‘The Boy and The Beast’ Opens in U.S. Theaters Nationwide March 4

A scene from Mamoru Hosoda’s “The Boy and the Beast.” (Courtesy of Funimation Entertainment)

PR Newswire

Funimation Entertainment announced that “The Boy and The Beast,” the latest masterpiece from acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda, will open on Friday, March 4, in theaters across the U.S.

At most venues, theater-goers will be able to watch either the original Japanese language version (with English subtitles) or the new English dub version produced by Funimation. Contact your local theater for details.

The English dub was developed closely with Hosoda to ensure the voice cast matched both his vision and direction for the film. The nationwide theatrical release will be the first time the English dub will be available to the general public. Prior to that, the film screened with English subtitles and only at a handful of film festivals in North America.

Advance tickets can be purchased at http://funimationfilms.com/theboyandthebeast.

“We’re very proud to showcase our English dub for the U.S. theatrical release of the ‘The Boy and The Beast,'” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and founder of Funimation. “It was a rare opportunity to work so closely with a film’s director on a dub production and doubly so with Mamoru Hosoda – arguably the world’s most prominent anime director.”

Funimation has distributed two prior Hosoda films in the U.S. — the critically acclaimed and award-winning “Wolf Children” in 2013 and “Summer Wars” in 2010. “The Boy and the Beast” is garnering critical acclaim of its own, having received a nomination in the Best Animated Feature-Independent category for the 43rd annual Annie Awards, which recognize the best in the field of animation.

“The Boy and the Beast” (“Bakemono no Ko” in Japanese) tells the story of Kyuta, a young orphan living on the streets of Shibuya, who stumbles into a fantastic world of beasts. He’s taken in by Kumatetsu, a gruff, rough-around-the-edges warrior beast who’s been searching for the perfect apprentice. Despite their constant bickering, Kyuta and Kumatetsu begin training together and slowly form a bond as surrogate father and son.

But when a deep darkness threatens to throw the human and beast worlds into chaos, the strong bond between this unlikely family will be put to the ultimate test — a final showdown that will only be won if the two can finally work together using all of their combined strength and courage.

The English voice cast includes Luci Christian as young Kyuta, Eric Vale as teenage Kyuta, and John Swasey as Kumatetsu. The roles were originally played by Aoi Miyazaki, Shota Sometani and Koji Yakusho, respectively.

“U.S. audiences will truly be wowed by the rich imagery, characters and storyline of ‘The Boy and the Beast,'” said Mike DuBoise, EVP and COO of Funimation. “We have no doubt that this film will bring anime to the forefront of mainstream theatrical audiences, appealing to all fans of animated films, both young and old.”

Southern California

• Pacific Theatres, The Americana at Brand, 322 Americana Way, Glendale; (818) 551-0218; www.pacifictheatres.com/glendale/

Showtimes: 11:20 a.m., 12:35, 2:20, 5:05, 7:50, 10:35 p.m.

• Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre, 8556 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 478-3836, www.laemmle.com/theaters/25

Showtimes: 1:20, 4:10, 7:10, 10 p.m.

• Playhouse 7 Cinemas, 673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (310) 478-3836, www.laemmle.com/theaters/6

Showtimes: 1:20, 4:10, 7:10, 10 p.m.

• Laemmle Noho 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, (310) 478-3836, www.laemmle.com/theaters/23

Showtimes: 4:10, 7:10, 10 p.m.

• Century 20 Bella Terra, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 373-4573, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: 11 a.m., 1:50, 4:40, 7:30, 10:25 p.m.

• Chino Hills 18, 3070 Chino Ave., Chino Hills, (909) 627-8010, www.harkinstheatres.com

Showtimes: (dubbed) 9:45 a.m., 3:45, 6:45 p.m.; (subtitled) 12:45, 9:45 p.m.

• University Town Center 6 Cinemas, 4245 Campus Dr., Irvine, (844) 462-7342, ext. 143, www.regmovies.com

Showtimes: 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 10:05 p.m.

• Muvico Thousand Oaks 14, 350 W. Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks, (805) 494-4701, www.carmike.com

Showtimes: 10:20 a.m., 1:10, 4, 6:50 p.m.

• Ontario Mills 30, 4549 Mills Circle, Ontario, (909) 476-1234, www.amctheatres.com

Showtimes: 11 a.m., 1:45, 4:45, 7:45, 10:50 p.m.

• Carmel Mountain 12, 11620 Carmel Mountain Rd., San Diego, (858) 207-2606, http://angelikafilmcenter.com

Showtimes: (dubbed) 11 a.m., 1:40 p.m.; (subtitled) 4:20, 7, 9:40 p.m.

Northern California

• Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, 1881 Post St., San Francisco, (415) 346-3243, www.sundancecinemas.com

Showtimes: 1:50, 4:30, 7:10, 9:50 p.m.

• Century Centre 9, 845 Market St., Suite 5000, San Francisco, (415) 538-8422, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: 11 a.m., 1:55, 4:40, 7:30, 10:30 p.m.

• Century 20 Daly City, 1901 Junipero Serra Blvd., Daly City, (650) 994-2488, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: 9:50 a.m., 1:15, 410, 7:35, 10:55 p.m.

• Century Tanforan 20, The Shops at Tanforan, 1188 El Camino Real, San Bruno, (650) 588-6052, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: 10:05 a.m., 1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 10:05 p.m.

• Elmwood 6, 2966 College Ave., Berkeley, (510) 433-9730, www.rialtocinemas.com/elmwood

Showtimes: 2:15, 4:40, 7:15, 9:45 p.m.

• Regency Cinema 6, 280 Smith Ranch Rd., San Rafael, (415) 479-6496, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: 10:35 a.m., 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 10:15 p.m.

• Century 14 Downtown Walnut Creek, 1201 Locust St., Walnut Creek, (925) 937-7031, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: Dubbed — 1:30, 4:30, 7:30 p.m.; subtitled — 10:30 a.m., 10:30 p.m.

• Century 20 Redwood Downtown, 825 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City, (650) 701-1341, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: 10:30 a.m., 1:20, 4:10, 7:10, 10:05 p.m.

• Century 25 Union City, 32100 Union Landing, Union City, (510) 487-9347, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: 10:30 a.m., 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 9:55 p.m.

• Palo Alto Square 2, 3000 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, (650) 493-0128, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: 1, 4, 7, 9:50 p.m.

• Mercado 20, 3111 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, (408) 919-0282, www.amctheatres.com

Showtimes: 11 a.m., 2, 5, 8, 11 p.m.

• Santana Row 6, 3088 Olsen Dr., San Jose, (408) 554-7010, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: Dubbed — 1:25, 4:25, 7:20 p.m.; subtitled — 10:25 a.m., 10:15 p.m.

• Rialto Cinemas 9, 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol, (707) 525-4840, www.rialtocinemas.com/sebastopol

Showtimes: 12, 2:20, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45 p.m.

• Century Roseville 14, 1555 Eureka Rd., Roseville, (916) 797-3466, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: 11:55 a.m., 3:05, 6:15, 9:25 p.m.

• Cinemas Del Monte Center 13, 1700 Del Monte Centre, Monterey, (831) 373-8051, www.cinemark.com

Showtimes: 10:40 a.m., 1:35, 4:30, 7:25, 10:20 p.m.

• Maya Campus Pointe 16, 3909 E. Campus Pointe Dr., Fresno, (559) 549-0005, http://mayacinemas.com

Showtimes: 11:30 a.m., 2:15, 5:05, 7:45, 10:30 p.m.