Bigscreen’s Funimation Partnership Brings Akira And Anime Films To VR

Bigscreen is partnering with Sony Pictures division Funimation to bring a library of anime movies to its VR-based movie rental service.

That means Akira, Your Name, and My Hero Academia: Two Heroes will be available for rent on a pay-per-view basis in VR as more than 30 films are added to Bigscreen’s library.

In December, Bigscreen launched a movie service with Paramount Pictures with regular showings just like a real movie theater. This week, however, the company revamped the offering to move toward more on-demand rentals at any time, and the occasional one-time special event like for the premiere of a new film.

The Funimation partnership kicks off starting May 1 with a screening of Your Name at 6 pm Pacific for about $4 per admission. On May 8 My Hero Academia: Two Heroes will be screened followed by Akira on May 15, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya on May 21, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time on May 29, Sword of the Stranger on June 5, and I Am A Hero on June 12. Movies will be added to the on-demand rental library within a week after the screening event.

You can watch the movies alone or invite up to seven friends to join them in a theater, according to Bigscreen, but each person pays for their own admission. Bigscreen is a free download on Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, Oculus Go, HTC Vive, Valve Index, and Microsoft Windows Mixed Reality headsets.

You can find the Bigscreen download links for the various stores here and purchase tickets for upcoming films here.

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Funimation’s Catalogue of Anime is Coming to Bigscreen, Starting With ‘Your Name’

Bigscreen

With everyone stuck at home, Bigscreen Beta has been ramping up its movie content lineup thanks to partnerships with Paramount Pictures and Lofty Sky Productions. Today, Bigscreen has announced a new movie studio partnership with Funimation, adding popular anime films to its slate.

Funimation and Bigscreen

Bigscreen users will be able to enjoy films including classics like Akira, as well as more recent examples such as Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia: Two Heroes. Over 30 movies will arrive at launch with new releases arriving through the year.

The app will celebrate the launch beginning with a special weekend screening of Your Name. Viewed on a pay-per-view basis starting at 6pm PT (9pm ET), retailing for $3.99 USD.

Future Anime Weekend Screenings:

  • 1st May – Your Name
  • 8th May – My Hero Academia: Two Heroes
  • 15th May – Akira
  • 21st May – The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
  • 29th May – The Girl Who Slept Through Time
  • 5th June – Sword of the Stranger
  • 12th June – I am a Hero

“Anime has never been more popular and we’re pleased to be working with Bigscreen to bring new releases and classics to their audience,” said Colin Decker, General Manager of Funimation in a statement “Anime has always been built around community and shared-experiences. Enabling fans to connect through the magic of VR is a natural expression of our commitment to connect fans with the art and culture of Anime through innovative experiences.”

Bigscreen

“We are excited to partner with Funimation to host anime film screenings in VR,” said Darshan Shankar, CEO and Founder of Bigscreen. “Our unique platform enables people to hangout with anime fans from around the world and watch their favourite anime together.”

The Bigscreen Beta app itself is free for users to download, supporting  HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, Oculus Rift, Oculus Go and  Oculus Quest. As Bigscreen Beta continues to add further content,  VRFocus will keep you updated on all the latest announcements.

Full list of Bigscreen VOD anime Movies:

  • Your Name
  • Planetarian: Storyteller of the Stars
  • The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya Movie
  • The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
  • Steins Gate Movie
  • Strike Witches Movie
  • Fairy Tail Dragon Cry Movie
  • Fairy Tail the Movie: Phoenix Priestess
  • Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie
  • Akira
  • Attack on Titan Part 1
  • Attack on Titan Part 2
  • Shin Godzilla
  • I Am A Hero
  • Parasyte Part 1
  • Parasyte Part 2
  • My Hero Academia: Two Heroes
  • Boy and the Beast
  • Triguns Badland Rumble
  • Death Note: Light Up the New World
  • Death Note
  • Death Note: The Last Name
  • Psycho-Pass: The Movie
  • Eden of the East: Air Communication
  • Eden of the East: King of Eden
  • Eden of the East: Paradise Lost
  • Assassination Classroom The Movie: 365 Days’ Time
  • Garo: Divine Flame
  • Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic
  • Sword of the Stranger
  • The School Idol Movie: Over the Rainbow