February 17, 2026
·
0 comments
ONLY IN CINEMAS 27 MARCH 2026
“A Scorsese-esque character study of a gangster in animation”
★★★★★ – Ryan Gaur, Skwigly
★★★★ – The Japan Times
Glasgow, UK, 17 February 2026 – A breathtaking ode to love and life itself from the must-see rising creative duo behind the award-winning ODDTAXI, Anime Limited invites you to bear witness to The Last Blossom, a tender and thrilling crime drama releasing exclusively in cinemas across the UK & Ireland from 27th March 2026.
Described as “a Scorsese-esque character study of a gangster in animation” (Ryan Gaur, Skwigly), The Last Blossom explores the life of Akutsu, a former yakuza on his deathbed in a solitary cell, with his only company being a talking flower who bemoans “What a pathetic life”. Looking back on his past, unravelling the mysteries of the people Akutsu encountered and the decisions that he made, The Last Blossom is a powerful thesis on life itself, and whether all our risks and sacrifices are worth it in the end.
The Last Blossom premiered at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and won the hearts of audiences across the circuit, winning both the Jury Award and Audience Award at Scotland Loves Anime, with critics declaring “It’s aching, painful, melancholic, and rather beautiful, and there’s nothing like it” (Alicia Haddick, Scrmbl.com),
The film marks the breathtaking original feature debut from director Baku Kinoshita and writer Kazuya Konomoto, the duo who are fast-emerging as a creative tour-de-force to watch out for following their acclaimed crime noir series ODDTAXI, which was named among The New Yorker’s Best TV of 2021, and saw Kinoshita crowned Best Director at the 6th Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Releasing The Last Blossom in cinemas, the Glasgow based Anime Limited continues their mission of elevating new and original voices in the ever-growing medium of anime, an approach that previously developed audiences for now-renowned directors including Makoto Shinkai and Mamoru Hosoda. With anime films fast emerging as a global box office force that can rival even Hollywood blockbusters, there’s no better time to explore the unique and original stories that continue to define the medium.
Synopsis:
“What a pathetic life.”
Akutsu, an elderly inmate serving life in prison, is on the verge of a lonely death in his solitary cell. The voice mocking him belongs to a balsam flower with an uncanny ability to talk. Through their ‘conversation,’ Akutsu begins to reflect on his past.
1987, summer. In a town by the sea, down-and-out yakuza Akutsu moves into a shabby apartment found for him by his sworn brother, Tsutsumi. Out in the yard, a balsam flower grows. Akutsu shares his new home with Nana, a woman six years his junior, and her newborn son Kensuke. From their veranda, they watch a massive fireworks display. The three of them live happily, until Akutsu suddenly finds himself in need of a huge sum of money, which leads him to join Tsutsumi in an attempt to rob their own organization’s safe of 300 million yen…
“You gotta hit a dead end to get a chance to turn it around.”
This is the tale of one man’s life, and the ones he loves.
The Last Blossom releases in cinemas in Japanese with English subtitles from Friday 27th March.
For further information, please contact Fetch Publicity | Josh Stevens | josh@fetch.fm
Follow Anime Limited on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | www.alltheanime.com
About Anime Limited:
Founded in 2012, Glasgow-based Anime Limited is a subsidiary of TOHO GLOBAL and represents Japanese animation interests in the UK, France, and beyond. With a thoughtfully curated lineup of films, series, and soundtracks, Anime Limited has earned its title of Europe’s favourite anime distributor. Whether through fan-centric cinema runs, beautifully packaged collector’s editions, or sharing the best of anime music on vinyl, We offer bespoke experiences for all fans for titles such as Attack on Titan, BELLE, Cowboy Bebop, JUJUTSU KAISEN, Neon Genesis Evangelion, One Piece Film: RED, Spy x Family CODE: White, Your Name, and Weathering with You.
Tagged with: