Scotland Loves Anime (SLA) is a staple of the cultural calendar. It is an annual celebration of Japanese animation that has evolved significantly since its inception. While the festival has expanded its footprint to include Glasgow and London, Edinburgh happily retains the lion’s share of the schedule with a whole week of screenings.

While the other cities often secure the premieres and exclusives, the Edinburgh leg remains the heart of the experience for local fans. I have attended since the very beginning and stuck with the festival through the Covid years and the closure of the Filmhouse.

Significantly, 2025 marked a symbolic return. While the majority of screenings took place at the festival’s current home, The Cameo, we were treated to a single screening back at the newly reopened Filmhouse. The venue was brought back to life through crowdfunding, so it felt like a homecoming.

The Numbers

At the conclusion of the festival, Andrew Partridge of Anime Limited revealed that attendance figures were approaching 6,000. While I doubt all 6,000 were squeezed into the Edinburgh screenings, that total figure is likely accounting for Glasgow and London as well. It is an impressive testament to the festival’s enduring popularity.

The Line-up: A Deep Dive

The week was a blend of retrospective action titles and fresh releases competing for accolades. The selection was so vast that our sister site, Geek Native, covered the entire slate.

The Classics

The ‘retro’ selection offered a fascinating window into the cinematography and storytelling of the past, ranging from the iconic to the obscure.

We had Project A-Ko, a historic action title that felt rather dated upon rewatching, particularly regarding its handling of female characters. Similarly, Golgo 13: The Professional served up a visual feast as a James Bond assassin pastiche but struggled with similar dated tropes.

However, other classics fared better. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust remains a gothic triumph of style, while You’re Under Arrest: The Movie was a genuine standout, delivering a police thriller adventure that is still fantastic on the big screen.

For those seeking pure visual spectacle, the schedule included the high-octane racer Redline and the visually impressive, if convoluted, Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz. At the quieter, more artistic end of the spectrum, the festival challenged audiences with the enduring enigma of Angel’s Egg.

The New Wave

The contemporary selection brought variety, which ranged from stop-motion to time loops.

  • Chao: A charming and surreal feature imagining a world where humans and mermaids live in harmony.
  • All You Need Is Kill: Based on the book that inspired Edge of Tomorrow, this saw protagonists reliving the same day to fight off an alien invasion.
  • Lupin III: The franchise had a strong showing with the high-octane OVA and the feature film The Immortal Bloodline, a spin on The Island of Dr Moreau that traded human encounters for madness.
  • Labyrinth: A quirky exploration of falling into a digital world behind a mobile phone screen.
  • Junk World: A stop-motion delight, which is a rare thing to encounter in any cinema.

The Triple Crown Winner: The Last Blossom

Edinburgh Reviews’ sister site ran a poll to determine the fan favourite, and that honour went to The Last Blossom. This sweep was mirrored by the festival itself.

The Last Blossom secured a rare ‘triple crown’ by winning the Geek Native unofficial poll, the Official Audience Award, and the Official Jury Award.

The film follows a Yakuza member in prison reflecting on the life that led him to incarceration. The narrative core is his protection of a single mother and her child, whom he took in and helped raise, all whilst refusing to abandon his life of crime. It is a powerful piece of cinema that evidently resonated with everyone who saw it.

Logistics and Booking Glitches

It would be remiss not to mention the logistical hiccups this year. There was a significant error regarding ticket allocation between the festival website and the Picturehouse system.

I personally encountered a scare with the film 100 Meters as it seemed to vanish from the Edinburgh listings. After being reassured it had simply sold out, I realised the booking data was incorrect. I had to cancel and scramble to find a viewing elsewhere. Luckily, I caught its one-day UK mainstream release just after the festival concluded.

These administrative errors are uncharacteristic of the Scotland Loves Anime and Cameo teams. We hope the systems are tightened up for next year.

The Verdict

Despite the booking gremlins, the festival remains unmissable.

If you are an anime fan, or even just curious about animation, I 100% recommend Scotland Loves Anime. This is often your only chance to see these films on a cinema screen before they disappear into streaming libraries or physical media obscurity.

The team has not yet confirmed the venues for next year. Wherever they land, it is worth the ticket.

Overall: Recommended.

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