As part of Crunchyroll’s Anime Movie Night, Children of Ether, Crunchyroll’s first ever original short, written and directed by LeSean Thomas (Boondocks, Cannon Busters) comes to theaters. The premiere will open for another anime series The Ancient Magus’ Bride which was developed by WIT STUDIO (Attack on Titan) from the successful manga of the same name. Read on to find a theater near you and to learn more.Earlier this year an  alliance between Screenvision Media and KAOS Connect to create AnimeMovieNight at select movie theaters across the country was formed. As part of that alliance, the first three episodes of The Ancient Magus’ Bride will be shown in theaters along with special exclusive screenings of other original Crunchyroll offerings, the first of which being Thomas’ Children of Ether. Children of Ether follows Rhonda, a woman with mysterious powers and a supernatural connection who is in search of her past while trying to stay alive in a dystopian future run by rival gangs, warring factions and magical unknown elements.

First announced at NY Comic Con 2016, Thomas teamed up with several anime heavy hitters such as character designer Hiroshi Shimizu (Michiko and Hatchin), storyboard director Shingo Natsume (One Punch Man), animation director Yûichi Takahashi (Gatchaman Crowds Insight) and animator Mitsuo Iso (Neon Genesis Evangelion) to produce Children of Ether. The animated short along with exclusive behind-the-scenes creation footage will screen before the first full-length episode of The Ancient Magus’ Bride. Written by Aya Takaha (Psycho Pass) and directed by Nohiro Naganuma (Yowamushi Pedal, Death Note)

What I think makes Thomas’ Children of Ether so significant is that not only is he an African-American artist and director who worked exclusively with a Japanese team to create Children of Ether, the main character, Rhonda, is also woman of color, a rare image in the world of anime. In addition, Children of Ether could be considered Thomas’ official anime directorial debut. Although in 2015 Thomas successfully funded a kickstarter for the pilot of another anime series, Cannon Busters, and created a trailer for the series, only backers have been given access to the pilot for the show and at the time of this writing, the animated pilot has not been announced as a full series.

 

Want to see the Children of Ether animated short and The Ancient Magus’ Bride for yourself on July 26?

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