Crunchyroll acquires Whoever Steals This Book anime film

Crunchyroll has announced its acquisition of "Whoever Steals this Book". Based on the 2020 novel by Nowaki Fukamidori, the film is animated by Studio Kagokan and directed by Daisei Fukuoka. The rights extend to North America, so time will tell if the film arrives in the UK via Crunchyroll or another streaming service, but hopefully this will be announced shortly. 

The international premiere is set for the New York International Children's Film Festival, which takes place February 28 - March 15 with additional theatrical release information to come at a later date.

The film will be released in Japanese with English subtitles.

Trailer:

Synopsis (translated):

"I wish I'd never read books...!"

Mikura Mifuyu is a high school student living in Yomunagamachi, a town of books. She's the daughter of a family whose long history has looked after the Mikurakan library, a massive library founded by her great-grandfather. But she herself doesn't like books.

One day, when books from the Mikurakan library are stolen, Yomunagamachi is suddenly engulfed in a world of stories. This is the result of a curse placed on books: the "Book Curse."

The key to breaking the curse lies within the story. To save the town, Mifuyu sets out on a journey with the mysterious girl Mashiro to capture the book thief. Who exactly is the thief? And what is the secret of the curse and the Makura family that even Mifuyu doesn't know...?

A mystery-solving adventure fantasy begins as the two girls journey through the "world of books"!

When all the curses are broken, you will discover the stolen truth...