Focused on ANIME&MANGA

with All Japanese Culture

2025

on Sat 1st March at Riccarton Park

Anime Movie Screening


Anime films are shown for free all day long on the big outdoor screen! Enjoy our selection of legendary masterpieces to your heart's content while eating street food!

Porco Rosso: Screening starts at xx:xxam

The Garden of Words: Screening starts at xx:xxpm

Presented by

Porco Rosso -Directed by Hayao Miyazaki-

"Porco Rosso" is not your typical Studio Ghibli movie. Set in the Adriatic Sea during the interwar period, the story follows Porco, a former World War I fighter pilot cursed to live with the appearance of a pig. Now a freelance bounty hunter, Porco spends his days battling air pirates and his nights reflecting on his past in his secret cove.

His peaceful yet adventurous life takes a turn when his old rival, Curtis, challenges him to an aerial duel. With the help of Fio, a talented young engineer, Porco confronts his past, his curse, and the growing affection he feels for the people around him.

The film is filled with all of Hayao's passion and feels as if this film has been created for Hayao's own joy. Extreme details in the aerial scenes, the drama happening around the hard boiled Porco and the theme of "being cool", makes this film smell of steel, engine oil and sweat.

The Garden of Words -Directed by Makoto Shinkai-

This movie is by the famouns Makoto Shinkai, who has directed "Your Name", "Suzume" and "Weathering with You". Set against the lush, rain-drenched backdrop of Tokyo, the story follows Takao, a young shoemaker, who skips school to sketch shoe designs in a serene garden. There, he encounters Yukari, a mysterious woman who is also seeking comfort from her own struggles.

As the rainy season unfolds, the two form an unlikely bond, sharing their dreams, vulnerabilities, and an unspoken connection that transcends their age gap. The film explores themes of loneliness, healing, and the fleeting nature of human connections, brought to life with extremely detailed animation and beautiful musical.

A poetic tale of love and self-discovery, "The Garden of Words" captures the beauty of fleeting moments and the profound impact they can have on our lives.

Uji City PR Video Crip -Created by Kyoto Animation-

At Japan Fiesta, we focus on different regions of Japan each time. This year, the spotlight is on the "Kinki Fair." The Kinki region is located in central Honshu and consists of seven prefectures: Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, Shiga, and Mie. Uji is featured, which is famous for their matcha and is a suburb within the Kyoto Prefecture, Japan's most popular tourist destination.

Uji is home to the globally renowned anime studio Kyoto Animation, which collaborated with the city to create this promotional video for Uji. The video beautifully showcases Uji's attractions, including its historic streetscapes, the UNESCO World Heritage site Byodoin Temple’s Phoenix Hall, sites associated with Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji, the world’s oldest full-length romance novel, and its reputation as a leading producer of premium Japanese tea.

Immerse yourself in 6 minutes and 30 seconds of breathtakingly beautiful visuals that encapsulate the charm of Uji.