A touching tapestry of the meetings and partings in life, Mari Okada’s directorial debut is a profound human drama and stunning record of an emotional adventure sure to resonate with the audiences of the prestigious Glasgow Film Festival and beyond.

Director & Screenplay: Mari Okada (“The Anthem of the Heart”)
Chief Director: Toshiya Shinohara (“Black Butler”)
Art Director: Kazuki Higashiji (“Charlotte”)
Character Designer: Akihiko Yoshida (“Bravely Default”)
Music: Kenji Kawai (“Ghost in the Shell”)
Production: P.A. Works (“Angel Beats!”)

Stars:
Manaka Iwami (“Re:CREATORS”)
Miyu Irino (“Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign”)
Ai Kayano (“No Game No Life”)
Yūki Kaji (“Attack On Titan”)
Miyuki Sawashiro (“Sword Art Online II”)
Yoshimasa Hosoya (“Attack On Titan”)

The people of Iolph are known for two things: their youthful longevity and peaceful lives weaving tapestry. When that is disturbed and their home thrown into chaos by those believing that their blood gifts longer life, Maquia loses not only her friends, but a place to return to. Lost in both mind and body, she stumbles into a dark forest and happens upon Aliel, an orphaned baby boy. Together, the two embark on an emotional journey of the bond between the ageless and the mortal.

An intimate human story set atop a fantasy stage, “Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms” is a heartfelt tribute to emotions most will experience and a perfect example of the creative renaissance sweeping Japan since the release of “Your Name”.

P.A. Works’ spellbinding visuals are a stunning testament to the visual power and creative freedom of animation. The accomplished display of lighting and colour palettes in particular give scenes an emotional power embraced by the performances of the cast.

Last year saw the breakout success of Naoko Yamada’s breathtaking “A Silent Voice” and we’re delighted to once again have the opportunity to give a platform to the work of more talented women in anime, so it can be experienced and enjoyed by audiences at Glasgow Film Festival and across the UK.

Renowned by anime fans for celebrated classics like “Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day” and “Toradora”, Mari Okada taking the top job as director has been a long time coming - a challenge she accepted after hearing how P.A. Works wanted to see a work where she could give her 100%. Now overseeing the bigger picture, new life is breathed into Mari Okada’s celebrated talent as it shines in every aspect of the production.

The talented P.A. Works have become the master of exceeding expectations with high quality shows that emphasise the human element of stories, earning captivated fans no matter the premise, like anime industry drama “Shirobako”and folklore comedy “The Eccentric Family”. A long time collaborator with Mari Okada, the two have previously worked together on anime titles including “A Lull in the Sea” and “CANAAN”.

About Anime Limited:
Based out of Glasgow in Scotland, Anime Limited brings a fresh approach to delivering the best of anime direct from Japan. As an independent company, their emphasis is on breathing new life into beloved classics and introducing new theatrical favourites like “Your Name”, “A Silent Voice” and “Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale”. With a focus on bringing more anime to the big screen, beautifully packaged home video collector’s editions and new ways to reach fans digitally, Anime Limited is committed to offering a wide range of experiences for UK audiences.

About National Amusements:
National Amusements owns and operations Showcase and Showcase Cinema de Lux, a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry, operating more than 940 screens in the US, UK, Brazil and Argentina. National Amusements is also a distributor specialising in event cinema, with a focus on anime and pre-school titles including “Your Name”, “Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F” and “Thomas & Friends: The Great Race”. Based in Massachusetts, National Amusements is a closely held company operating under the third generation of leadership by the Redstone family. National Amusements is also the parent company of both Viacom and CBS Corporation.