Amsterdam-based Piece of Magic Entertainment’s anime division has revealed its robust 2025 distribution plan, emphasizing theatrical exhibition as a cornerstone of its European expansion. Headlining this exciting lineup is a stunning 4K restoration of the iconic cyberpunk film “Akira.”
The POM Anime roster masterfully blends revered classics with thrilling contemporary titles, including “Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye,” “Akira,” “Grave of the Fireflies,” and “Lupin the IIIrd The Movie: The Immortal Bloodline.” Each of these four films is slated for theatrical release across multiple European territories, underscoring the distributor’s firm belief in the enduring big-screen appeal of anime content.
Kicking off the slate is the highly anticipated Season 2 theatrical debut of “Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye,” set to hit cinemas on June 7-8 across 12 territories, with Germany and Austria joining on June 10. Building on the success of 2024’s “Dan Da Dan: First Encounter,” this release offers audiences the first three episodes of Season 2 alongside exclusive 10-minute bonus content available solely in theaters. The widespread rollout encompasses Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
POM Anime has joined forces with Kodansha to bring the 4K restoration of 1988’s “Akira” to audiences across 20 countries. The July 16 release date holds special significance for fans, marking “Akira Day” – a nod to the fictional date when Tokyo’s destruction ignited World War III within the film’s narrative. This momentous occasion marks the first-ever theatrical release for “Akira” in several markets, significantly expanding POM’s 2023 “Akira” reach from 12 to 20 territories. New additions include the Nordics and Baltics, alongside Poland, Romania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus, Hungary, Albania, Bulgaria, and Serbia.
Studio Ghibli’s deeply moving masterpiece, “Grave of the Fireflies,” is set for a summer release in 15 territories across Benelux, the Baltics, and Eastern European markets. This poignant World War II sibling narrative continues to resonate as, in POM’s words, “a poignant testament to the human cost of war.”
Completing the impressive slate is “Lupin the IIIrd The Movie: The Immortal Bloodline,” representing the first new 2D Lupin feature in nearly three decades. Directed by Takeshi Koike (“Redline”), this Q4 2025 release extends POM’s successful collaboration with TMS Entertainment, following last year’s European run of “Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro.”
“Our carefully curated slate combines the prestige of timeless classics like ‘Akira’ and ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ with the thrill of fresh, breakout titles such as ‘Dan Da Dan’ and ‘Lupin the Third,'” stated Caspar Nadaud, CEO and founder of POM Anime and Piece of Magic Entertainment. “With multi-territory theatrical rights for Europe, our commitment is to provide audiences with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich, global appeal of these iconic properties and to be at the forefront of exciting new premium anime content.”
POM Anime’s past distribution successes include major titles like “Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train,” “Jujutsu Kaisen 0,” “One Piece Film: Red,” and “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.”
Established in 2017, Piece of Magic Entertainment operates from its Amsterdam base, boasting distribution capabilities across more than 60 countries. The company specializes in delivering prestige documentaries, feature films, anime, live gaming events, and concerts, with recent notable releases including “Godzilla Minus One” and “Becoming Led Zeppelin.”
The Pop Blog general news and updates, mostly from press releases and conferences.