The summer list: watch a summer movie

I've been sharing my family's 'must do' summer activities the past week. Watching a movie is not on our 'must do' list, but it is something we do every summer and has become a summer tradition for our family. Frankly, my husband and I are not into the cinema at all. If it wasn't for our kids we'd probably never go! But it is something the kids enjoy, so every summer we bring them or they go with their friends.

There are two benefits of visiting the cinema in the summer. One; its nicely air conditioned so its a good place to escape the heat! Two; every year during school summer holidays in Japan there are several new releases, so you get to see a brand new movie! Japanese animation studios always release a handful of new movies either in late July or early August in line with the Japanese school summer holidays.

When my children were small, we often went to see the latest Anpanman movie. They always release a new one in summer. As my kids got older the variation improved - Doraemon, Detective Conan, Yokai Watch etc. This year there is actually a handful of international animated movies also starting during the summer holidays including Inside Head 2 which will be released on August 1st.

Despicable Me 4 was released today and my kids got their summer holidays at 11.30 this morning, so we went to see the early afternoon showing of it and crossed "go see a movie" off the list of things to do this (and each) summer. Only my younger two, elementary school aged, children and I went to see. All three of us thoroughly enjoyed it. Personally, I laughed out loud in several different parts and at one scene I had tears rolling down my face with laughter. 

At the cinema the kids saw the ad for the Inside Head 2 and the new Crayon Shinchan movies that will be released in August. So they are saying they want to go to see them too... we shall see!