Now here’s something interesting that the folks at Anime Limited acquired that you really don’t expect to see getting picked up. The UK distributor has had a strong focus on historical and cultural films from Japan in the animation realm from the get-go and now they’ve added Momotaro’s Divine Sea Warriors, which was essentially a World War II propaganda film. The film along with Spider & Tulip are getting their first release on Blu-ray in Japan this coming August and this film in particular was screened at Cannes this year. Anime Limited’s set will be worked using the 2kremaster and will include a booklet from Jonathan Clements that digs into its historical side. The distributor will be looking for theatrical venues to screen it including Scotland Loves Anime later this year.
The two films came out in the early 1940′s as part of propaganda films and have had varying impacts over the years since with what they represent. Shochiku is looking to bring them out as a double feature on August 3rd, 2016 priced at 4,700 yen for the Blu-ray and 2,800 yen for the DVD. With Sacred Sailors listed as the first feature-length anime film, it’ll come with a commentary track from film historians talking about the context of it, and a booklet as well.
Plot Concept: Momotaro sends a sneak aircraft attack to sink the ships of Demon Island, using his animal companions as crew members and pilots.
