative of Pioneer Films has confirmed that they have secured the distribution rights of the Attack on Titan live-action films to Philippine cinemas.
But unlike their previous releases that are exclusive to SM Cinema branches, like the first live-action Rurouni Kenshin movie, Road to Ninja – Naruto the Movie and Hunter × Hunter: Phantom Rouge anime movies, the upcoming movie will possibly be available in major cinema chains in the country.
The representative also confirmed that the August 12 playdate indicated in the poster is for the film’s first part, while the second part is scheduled for release on September 23, which is just four (4) days after Japan. The dates, though, are still tentative as of press time.
With regards to the key visual, the representative also says that the images came from the movie’s producers and has been allowed to be used as “teasers” to moviegoers. They plan to use the official posters as soon as they receive a go-signal from the producers.
Attack on Titan is originally a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama, which is being serialized by Kodansha’s Bessatsu Shounen Magazine since September 2009 and currently has 16 volumes.
After the premiere of the hugely-popular anime series in April 2013, the series branched out into multiple platforms, which includes multiple manga adaptations, anime films, and even a commercial for the car company Subaru.
A second anime adaptation is now in the works, and is scheduled to be released in 2016.
