‘Akira' 4K Restoration, ‘Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye' Lead POM Anime's 2025 Theatrical Slate
Amsterdam-based Piece of Magic Entertainment's anime division has unveiled a 2025 distribution slate that puts theatrical exhibition at the center of its European expansion strategy, with the crown jewel being a 4K restoration of cyberpunk classic 'Akira.'
The POM Anime lineup spans both prestigious legacy titles and breakout contemporary properties: 'Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye,' 'Akira,' 'Grave of the Fireflies' and 'Lupin the IIIrd The Movie: The Immortal Bloodline.' All four titles will receive theatrical releases across multiple European territories, signaling the distributor's confidence in the big-screen appeal of anime content.
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First out of the gate is the anticipated Season 2 theatrical launch of 'Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye,' hitting cinemas June 7-8 across 12 territories, with Germany and Austria following June 10. Building on the success of 'Dan Da Dan: First Encounter' in 2024, audiences will get the first three episodes of Season 2 plus exclusive 10-minute bonus content available only in theaters. The rollout spans Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
POM Anime has partnered with Kodansha to license the 4K restoration of 1988's 'Akira' across 20 countries. The July 16 release date carries special significance for fans as 'Akira Day' — commemorating the fictional date when Tokyo's destruction sparked World War III in the film's storyline. This marks the first-ever theatrical release in several markets, expanding POM's 2023 'Akira' footprint from 12 to 20 territories, now including the Nordics and Baltics alongside Poland, Romania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, Albania, Bulgaria, and Serbia.
Studio Ghibli's emotional masterpiece 'Grave of the Fireflies' will receive a 15-territory summer release across Benelux, the Baltics, and Eastern European markets. The World War II sibling story continues to resonate as what POM calls 'a poignant testament to the human cost of war.'
Rounding out the slate is 'Lupin the IIIrd The Movie: The Immortal Bloodline,' marking the first new 2D Lupin feature in nearly three decades. Directed by Takeshi Koike ('Redline'), the Q4 2025 release continues POM's successful partnership with TMS Entertainment following last year's 'Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro' European run.
'Our slate blends the prestige of timeless classics like 'Akira' and 'Grave of the Fireflies' with the excitement of fresh, breakouts like 'Dan Da Dan' and 'Lupin the Third,'' said Caspar Nadaud, CEO and founder of POM Anime and Piece of Magic Entertainment. 'With multi-territory, theatrical rights for Europe, we're committed to offering audiences the chance to tap into the rich, global appeal of these iconic properties and to be at the forefront of exciting new premium anime content.'
POM Anime has previously distributed major titles including 'Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train,' 'Jujutsu Kaisen 0,' 'One Piece Film: Red,' and 'Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.'
Established in 2017, Piece of Magic Entertainment operates from Amsterdam with distribution capabilities spanning 60-plus countries. The company specializes in prestige documentaries, feature films, anime, live gaming events, and concerts, with recent releases including 'Godzilla Minus One' and 'Becoming Led Zeppelin.'
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