The latest film in the popular anime series "KING OF PRISM," affectionately known as "Kinpuri," "KING OF PRISM -Dramatic PRISM.1-," will be released on August 16th, the first in four years. Anime columnist Ryo Koarai will explain the appeal of this long-loved series, which has been the subject of "support screenings" and other events.
◇
The latest film in the anime series "King of Prism," also known as "King of Prism," "King of Prism -Dramatic Prism.1-," will be released on August 16th. It's been about eight years since this film established the cheering screening culture in Japan in 2016, and some people who saw it back then may be thinking, "King of Prism?! That brings back memories!" However, this film is actually a "current" work that continues to enjoy enduring popularity even now, eight years after its first release.
The appeal of the work itself is of course a given, but what is the reason behind why this work has continued to be enjoyed for such a long time?
The two main reasons are that the light of screenings never went out and that as a result the number of new fans who have become hooked has continued to grow.
After the first film of "King & Prince" was released in 2016, new films were released in theaters in 2017, 2019, 2020, and now in 2024. In fact, there has not been a year during that time without a screening, meaning that it has been continuously screened for over eight years, and the frequency is more than once a year, making it a rare work. Nowadays, encore screenings of new anime films are not uncommon, and there are other works besides "King & Prince" that are frequently screened again, but in these past eight years, I have never seen another work that was screened somewhere almost every month, even in years when no new films were released.
The reason why this film has been screened so frequently for so long is probably because "King & Prince" is a work that is strongly associated with cheering screenings, which become even more exciting when everyone gathers together to watch it. Since it is a work that has great significance in terms of screening, rather than just "broadcasting" it on television or "playing" video software, cinemas and platforms have been proactive in continuing to screen it as much as possible. In fact, the light of screenings that has not gone out for the past eight years would not have been possible without regular screenings at cinemas around the country, including Satsugeki (Dinos Cinemas Sapporo Theater) in Sapporo, Atsugi Eigakan Kiki in Atsugi, Tsukaguchi San San Theater in Amagasaki, and Kino Cinema Tenjin in Fukuoka, as well as nationwide screenings. In addition, since the COVID-19 pandemic, cheering screenings on online platforms such as Zoom and YouTube have also been added.
When talking about the popularity of "King & Prince," we tend to focus on the passionate fans and support screenings, but behind the scenes, the actions of theaters, platforms, and distributors who responded to the enthusiasm of the fans also played a major role. When the new movie was announced, it had been four years since the previous movie was released, and when they said "COME BACK," fans responded, "What! When did you go away?! (= We thought you were always with us)," which is probably because the light of the screenings had not gone out even while the new movie was not being released.
In addition, as a result of these screenings, the number of new fans who have become addicted to "Kinpuri" has been gradually increasing in recent years. Over the past eight years, people who watched the original spin-off "Pretty Rhythm" at the time have become addicted to "Kinpuri" over time, and those who became addicted when the series was re-screened while there were no new releases are now looking forward to the screenings and celebrating the new release together for the first time.
The official website describes the series as "a smash hit anime film series that has thrilled a total of 1.28 million people." This means that there are over 7 billion people on the planet who have never seen "King & Prince." As long as the series continues to be shown and fans continue to support it, there's a chance that some of those people will experience the film for the first time and join in the excitement.
With that in mind, it may not be an exaggeration to say that this work is not a nostalgic piece, but rather a work in a current genre, one that actually still has plenty of room to grow and become more exciting.
The reason this film has been enjoyed for so many years is likely due to the "exhibitors and distributors who have continued to screen it," and the "people who have become newly hooked and joined the excitement during that time. " Also indispensable are the die-hard fans who have been coming to screenings over the past eight years, recommending it to others and constantly welcoming new people who have become hooked.
Of course, after all these years, there are many people who have always loved "King & Prince" but usually follow other works or are in other circles. However, even those people can't help but come back and get excited about the show once there is new development in the series. It's like a "local festival," and once you get hooked, "King & Prince" has a mysterious charm that makes it a place in your "Hall of Fame."
For the past eight years or more, "KING OF PRISM" has been shown somewhere in Japan and has always been enjoyed. If you have not experienced it yet, please take this opportunity to experience the screening of this engrossing film.
◇
Koarai Ryo: Affiliated with KD Entertainment, he is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at the Graduate School of International Media, Public Relations and Tourism Studies at Hokkaido University. He watches over 100 anime shows every week (including reruns and streaming), and has been posting his impressions of all the shows on his blog for the past 10 years. He also studies and researches anime from an academic perspective, and teaches at universities and vocational schools. In addition to writing a serial anime column, he also participates in program production as a program commentator and anime information supervisor.