May 8, 2020 – Virtual reality movie watching platform, Bigscreen, has today announced that it has teamed up with Funimation, a global anime content provider and a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television (SPT), to program an ongoing slate of popular anime films.
The partnership means that Bigscreen users will be able to stream some of anime’s greatest hits inside a virtual cinema with friends, including blockbusters like Your Name, Akira, My Hero Academia: Two Heroes, Shin Godzilla, and many more. Fans can join live movie events or watch on-demand on Oculus Quest, the Rift Platform, or Oculus Go.
Users can purchase tickets for on-demand movies and live screenings at bigscreenvr.com/events, with prices starting at USD $3.99. Bigscreen allows users to customize avatars, hang out in a virtual lobby, and voice chat with other movie fans, as well as enjoy films solo or invite up to eight friends to join for a social movie watching experience.
“When we launched in 2016 on the Oculus Rift, we noticed a group of anime fans would meet up each week in Bigscreen to watch anime together,” said Bigscreen CEO and Founder Darshan Shankar. “Four years later, those small groups have exploded and thousands of anime fans are still meeting up every day in Bigscreen. By partnering with Funimation, we will be able to host official anime events.”
Shankar continued: “Bigscreen enables fans to experience their favorite anime in an immersive virtual cinema environment, bringing the big screen theatrical experience into your home. And as a social VR experience, Bigscreen is a unique way for people to meet other anime fans from across the globe to discuss their favorite films, watch anime together, and create new friendships.”
Funimation General Manager, Colin Decker, commented: “Anime has never been more popular and we’re pleased to be working with Bigscreen to bring new releases and classics to their audience”. He added, “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.”
Following its multi-year distribution deal with Paramount Pictures,
The full lineup of live events for the first four weeks, with screenings beginning at 6:00 pm PT / 9:00 pm ET, is as follows:
- May 8: My Hero Academia: Two Heroes
- May 15: Akira
- May 21: The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
- May 29: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
- June 5: Sword of the Stranger
- June 12: I Am A Hero
The following anime movies are available as video on-demand through Bigscreen:
- 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
The Bigscreen Beta is available for download on Oculus Quest, the Rift Platform, and Oculus Go.
Video credit: Oculus / YouTube
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.