Italian film distributor Lucky Red has announced that the upcoming Mazinger Z Movie will open in theaters in the country in October 2017. This release date is three months ahead of Japan's, which is scheduled for January 13, 2018.

In recent years, Lucky Red has become the primary distributor of anime movies in Italy. It is also the primary distributor of productions by Studio Ghibli. Producers had already indicated at the announcement of Mazinger Z Movie at AnimeJapan 2017 that the movie would open in theaters overseas first before opening domestically.

Lucky Red looks to capitalize on the success of Toei Animation's full CG movie Captain Herlock (2013), which earned the equivalent of more than 700 million yen in box office revenues in Italy. In comparison, Captain Herlock earned 500 million yen in Japan. It went on to earn a total of 2 billion yen in box offices worldwide, with Italy and France making up two-thirds of the total revenue.

Mazinger Z mangaka Go Nagai, whose works also include UFO Robo Grendizer, Devilman, and Getter Robo, is tremendously popular in several European markets. In addition to Mazinger Z Movie's Italian release, the premiere of teaser footage at France's Annecy International Animated Film Festival indicates a European emphasis in its overseas marketing, according to Animation Business Journal's Tadashi Sudo.

Lucky Red official site: http://www.luckyred.it/movie/mazinga-z/

Source: Animation Business Journal