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Birthday Wonderland and Blu-ray Moribito Released Monday

On Monday November 9, Birthday Wonderland as a Collectors Blu-ray/DVD, and in standard Blu-ray and DVD editions. The Collectors Edition will include a 40-page booklet.

On the day before her birthday, young Akane meets the mysterious alchemist Hippocrates who brings her through a basement and into a fantastical world full of magic and color. He reveals that this world is in danger, and as the "Green Goddess" it is her destiny and responsibility to save this world. The only problem? Akane just wants to go home.

The film opened in Japan in April 2019 and screened in competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Russian artist Sachiko Kashiwaba's 1981 children's book Chikashitru Kara no Fushigi na Tabi (Strange Journey From The Basement).

Hara's previous film, Miss Hokusai, debuted in May 2015.

Sentai Filmworks, which released the film in America, describes the story:

"An invisible world known as "Nayug" exists parallel to this one. The egg of the Water Spirit from Nayug has been laid within Chagum, the Second Crown Prince of New-Yogo — and as a result, Chagum's father, the Emperor, has ordered him killed. After he's ensnared in an assassin's trap, Chagum is saved by a spear-wielding bodyguard named Balsa who agrees to protect Chagum as part of her journey to atone for the sins of her foster father. As Chagum interacts with Balsa's various allies, he begins to mature greatly despite his royal upbringing. Balsa and Chagum come face to face with numerous mysteries on their adventure. But who is the Water Spirit's Guardian, what secret lies behind the Summer Solstice Festival, and will Balsa be able to fend off the assassins and keep Chagum safe from the incubating egg of the Water Spirit?"

Moribito novel series.

Anime Limited will release a standard Blu-ray edition of the two-part romcom Sukima Switch. Production I.G described the plot as “a pure love story, colourful and sweet, yet a bit bitter, just like a piece of chocolate.”