Makoto Shinkai News

CRUNCHYROLL TO PARTICPATE IN GLOBAL SHINKAI DAY

Online Anime Distribution Leader and Fans to Celebrate the Work of Acclaimed
Anime Director Makoto Shinkai on February 28, 2009

San Francisco, California and Tokyo, Japan (February 24, 2009) ­  When fans
speak Š Crunchyroll listens. With blessings from CoMix Wave Films, Makoto
Shinkai English fan forum and fansite,
http://cherryblossomsfalling., and the online anime
distribution leader, Crunchyroll, will collaborate in honoring one of the
anime industry¹s celebrated directors and visionaries for one day only on
February 28, 2009. More information can be found at the company¹s website at
www.crunchyroll.com <http://www.crunchyroll.com> .

5 CENTIMETERS PER SECOND, VOICES OF A DISTANT STAR and A PLACE PROMISED IN
OUR EARLY DAYS are titles that are synonymous with world famous anime
director Mr. Makoto Shinkai ("Hailed as the 'Next Miyazaki'" - The Japan
Times), and Crunchyroll is celebrating his ³awesomeness² with 24 hours of
Shinkai¹s most celebrated works to all Crunchyroll members at up to 480p.

³We are very happy to see how the world has embraced Mr. Shinkai¹s work²,
states Mr. Kazuki Sunami of CoMix Wave Films, ³anime is a wonderful art form
and CoMix Wave Films is very proud to work with Crunchyroll  in bringing Mr.
Shinkai¹s vision to the world.  We hope everyone enjoys it.²

In addition, anime fans will have an opportunity to celebrate Mr. Shnkai¹s
work by participating in the official Makoto Shinkai forum pages moderated
by Makoto Shinkai English fan forum and fansite (and long time fan!) owner,
Mr. Laz Long, ³I'm really excited that Crunchyroll is hosting these films
online and allowing us to share these amazing films with people all over the
world.²

Titles to air include:

·     5 CENTIMETERS PER SECOND
·     VOICES OF A DISTANT STAR
·     A PLACE PROMISED IN OUR EARLY DAYS

Shinkai¹s work debuted at many high profile film festivals such as the
Ottawa International Animation Festival and has won countless awards such as
the animation grand prize at Italy¹s Future Film Fest in 2008 for 5
CENTIMETERS PER SECOND.

"Hailed as the 'Next Miyazaki'" - The Japan Times

"Legendary anime" - IGN.com

Crunchyroll Anime Member benefits include higher quality streams of all
shows (in some cases at 720p High Definition Video) with no advertisement
and early access to simulcast shows such as NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, GINTAMA,
NATSUME YUJINCHO, SKIP BEAT, SHUGO CHARA!, WEB GHOSTS PIPOPA, LINEBARRELS OF
IRON, THE TOWER OF DRUAGA ­ THE SWORD OF URUK - and additional titles as
early as one (1) hour after its Japan Broadcast.

About Crunchyroll
Headquartered in San Francisco, California ­ Crunchyroll is hailed as a
leading online entertainment brand with the largest international online
community and destination focused on Asian entertainment including anime,
drama, music in addition to electronic entertainment and auto content.
Crunchyroll¹s distribution channel and partnership program delivers content
to over four million passionate fans worldwide. Crunchyroll is funded by the
premiere group Venrock.  More information can be found at its website
http://www.crunchyroll.com.

ANIME FANS WORLDWIDE TO CELEBRATE GLOBAL SHINKAI DAY 2009

Fans of Japanese anime creator Makoto Shinkai are gathering worldwide in cyberspace February 27-28 for Global Shinkai Day 2009. The unofficial English-language fansite Cherry Blossoms Falling (http://cherryblossomsfalling.myfastforum.org) is hosting the event with discussion and contests, calling upon fans from every part of the globe to show their appreciation and support for the works of this highly-acclaimed director. A chat widget will be available on the main page for fan discussions. Contests will held for inspired fan-made works in art, film and essay. No subscription is necessary to participate. Participants who own copies of the four anime by Mr. Shinkai (She and Her Cat, Voices of a Distant Star, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, and 5 Centimeters Per Second) are encouraged to watch these in chronological order during some portion of the 24-hour period beginning at 8 pm EST. A proposed schedule is posted on the site.

The unofficial Chinese-language fansite (http://www.shinkai.cn) will also be participating, showcasing fan-made short films inspired by Mr. Shinkai's works. The unofficial Japanese-language fansite Makoto Shinkai Fan Web (http://daike.hp.infoseek.co.jp) is also lending its support through news and information.