New 3D Kikansha Yaemon Anime Movie Announced

Toei Animation has announced the development of a new 30 minute 3D anime film based on writer Hiroyuki Agawa and illustrator Fumihiko Okabe’s 1959 children’s picture book Kikansha Yaemon (Locomotive Yaemon). Toei used the story as the basis of its 1974 anime film Kikansha Yaemon: D51 no Daiboken.

The Asahi Newspaper reports that the new Kikansha Yaemon will be Japan’s first 3D anime film to get a theatrical wide release. Previous 3D anime films have had limited release or event exclusive screenings. The movie will open in roughly 50 theaters nationwide on October 3rd as part of the “Tobidasu! 3D Toei Anime Matsuri,” Toei’s first “Anime Festival” movie collection in seven years. The 3D Kikansha Yaemon movie will be screened along with Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro: Kitaro no Yurei Densha (1999, 14 minutes), Digimon Adventure 3D: Digimon Grand Prix (2000, 7 minutes), and Digimon Savers 3D Digital World Kiki Ippatsu! (2006, 7 minutes).

Source: Anime News Network