Crunchyroll Announces Haikyuu, BLUE LOCK, and OVERLORD Movies at CinemaCon

At Crunchyroll’s first ever panel at CinemaCon, the anime streaming giant revealed the acquisition and select theatrical premiere dates for three new films: HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle, BLUE LOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI- and OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom.

First, my favorite bit of news – one that I’ve been waiting for. Just in time for the 10th anniversary of the manga, which launched on April 6, 2014, Crunchyroll has announced that it as obtained the North American and (select) international theatrical rights for HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle, the first of two films that will bring the global phenomenon Haikyuu to a close.

The official synopsis reads:

Shoyo Hinata joins Karasuno High’s volleyball club to be like his idol, a former Karasuno player known as the “Little Giant.” But, Hinata soon finds that he must team up with his middle school nemesis, Tobio Kageyama. Their clashing styles turn into a surprising weapon, but can they beat their rival Nekoma High in the highly anticipated “Dumpster Battle,” the long awaited ultimate showdown between two opposing underdog teams?

Produced by Production I.G and directed by Susumu Mitsunaka, who also wrote the screenplay, HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle is based on the original manga by Haruichi Furudate.

The film hit theaters in Japan on February 16, and I have been anxiously anticipating news of its North American theatrical release basically since it was announced almost two years ago. HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle will finally land in theaters in the United States on May 31. It will be available in both Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English.

Additional international theatrical release dates for the film include:

• May 30: Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland (Italian-speaking), Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama), Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru
• May 31: Canada, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States
• June 7: Turkey
• June 12: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland (French-speaking)
• June 25: Austria, Germany
• June 27: Switzerland (German-speaking)

The first four seasons of Haikyuu (as well as the compilation films and OVAs) can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

BLUE LOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI- is the first film for the hugely popular, action-packed BLUE LOCK franchise. It will feature an original story focusing on fan-favorite character Nagi Seishiro. It follows the high school student as he discovers his talent for soccer and serves as a side story to the series.

The official synopsis reads: 

“That’s a hassle.” That was second-year high schooler Nagi Seishiro’s favorite phrase as he lived his dull life. Until Mikage Reo, a classmate who dreamed of winning the World Cup, discovered Nagi’s hidden skill, inspiring him to play soccer and share his outstanding talent. One day, he receives an invitation to the mysterious BLUE LOCK Project. What awaits him there is an encounter with the finest strikers assembled from across the country. Nagi’s dream of becoming the best, alongside Reo, will take this prodigy to a world he’s never known.

A prodigy can only be shaped when someone discovers him….now, striker Nagi Seishiro’s incredible talent and persona will set the soccer world ablaze.

BLUE LOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI- will hit theaters in North America on June 28, both in Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English. International release dates will be announced at a later date.

Directed by Shunsuke Ishikawa and produced by Eightbit, BLUE LOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI- features an original story by Muneyuki Kaneshiro based on the manga by Kouta Sannomiya. Character Design is by Yusuke Nomura. Composition and screenplay are by Taku Kishimoto. The music is by Jun Murayama.

The first season of BLUE LOCK can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

The final piece of news is that Crunchyroll has acquired OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom, the first film in the OVERLORD franchise. While we don’t know specific dates yet, the film will hit theaters in North America and select countries in EMEA and Latin America. Based on the light novels by Kugane Maruyama, the film is a continuation of the anime and picks up after the conclusion of season 4.

The official synopsis reads: 

After twelve years of playing his favorite MMORPG game, Momonga logs in for the last time only to find himself transported into its world playing it indefinitely. Throughout his adventures, his avatar ascends to the title of Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown.

Once prosperous but now on the brink of ruin, The Sacred Kingdom enjoyed years of peace after construction of an enormous wall protecting them from neighboring invasions. But, one day this comes to an end when the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth arrives with an army of villainous demi-humans.

Fearing invasion of their own lands, the neighboring territory of the Slane Theocracy is forced to beg their enemies at the Sorcerer Kingdom for help. Heeding the call, Momonga, now known as the Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown, rallies the Sorcerer Kingdom and its undead army to join the fight alongside the Sacred Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy in hopes to defeat the Demon Emperor.

Directed by Naoyuki Ito and produced by MADHOUSE, OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom is based on an original story by Kugane Maruyama. Character Design and Chief Animation Direction is by Satoshi Tasaki. It is illustrated by so-bin with music by Shuji Katayama (Team-MAX).

All four seasons of OVERLORD can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

source: press release

Author: Jamie Sugah

Jamie has a BA in English with a focus in creative writing from The Ohio State University. She self-published her first novel, The Perils of Long Hair on a Windy Day, which is available through Amazon. She is currently an archivist and lives in New York City with her demon ninja vampire cat. She covers television, books, movies, anime, and conventions in the NYC area.

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