Despite a huge increase in popularity in recent years, anime is sadly still not seen on the big screen very often. Most cinema screenings are archival outside of London, such as Akira and various Ghibli films, with one having to travel to the capital if they wish to see a premiere. With most screenings taking place on a weekday, you will need to add in hotel costs and book a day off work in order to attend a screening, not to mention travel costs. For those living a distance from London, it's not worth it. Travelling to London just to see a film is too much hassle.

Thank God then for the Anime All-Nighter. Part of the Sci-Fi Film Festival and held annually at the Apollo Cinema, Piccadilly Circus on May Day bank holiday weekend, the idea is simple - watch films in a cinema from midnight until at least 8am, the films on offer being new releases or those rarely seen in British cinemas. Staying in the cinema all night eliminates hotel costs, you have the bank holiday to recover from the lack of sleep, plus free Red Bull, coffee, ice-cream and other goodies are on offer throughout the night. You even get a goody bag when you enter the cinema, which contains free DVDs, books, badges, a small figure and promotional leaflets.

But the films are what make the event and thankfully there is always a good selection on offer. Being part of a sci-fi festival, this is the main genre you can expect with a Ghost In the Shell film usually headlining the event. Other major titles which have attracted crowds include the excellent Girl Who Leapt Through Time, the highly acclaimed Tekkonkinkreet and the arty Places Promised In Our Early Days. There have also been some bad titles, namely Highlander: The Search For Vengence and Naruto The Movie 3, but these bad titles always serve as a welcome break from the rest of the heavy sci-fi which makes up most of the bill. In previous years the bad English dub and severely cheesy third Naruto film left the audiences in stitches and often woke everyone up who feel asleep. For most Anime All-Nighter survivors though, nothing will top the showing of the bizarre Panda! Go Panda! in 2009 which saw a panda dubbed in English to sound like a Jamaican Borat. The panda, who is the acting foster father of five year-old girl left home alone by her grandmother, proclaims 'oh that's nice!' at literally everything he comes across, but always says 'oh it's nice, the bamboo is better!'. It had to be the most laughter I have ever heard in the cinema, those who left before it showed (it was the last film of the night, shown at around 7am) really missed out!

The only downside of the event is the heat of the cinema. As it is underground and you have to spend eight hours, battling sleep with hundreds of others, it can be difficult. However it is perfectly acceptable for someone to doze off, I myself have a few times only to be reawakened by mass laughter at the cheesy anime that usually get shown around 3am! There is always the free Red Bull and coffee to keep you going as well.

The Anime All-Nighter is a true highlight of the anime event calendar, offering fantastic value for money in a location that is easy to get to. The chance to watch anime in the cinema, some of which may never been shown in a cinema again, is reason enough to attend. When you add on the free goody bag & drinks, I can't think of a better way to spend £30.