GKIDS to Release LINDA LINDA LINDA 4K in Theaters

Photo courtesy of GKIDS. TM & © LINDA LINDA LINDA partners

New 20th Anniversary 4K Remaster of The Cult Classic Japanese Comedy Drama Comes to New York City September 5, Los Angeles September 12, With Additional Markets to Follow
Source: GKIDS
Official Site: https://gkids.com/films/linda-linda-linda/

Special Thanks to Nicholas Kouvaris

Photo courtesy of GKIDS. TM & © LINDA LINDA LINDA partners

Academy Award-winning producer and distributor GKIDS has announced today it will release LINDA LINDA LINDA (リンダリンダリンダ, Rinda Rinda Rinda) 4K in theaters this September. The 2005 Japanese comedy-drama comes to theaters in a brand new 4K remaster, in celebration of the universally beloved film’s 20^th anniversary. Directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita, LINDA LINDA LINDA stars Bae Doona Bae Doona (THE HOST, BROKER), Aki Maeda (BATTLE ROYALE, GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS), Yu Kashii (DEATH NOTE, LORELEI: THE WITCH OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN), and Shiori Sekine (of the hit band Base Ball Bear).

The film comes to the IFC Center in New York City starting September 9, the Laemmle Noho in Los Angeles starting September 12, with additional markets to follow. A full market list can be found at GKIDS’ website.

The new 4K remaster held its world debut at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, prior to its re-release in Japanese cinemas beginning August 22^nd.

First released domestically in Japan in 2005, the film has been acknowledged by many as one of the greatest Japanese film works of the 21^st century. The soundtrack features original instrumental tracks composed by James Iha of The Smashing Pumpkins, various song covers from the hit band Blue Hearts, as well as songs from actress Shiori Sekine’s own band Base Ball Bear.

The debut of the viral band The Linda Lindas sparked new attention to the classic film, having taken their name as direct inspiration from the film.

Photo courtesy of GKIDS. TM & © LINDA LINDA LINDA partners

Synopsis

Kei (Kashii Yu), Kyoko (Aki Maeda) and Nozomi (Shiori Sekine) form a rock band for their last ever school festival, but then the problems begin. Three days before the school festival, their band splits up when the guitarist breaks her fingers and the vocalist storms out. Then, suddenly they hear 'Linda, Linda', the famous song by legendary Japanese band, The Blue Hearts, and they decide to do a cover version. They pounce on a Korean student, Son (Bae Doona), who just happens to be walking by and persuade her to join the group as their replacement vocalist.

They start to rehearse, but show little improvement in the limited time and space with which they have to prepare. However, the three days they spend rehearsing are the best days of their lives. On the day of the performance, they are all so worn out that they almost miss the show, but when they burst onto the stage, a wildly enthusiastic audience awaits their triumphant debut.

Director: Nobuhiro Yamashita
Producer: Hiroyuki Negishi, Yuji Sadai
Screenwriter: Kōsuke Mukai, Wakako Miyashita, Nobuhiro Yamashita
Cast: Bae Doona, Aki Maeda, Yu Kashii, Shiori Sekine

About GKIDS

GKIDS is the Academy Award-winning producer and distributor of artist-driven and award-winning animation from around the world. After an astounding 13 Best Animated Feature nominations, the company took home the Oscar in 2024 for Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed feature, THE BOY AND THE HERON. The company’s previous nominations include THE SECRET OF KELLS in 2010, A CAT IN PARIS and CHICO & RITA in 2012, ERNEST & CELESTINE in 2014, THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA and SONG OF THE SEA in 2015, BOY AND THE WORLD and W HEN MARNIE WAS THERE in 2016, MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI in 2017, THE BREADWINNER in 2018, MIRAI in 2019, WOLFWALKERS in 2021, and THE BOY AND THE HERON in 2024.

For more than a decade, GKIDS’ influence on cinema has redefined the perception of animation as an artistic medium on par with live-action film through its stewardship of the Studio Ghibli catalog and by introducing American audiences to the critically-acclaimed films of other master filmmakers from around the world such as Makoto Shinkai (WEATHERING WITH YOU), Mamoru Hosoda (BELLE), Masaaki Yuasa (INU-OH), Tomm Moore (WOLFWALKERS), Hideaki Anno (NEON GENESIS EVANGELION), Nora Twomey (THE BREADWINNER), Satoshi Kon (PERFECT BLUE) and Hiroyuki Imaishi (Promare), among countless others. GKIDS is also the founder and host of ANIMATION IS FILM, the annual LA-based film festival which embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form, and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of the medium to its fullest range of artistic expressions.