Fireworks (2017 film)

Fireworks (打ち上げ花火、下から見るか? 横から見るか?), also known as Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom? is a 2017 Japanese animated romance film based on Shunji Iwai's live-action television film of the same name. It received mixed reviews from critics who praised it for music and animation, but criticized the narrative and characterization. It is the sixth highest-grossing anime film of 2017 and has grossed over US$26 million worldwide. It was released by Madman Entertainment,[3] Anime Limited,[4] and GKIDS.[5]

Plot

Norimichi Shimada and Nazuna Oikawa live in the town of Moshimo (Japanese for "if"). The students make a bet regarding whether the fireworks are either round or flat in the sky. After finding a small glass marble, Nazuna, Norimichi, and Yusuke compete in the swimming pool race. Yusuke wins and Nazuna asks him to go on a date. Nazuna packs a suitcase and plans to leave home without her family's permission. Yusuke bails on the date and Nazuna is taken home by her mother. Norimichi throws the marble, wishing for luck and causing it to rewind time. Back when the race occurred, Norimichi wins this time around and Nazuna asks him on a date. They head to the train station, but are caught once again by Nazuna's mother and her fiancé. Norimichi learns that the fireworks are flat and is aware he is in an alternate timeline. He wishes for another chance to escape with Nazuna, throws the marble from a lighthouse, and reverses time again. He helps her elude the family and board the train. They are caught again by the others. When Yusuke pushes the two off the balcony, Norimichi uses the marble once again, wishing for no one to see them. Time jumps back again and the train takes a different route, leaving the two in the same town encapsulated in a glass dome. After a pyrotechnician uses the marble as a leftover firework charge, it explodes in the sky. After seeing the future within the shard, Nazuna and Norimichi embrace. The next day, the school notices the absence of Nazuna and Norimichi.

Voice cast

Production

On December 7, 2016, the film was announced with a release date of August 2017.[8] Hitoshi Ōne added modern elements of the film.[9] The cast and crew were also announced. On April 14, 2017, a second teaser trailer of the film was released.[10] A 30-second trailer, the third promotional video for the film, was released in June 2017. The film's theme song, "Uchiage Hanabi", is performed by Daoko and Kenshi Yonezu.[11] The music video received over 500 million views and is ranked on 1050th place on Top Viewed Videos for YouTube.[12]

Release

The film premiered in Japan on August 18, 2017,[13] and in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2017.[14] It was distributed in 110 countries and regions in July 2017.[15] Madman Entertainment released the film on October 5, 2017.[16][17] Edko Films released the film in Hong Kong on October 31, 2017.[18] It was released in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2017.[19] Madness Entertainment released the film in Mexico on February 16, 2018.[20] GKIDS premiered the film in the United States on July 3, 2018, with the wide release on July 4, 2018.[21] To promote the release, GKIDS released the trailer and images on May 23, 2018.[22]

Reception

External links