Aniplex of America and Fathom Events have teamed up with the National Pancreas Foundation for the release of the anime film I want to eat your pancreas, which hits movie theaters nationwide on February 7 and 10. The heartwarming, coming-of-age film is based on Yoru Sumino’s bestselling novel about two teenagers, an aloof bookworm and a bubbly high school girl who suffers from an unspecified terminal pancreatic illness. The film, which comes to over 400 movie theaters across the U.S. in February, will be accompanied with a pre-show which includes information on the pancreas as well as services provided by the National Pancreas Foundation in hopes of raising awareness on a not often talked about topic. The foundation’s website states its mission as providing “hope for those suffering from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer through funding cutting edge research, advocating for new and better therapies, and providing support and education for patients, caregivers, and health care professionals.”

“We are thrilled to be working with the National Pancreas Foundation,” says Shu Nishimoto, President of Aniplex of America. “Though the film doesn’t specify the character’s condition, the fact that she is only in high school and suffering a terminal pancreatic illness is not an implausible scenario, but a very real thing. We hope this film will help start much needed conversations about our health and inspire moviegoers to live their best lives as our heroine does.”

“This trailer is a glimpse into the complex and multifaceted lives of those suffering from pancreatic disease,” says Cecila Petricone, chronic pancreatitis patient and volunteer – the National Pancreas Foundation, “particularly highlighting the effects disease has on those who care for the sufferer.”

I want to eat your pancreas is produced by Studio VOLN (Idol Incidents, Ushio & Tora) and directed by Shinichiro Ushijima (Hunter x Hunter, One Punch Man). The special two day event includes the world premiere of the English version of the film, featuring cast members Robbie Daymond (Sailor Moon, Digimon Adventure tri.) and Erika Harlacher (Fate/Apocrypha, Violet Evergarden) voicing the two main characters, along with voice actress Erica Mendez from KILL la KILL and Your lie in April making her directorial debut. In a review by Collider, Rafael Motamayor writes that I want to eat your pancreas “may look like a traditional romantic drama about a dying character, but it is a heartfelt celebration of life and friendships with a tight script and round characters. It is honestly amazing that this film works as well as it does, and that it still manages to surprise you with a few twists and turns that will have theatrical audiences crying in their seats.”

About I want to eat your pancreas:

She said, “I want to eat your pancreas.”

Spring time in April and the last of the cherry blossoms are still in bloom. The usually aloof bookworm with no interest in others comes across a book in a hospital waiting room. Handwritten on the cover are the words: “Living with Dying.” He soon discovers that it is a diary kept by his very popular and genuinely cheerful classmate, Sakura Yamauchi, who reveals to him that she is secretly suffering from a pancreatic illness and only has a limited time left. It is at this moment that she gains just one more person to share her secret.

Trying to maintain a normal life as much as possible, Sakura is determined to live her life to the fullest until the very last day. As her free spirit and unpredictable actions throw him for a loop, his heart begins to gradually change.

An unforgettable spring and the best time of her life.

For more information, please visit: http://Iwanttoeatyourpancreas.com

About Aniplex of America Inc.

Aniplex of America Inc. (Santa Monica, California) is a subsidiary of Aniplex Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo, Japan), a group of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. and a leading provider of anime content and music production and distribution in Japan. Aniplex of America has launched fan-favorite Blu-ray and DVD releases including Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works], Fate/Zero, the Sword Art Online series, Your lie in April, KILL la KILL, Bakemonogatari, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Blue Exorcist, anohana -The Flower We Saw That Day-, NISEKOI, the OREIMO series, DURARARA!!×2, Magi series, Expelled From Paradise, The irregular at magic high school, and ALDNOAH.ZERO. The company’s ever-growing line-up of shows include: March comes in like a lion, Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga, ERASED, The Asterisk War, OWARIMONOGATARI, KIZUMONOGATARI, Charlotte, Occultic;Nine, WWW.WAGNARIA!!, GRANBLUE FANTASY The Animation, Eromanga Sensei, Katsugeki TOUKEN RANBU, BLEND-S, Fate/stay night [Heaven’s Feel] I. presage flower, Slow Start, Record of Grancrest War, Today’s MENU for EMIYA Family, PERSONA5 the Animation, Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs, Cells at Work!, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, DAKAICHI –I’m being harassed by the sexiest man of the year-, and Sword Art Online Alicization. In June 2017, the company launched the English version of the popular mobile game, Fate/Grand Order, which has exceeded four million downloads.

About Fathom Events

Fathom Events is the leading event cinema distributor with theater locations in all top 100 DMAs® (Designated Market Areas) and ranks as one of the largest overall theater content distributors. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L), Fathom Events offers a variety of unique entertainment events in movie theaters such as live performances of the Metropolitan Opera, top Broadway stage productions, major sporting events, epic concerts, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series, inspirational events and popular anime franchises. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes for unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live Digital Broadcast Network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 975 locations and 1,578 screens in 181 DMAs. The company also provides corporations a compelling national footprint for hosting employee meetings, customer rewards events and new product launches. For more information, visit www.FathomEvents.com.