The prequel animated film for The Case of Hana & Alice had its theatrical run in February 2015 and is closing in on its home video release, which was announced recently. As it’s getting closer to the actual release, just over a month away, the finalized packaging design for it from Pony Canyon has been revealed. The film is getting a Blu-ray release priced at 5,800 yen and a DVD release at 4,700 yen on August 12th, 2015. The erlease looks to be two discs with a bonus disc that has the premiere stage greeting and various interviews.
The live action film is simply called Hana & Alice, which came out back in 2004 after originally starting as a series of short films designed, of all things, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Kit Kat in Japan. The original film was directed, written and produced by Shunji Iwai, who has returned to direct this piece as well. This film is designed around showing how the two lead characters met for the film that’s already out there and both actresses are returning to voice the characters.
The new film is also got a manga adaptation that began in February while a novel adaption is coming as well for full mass media coverage.
Live action film concept: Hana and Alice are friends from childhood. Alice is lively but a bit reckless, and Hana is always picking up after her friend’s messes. But Alice is capable of doing good deeds as well, like introducing Hana to her first crush. Alice believes in love at first sight, and she acts on her belief, pursuing a high school student and dragging along the reluctant Hana. Then Alice suggests to Hana to consider the boy’s friend, Miyamoto, as a possible boyfriend. Although she doesn’t seem interested at first, Hana soon finds herself accepting her friend’s recommendation and falling for him.
[Source: The Case of Hana & Alice (Hana to Alice: Satsujin Jiken)]
