If you’re in London this May and fancy seeing some anime on the big screen, the BFI Southbank looks like the place to be. Not only is the BFI running a special ‘Anime Weekender’ from Friday 18 May to Sunday 20 May, but the whole month will see a welcome spike in anime activity thanks to the Institute’s ‘Animation 2018’ programme.

Billed as ‘three days of the best recent anime films’, the Anime Weekender kicks off with screenings of mecha-flavoured sci-fi films Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion I – Initiation and Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution Movie 1 on Friday 18 May. Screenings of Makoto Shinkai’s brilliant body-swapping blockbuster Your Name and Mari Okada’s directorial debut Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms follow on Saturday 19 May.

The event then wraps up on Sunday 20 May with a trio of titles – Masaaki Yuasa’s eye-catching mermaid movie Lu Over the Wall, Sunao Katabuchi’s poignant wartime drama In this Corner of the World and Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card. All the screenings will be held at BFI Southbank – tickets and further details are available here.

There’s also an additional selection of anime films showing at the BFI Southbank and the nearby BFI IMAX theatre throughout the month as part of Animation 2018, making May something of a bonanza for London-based anime fans:

Sunday 06 May, BFI Southbank – My Neighbor Totoro & Momotaro’s Divine Sea Warriors.

Tuesday 08 May, BFI Southbank – Belladonna of Sadness.

Wednesday 09 May, BFI Southbank – Akira: 30th Anniversary Screening.

Saturday 12 May, BFI Southbank – Princess Mononoke.

Tuesday 15 May, BFI IMAX – Your Name & Akira: 30th Anniversary Screening.

Saturday 19 May, BFI Southbank – Spirited Away.

Sunday 20 May, BFI Southbank – Paprika.

Saturday 26 May, BFI Southbank – Spirited Away.