ASTRO BOY and THE SKY CRAWLERS Screenings in London Source: Barbican Centre, Sarah Harvey Publicity press release Special Thanks to Helene Muron The Barbican Centre in London continues their JAPANIMATION event series with screenings of the computer animated film ASTRO BOY this month and Mamoru Oshii`s THE SKY CRAWLERS in March. Both films will be introduced by anime expert and author Helen McCarthy (The Anime! Movie Guide, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation, and founder of the magazine AnimeFX). ASTRO BOY (2009) Tuesday 23 February, 6.00 pm Dir. David Bowers 94 min Cert. PG Nearly 50 years after creation, "God of Manga" Osamu Tezuka`s enduring young super-hero returns to in a new version for the big screen. A brilliant scientist creates a child-robot to replace his young son who died in a tragic accident but despite his super-human powers, the innocent little Astro Boy fails to fulfill his grieving father’s expectations. Rejected, he runs away and is enslaved in an underworld of mechanical gladiators. Here he begins his battle against prejudice and greed, returning to Metro City to save Earth from alien invasion. With the voices of Nicolas Cage, Samuel L. Jackson, Kristen Bell, Bill Nighy and Donald Sutherland alongside Freddie Highmore’s (CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY) Atom, Tezuka’s legacy is revived in this all action big screen anime. THE SKY CRAWLERS (Sukai Kurora, 2008) Tuesday 30 March 2010, 8:30 pm Dir. Mamoru Oshii 122 min In Japanese with English subtitles Cert. tbc A dazzling, elegant adaptation of Hiroshi Mori`s story directed by the anime master who created GHOST IN THE SHELL. In an alternative, sci-fi World War II, eternally adolescent Kildren fighter pilots live everyday to the full in the knowledge that it could be their last as players in a never-ending deadly game. Yuichi Kannami is the dreamy young pilot assigned to a remote airbase under the command of his tight-lipped female superior Suito Kusanagi. But far from an animated TOP GUN, THE SKY CRAWLERS is a thought provoking drama boasting stunning art direction but matched by deep character development. A complex nostalgic mystery laced with dizzying, almost photo-realistic CGI aerial combat sequences and sound design assisted by engineers from Lucas’s Skywalker Sound, the movie retains plenty of Oshii’s philosophizing and is complete with the director’s signature Basset Hound. Don’t miss the post-credit epilogue after which you will leave the cinema whistling Kenji Kawai’s hypnotic theme tune with much to discuss at the bar. Ticket prices Book online and save up to £2 off every ticket! Standard: £7.50 online (£9.50 full price) Barbican Members: £6.50 online (£7.50 full price) Concessions: £7.50 Under 15: £4.50 Barbican Centre Cinema Hotline: 0845 120 7527

About Barbican

The Barbican is Europe`s largest multi-arts and conference venue presenting a diverse range of art, music, theatre, dance, film and education events. It is also home to the London Symphony Orchestra. With 3 cinemas in the Centre, Barbican Film offers the best new film releases alongside a unique programme of special events and seasons, including the Silent Film & Live Music Series as well as the London Children’s Film Festival and the London Australian Film Festival every year.