Eleven Arts Anime Studio is in tune with another lyrical anime feature, acquiring the North American distribution rights to Liz and the Blue Bird: A new coming-of-age story from A Silent Voice director Naoko Yamada and screenwriter Reiko Yoshida, produced by Kyoto Animation. LA-based Eleven Arts has slated a US and Canada theatrical release for November 9 — the film made its US premiere at Anime Expo this summer.
Synopsis: Mizore Yoroizuka plays the oboe, and Nozomi Kasaki plays the flute in the Kita Uji High School concert band. As seniors, this will be their last competition together, and the selected piece “Liz and the Blue Bird” features a duet for the oboe and flute. “This piece reminds me of us,” Nozomi says cheerfully, enjoying the solo, while Mizore’s usual happiness to play with Nozomi is tinged with the dread of their inevitable parting. By all accounts the girls are best friends, but the oboe and flute duet sounds disjointed, as if underscoring a growing distance between them. Talk of college creates a small rift in their relationship, as the story evolves to reveal a shocking and emotional conclusion.
Liz and the Blue Bird will screen with the original Japanese audio and English subtitles.
More information at www.elevenarts.com.
