STUFF TO WATCH
Justice League vs. The Fatal Five [Warner Bros., $25 BD | $40 4K] In the latest DC animated movie (directed by Sam Liu, who exec produces with Bruce Timm), Earths future hangs in the balance as the Justice League face off against a time-traveling trio of neer do wells trying to free the rest of their Fatal Five squad and carry out a sinister plan. Their fate may rest with a strange new ally: Star Boy (voiced by Game of Thrones actor Elyes Gabel). The set includes fascinating featurettes on the roles of emotional complexity and character diversity in the DCU, commentary and sneak peeks at Batman: Hush, Justice League Dark and Justice League vs. Teen Titans. [April 16]
Mirai [GKIDS/UPHE, $23 | $30 BD] Acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda has delivered another triumph and put another Japan Academy Prize, Annie Award and Oscar nomination under his belt. This highly original story of love passing through
generations begins when four-year-old Kuns life is disrupted by the arrival of a baby sister things get stranger when he meets a teenage Mirai in a magical garden. The English dub features John Cho, Rebecca Hall and Daniel Dae Kim. Bonus bits include interviews with Hosoda, a visit to Studio Chizu and more. [April 9]
A Silent Voice [Shout! Factory/Eleven Arts, $17 | $27 BD] Naoko Yamadas Japan Academy Prize-winning adaptation is a gorgeous coming-of-age drama with a powerful message about bullying, depression and forgiveness. Based on the manga by Yoshitoki Oima, the story centers on a remorseful teenager desperate to make amends with the deaf girl he tormented at school. In a win for representation, the English dub stars deaf actress Lexi Cowden as Shoko. [April 2]
Tito and the Birds [Shout! Factory, $28 BD] The award-winning Brazilian feature from Gustavo Steinberg, Gabriel Bitar and André Catoto takes wing this month, sharing a ray of animated hope in an ever darkening climate of fear. The allegorical tale follows a young boy who sets out to find a cure for the disease troubling his people, and the secret that may be nested with the local pigeons. [April 23]
Other hot titles hitting shelves this month include the Hellboy Animated double feature on 4K UHD (Lionsgate), Archer: Danger Island (Fox), Dragon Ball Super: Broly The Movie (Funimation), Bumblebee (Paramount), Replicas (Lionsgate), Welcome to Marwen (Universal), Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl 4-Movie Collection (VIZ), The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection: Vol. 5 (Kino Lorber) and Gatchaman: Collectors Edition (Sentai Filmworks).