The fan voting for the "Anime of the Year" and "The 100 Best Titles Chosen by Everyone" of the international animation film festival "Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2022" (To be held from March 11 to March 14, 2022) has started. "TAAF2022" shorts for "Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2022" will be held for the 9th time in 2022, and it is an international animation film festival that is developed and separated from the "Tokyo Anime Awards" which is a part of "Tokyo International Anime Fair" since 2002. For "TAAF2021" that was held last year, "Violet Evergarden the Movie" has won the "Work Award, Featured Film Category", "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!" has won the "Work Award, TV Series Category", and the "Anime Fan Award" is won by "IDOLISH7 Second BEAT!". "The 100 Best Titles Chosen by Everyone" is a project, where the "100 Most Loved Titles by Everyone in 2021" is chosen by the anime fan from a total of 446 titles that have been broadcast and premiered in 2021 (October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021), such as "Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Tokyo Revengers". The voting will be held for 1 months. During the voing period, you can vote for 3 titles in the "Featured Film Category" and "TV Series Category" respectively in a daily basis, and do vote based on your favourite titles as well as the titles that you want to recommend to other anime fans. The fan voting of "The 100 Best Titles Chosen by Everyone" has started on the official website and it will end on December 2. Also, a Twitter account is needed for voting. "TAAF2022" will be held in Ikebukuro from March 11 to March 14, 2022. "Article taken from Anime!Anime!Biz/ animeanime.biz"
The main visual of "Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2022" (To be held from March 11 - 14, 2022) has been released. It was announced that the main visual is handled by Kyoto Animation, known for "Violet Evergarden", "Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid", etc. "Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2022" (known as TAAF) is an international movie festival that is developed and separated from the "Tokyo Anime Awards" which is a part of "Tokyo International Anime Fair" since 2002. The objective of this movie festival is "To find and train candidate that will handle the next generation animation production, and to develop and promote the culture and industry of Tokyo's animation" and also "To promote Tokyo's tourism via the spread of Tokyo's charms.". With the tagline of "Tokyo is the animation hub", it will showcase the high-quality and original worldwide works in Tokyo, in order to excite and emotionally move the creators and visitors, help the anime fans all around the world to interact with each other, and make those two feelings become a ration to spread the new wave of animation from Tokyo to all over the world. The main visual of "TAAF2022" by Kyoto Animation has been released. It was created with the concepts of expressing the traditional anime production site in the style of Edo, Meiji, and Taisho period. "Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2022" is scheduled to be held in Ikebukuro, from March 11 to March 14, 2022. ＜Below are the full comments＞ Kyoto Animation The concept of the main visual is to express the situations of the anime production site in the past Japan (Edo, Meiji, and Taisho Period). And it makes use of the traditional anime production that was used since the past instead of the current trending digital production. In this recent time where the digital production is becoming popular, our staff that had experienced the anime production via the traditional method is getting lesser. For example, after painting the cells with the paints, we would have to use a spatula to hit it from the other side of the cell to clear off the bubble, and only those who experienced it will know about this method. The mentioned example can be seen on the center of the upper right as the female is doing it. Even though we had drawn this main visual in an exaggeration, chibi, and simple manner, we actually have a fixation in expressing the reality. It was an interesting task to create this main visual as we could feel the anime production done in the past or dream forward to the future. We hope that this main visual is able to color up TAFF2022. (C) TAAFEC. All Rights Reserved. "Article taken from Anime!Anime!Biz/ animeanime.biz"
It was announced that various events focuses on "Kamen Rider", which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, will be held under the special Tokusatsu corner of the Japanese Animation category in "34th Tokyo International Film Festival" (To be held on October 30 - November 8, 2021). It was also revealed that Fujioka Hiromu and others will make a guest appearance. During the screening of the "Kamen Rider", Fujioka Hiromu as Kamen Rider 1 (Hongo Takeshi), where the original author Ishinomori Shoutarou mentioned "His movements is literally the same as Kamen Rider", will make an appearance. During the screening of "Kamen Rider BLACK", Inoue Masahiro as Kamen Rider Decade (Kadoya Tsukasa) and Kashu Toshiki as Kamen Rider Agito (Tsugami Shoichi) will make an appearance. Also, the symposium featuring the creators will be held as well. The director Kaneda Osamu, scriptwriter Sanjou Riku, and producer Shirakura Shinichiro will appear as they talk about the past and future developments of the "Kamen Rider" series. Other than that, an online talk event on the "Kamen Rider" series will be held at the outdoor screening at Hibiya. It will feature a miraculous reunion of the Showa Rider, such as Hayami Ryou as Kamen Rider X (Jin Keisuke), Sugata Shun as Kamen Rider ZX (Murasame Ryo), and Murakami Hiroaki as Skyrider (Tsukuba Hiroshi). The members' lineup also includes Shundou Mitsutoshi as Shidou Makoto, Tanabe Kazuya as Fukuda Kouta, Miyahara Kanon as Takai Nozomi, and Takagi Katsuya as Misaki Kazuya from "Kamen Rider Amazons", Watanabe Shuu as Kamen Rider OOO (Hino Eiji), Miura Ryousuke as Anku (Izumi Shingo), Takada Riho as Izumi Hina, and Kimijima Asaya as Gotou Shintaro from "Kamen Rider OOO". The producer Ohmori Takahiko, who handled the production of the "Kamen Rider" series from Heisei to Reiwa, will also appear as he talks about this own representative work, "Kamen Rider Drive". "34th Tokyo International Film Festival" will be held from October 30, 2021 to November 8, 2021, on Hibiya/ Yurakucho/ Ginza District. Please visit the official website for more information. (C) Ishimori Productions, Toei "Articles taken from Anime! Anime! Biz/ animeanime.biz"
"'Oto' de Tanoshimu MOVIX Sendai Film Festival ≪Live Audio Screening≫", which delivers "Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway", "Belle", and other works, with spectacular live audio, will be held from November 17 to 23, 2021, for the first time.
From the movie "Bungo Stray Dogs BEAST", the first live-action movie from the "Bungo Stray Dogs" series, the visual that shows characters gathered together on the verge of collision with different abilities, and the announcement have been released. Furthermore, it has been revealed that the theme song will be done by GRANRODEO and Iwasaki Taku will be in charge of the music. Cutscenes with each cast member were also unveiled all at once, and the second movie bonus was announced. "Bungo Stray Dogs" is based on the manga by Asagiri Kafka and Harukawa Sango serialized at "Young Ace". It is an "unusual" action battle set in Yokohama by people with real literary names such as Nakajima Atsushi, Dazai Osamu, and Akutagawa Ryunosuke. This work, which will be the first live-action movie in the series, is about "Nakajima Atsushi (Torigoe Yuki) and his nemesis Akutagawa Ryunosuke (Hashimoto Shohei)". What if the organizations they belong to become opposite...? It is the story of "if". This visual released this time shows Akutagawa Ryunosuke (Hashimoto Shohei), Nakajima Atsushi (Torigoe Yuki), who seem to face each other and collide with each other's different abilities, and figures of Oda Sakunosuke (Taniguchi Masashi) and Dazai Osamu (Tabuchi Rui), who are depicted back-to-back with some melancholy, are symmetrical. In the background, the Port Mafia building that appears in this work and the chaotic city of Yokohama rise, and a ray of sunlight is peeking through the cloudy sky that seems to be a mixture of sadness and hope. This announcement begins with a cutscene of Akutagawa Ryunosuke (Hashimoto Shohei), and while he is wet with blood and collapses, he screams, "Only my sister is..." and begs for something. In the following cut, Nakajima Atsushi (Torigoe Yuki) of Port Mafia turns to the screen with a cold look, along with the line "White Reaper of Port Mafia". After four years, Akutagawa was invited by Oda Sakunosuke (Taniguchi Masashi) to join the Armed Detective Agency, where he learned that it was the dark organization "Port Mafia" that kidnapped his sister Gin. From the middle of the video, things are starting to heat up. After Akutagawa, Atsushi, Dazai, Oda and the main characters, Izumi Kyoka (Kuwae Sakina), Gin (Konno Ayaka), Nakahara Chuya (Ueda Keisuke) are highlighted, and a battle scene between Tanizaki Junichiro (Kuwano Kosuke), Kunikida Doppo (Teruma) of the Armed Detective Agency and Port Mafia will unfold. In addition, the action scene of Akutagawa's "Rashomon" and Atsushi's "Beast Beneath the Moonlight" is also shown, and characters, including Shibusawa Tatsuhiko (Murata Mitsu), Edogawa Ranpo (Nagae Ryoki), and Yosano Akiko (Hirokawa Ao) appear at a dizzying pace. There is also Gin's line, "Goodbye, but can Akutagawa save Gin? And what is gonna happen with Gin? What makes this teaser even more exciting is the bachground music by Iwasaki Taku and the new song "Clockwise Torque" by GRANRODEO, which is the theme song. From Iwasaki and GRANRODEO, comments on the feelings and joy of being in charge of music and theme songs have arrived. The movie "Bungo Stray Dogs BEAST" will be released on January 7, 2022. The Mubichike advance ticket with the special A4 clear file of the second bonus "Oda Sakunosuke & Dazai Osamu" will be on sale from November 12. [Iwasaki Taku] It must be a shallow deep reading, but... While the original story of "Bungo Stray Dogs" is progressing in the 2D world of manga and anime, this "Bungo Stray Dogs BEAST" exists in a different dimension. So I came up with the meta-concept (?) that is embodied in a different dimension expression method (2.5 dimensions) from anime. I hope you enjoy one of the worlds of possibilities. [GRANRODEO KISHOW] Bugo Strike Dogs is finally receiving the live-action movie adaptation! Thank you again for your patronage of GRANRODEO (laughs). Anyway, I wanted the lyrics to have an abstract atmosphere, so I hope you can feel it by interpreting as many songs as there are listeners. Nakahara Chuya is my fave! (laughs) Good luck! [GRANRODEO e-ZUKA] I'm glad to be able to participate in 4 songs for the "Bungo Strike Dogs" series! This time, I tried to express the contrast between justice and evil in the music. I think I made an interesting song unique to the movie version. I hope you like it! (C) Movie "Bungo Stray Dogs BEAST" Production Committee
From "Stage 'Touken Ranbu' Kyo-den: Moyuru Honnoji The Movie", the 30-second trailer has been unveiled. The weekly visitors' bonus has been decided to be "Stage Shot Photo Card", and a total of 12 designs have been revealed. "Stage 'Touken Ranbu' The Movie" is a film adaptation of the straight play version of the stage play, script and performance of which were handled by Suemitsu Kenichi, based on the game for PC browsers and smartphone application, "Touken Ranbu -Online-." "Stage 'Touken Ranbu' Kyo-den: Moyuru Honnoji The Movie", which is the 1st round of the commemorative contents of the 5th anniversary of "Stage: Touken Ranbu", was recomposed to realize higher definition and more realistic sensations for theater screens under the supervision of Suemitsu. 5.1ch was adopted for the theater audio, and new angles different from Blu-ray/DVD version were inserted as well. The unveiled 30-second trailer gives a glimpse of the world setting of "Stage: Touken Ranbu", which can only be experienced at theaters. As the visitors' bonus, "Stage Shot Photo Card" will be distributed for a limited quantity. "Stage Shot Photo Card" is available in a total of 12 designs, 4 designs of which will be distributed each week for 3 weeks. The A6-sized card has a glossy finish and is hard to break. These are the special items given only to the fans who watch the movie, so please do not miss out on them. "Stage 'Touken Ranbu' Kyo-den: Moyuru Honnoji The Movie" will be screened exclusively for 3 weeks from November 23, 2021. "Stage 'Touken Ranbu' Kyo-den: Moyuru Honnoji The Movie" Scheduled to be screened 《exclusively for 3 weeks》 from Tuesday, November 23, 2021 (Holiday). ■Distribution: Toho ■Price: 2,600 JPY (incl. tax) *Additional fees may apply for special seats at some theaters. "Stage 'Touken Ranbu' Kyo-den: Moyuru Honnoji The Movie" Limited-Quantity Weekly Visitor Bonus "Stage Shot Photo Card" ■＜Week 1＞ 4 Designs (Mikazuki Munechika, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, Kosetsu Samonji, Sayo Samonji) Distribution Period: Tuesday, November 23 (Holiday) – November 29 ■＜Week 2＞ 4 Designs (Ichigo Hitofuri, Namazuo Toushirou, Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, Tsurumaru Kuninaga) Distribution Period: Tuesday, November 30 – Monday, December 6 ■＜Week 2＞ 4 Designs (Souza Samonji, Yagen Toshiro, Heshikiri Hasebe, Fudo Yukimitsu) Distribution Period: Tuesday, December 7 – Monday, December 13 (C)Stage "Touken Ranbu" Production Committee (C)2015 EXNOA LLC/Nitroplus
The TV anime "Mr. Osomatsu" will receive a live-action movie adaptation, starring Snow Man. The visual has been unveiled. "Mr. Osomatsu" is an anime based on the greatest gag manga written by Akatsuka Fujio, "Osomatsu-kun". Following the first anime adaptation in October 2015 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Akatsuka Fujio's birth, it has broadcast three seasons so far and has received a theatrical film and 2.5D stageplay adaptation as well. New theatrical films are set to premiere in 2022 and 2023. This time, the visual for the film to be released in 2022 has been unveiled, featuring the 9 members of Snow Man as the leading actors. The members who play the siblings are dressed in the "Mr. Osomatsu"'s familiar hoodies, and other members who play the roles of original characters, End, Close, and Period, are dressed in mysterious black wear, posing "Sheeh!", which is the ultimate form of sarcasm, all together. The unveiled visual is filled with an unprecedentedly celebrative mood, featuring the 9 members in colorful costumes showing up against a background of the blue sky. As the catch-phrase "We apologize for laughing too much!" shows, this striking visual gives us high hopes for the film to get the entire country swept into a vortex of laugh. The teaser visual will be shown at theatres sequentially from November 19. "Mr. Osomatsu: The Movie" will premiere at TOHO franchized theatres on March 25, 2022. (C)"Mr. Osomatsu: The Movie" Production Committee 2022
The Japanese dub version of the live-action Netflix series "Cowboy Bebop" will feature Yamadera Kouichi, Wakamoto Norio, and Hayashibara Megumi. The members of the original anime and impressive cast members will deliver you a new "Cowboy Bebop" after 23 years. "Cowboy Bebop" is an action-packed western set in space where three bounty hunters, known as "cowboys", fight an intense battle to escape their pasts. Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, and Faye Valentine, a trio of outcasts and twisted individuals, track down the most vicious criminals of the solar system, aiming for a large bounty. However, their days of joking around while fighting wanted criminals don't last long, and the shadow of their dark pasts creep up behind them. The Japanese dubbing cast for the show will include Yamadera Kouichi as the hero Spike Spiegel, Wakamoto Norio as Vicious, Hayashibara Megumi as Fei Valentine, Takashima Gara as Julia, and Kusunoki Taiten as Jet Black. Other impressive cast members were also announced: Tareki Tsutomu, Nagasawa Miki, Hashi Takaya, Horiuchi Kenyuu, Isobe Masako, Park Romi, and Midorikawa Hikaru. Yamadera expressed his joy about playing Spike again after 23 years saying, "Cowboy Bebop is a very important title for me. I've always been waiting for a live-action version to be made. I'm moved by the respect for the anime version." He also passionately said, "I hope I can fit my voice to the performance of John Cho-san, who plays an amazing Spike, and also bring out my version of Spike as well. There are many settings and stories that are unique to the live-action version. I hope that both Bebop fans and those who have never heard of it will enjoy the show!" It was also announced that the anime series which is already available in Netflix Japan will be available worldwide from October 20 on Netflix. The director of the original anime series Watanabe Shinichirou commented about his joy of the show being streamed in 190 countries in the world, "It's amazing and a great honor to see the world of Cowboy Bebop after more than 20 years and beyond." The live-action Netflix series "Cowboy Bebop" has 10 episodes and will be exclusively streamed on Netflix all over the world from November 19. Live-action Netflix Series "Cowboy Bebop" Streaming: Worldwide Netflix exclusive from Friday, November 19 (10 episodes) Japanese Dubbing Cast Spike Spiegel: Yamadera Kouichi, Vicious: Wakamoto Norio, Faye Valentine: Hayashibara Megumi, Julia: Takashima Gara, Jet Black: Kusunoki Taiten, Punch: Tareki Tsutomu, Judy: Nagasawa Miki, Tedy Bomber: Hashi Takaya, Gren: Horiuchi Kenyuu, Mao: Isobe Masako, Shin: Park Romi, Rin: Midorikawa Hikaru
‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0 The Movie’ (release date: 12/24/2021) announced to have IMAX screenings in addition to the regular screenings. A new visual was released for the IMAX screening, showing the three special-grade sorcerers ー Yuta Okkotsu, Satoru Gojo, and Suguru Geto. ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0 The Movie’ (release date: 12/24/2021) announced to have IMAX screenings in addition to the regular screenings. A new visual was released for the IMAX screening, showing the three special grade sorcerers ー Yuta Okkotsu, Satoru Gojo, and Suguru Geto. The TV anime ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ is based on a manga of the same title, which is currently serialized in Shueisha’s ‘Weekly Shonen Jump’. The serialization started in March 2018. The story follows Jujutsu sorcerers, who fight against cursed spirits born within the negative emotions of humans. The total copies in circulation reached 55 million with 17 volumes published so far. The upcoming movie, release date scheduled for December 24th, will be the first film to be made from the series. The story is based on ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0: Tokyo Jujutsu High’, a prequel to the main series known as Volume 0. The IMAX screenings will start on December 24th on the same day as regular screenings. With IMAX added, the movie will be available in 418 theaters nationwide (as of December 2nd). In addition to the announcement, they released a new visual for the IMAX screenings. The art shows the protagonist Yuta Okkotsu, the strongest sorcerer Satoru Gojo, and Suguru Geto, the worst-of-all curse user and the greatest villain in this film. The special visual features the eyes of the three special-grade sorcerers. ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie’ will be released on December 24th. Visitors can enjoy high resolution images and high-precision sound with the IMAX screenings. (C) 2021 ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie’ Production Committee (C) Gege Akutami/Shueisha
Counting down the days to its release on December 24th, ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Movie’ announced a special program ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Movie Release Commemoration Special Program’ on 28 nationwide TV networks with the MBS/TBS group. The broadcast will start on December 20th at 11:56 pm. ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ is a Japanese dark fantasy manga by Gege Akutami. Currently serialized on ‘Weekly Shonen Jump’, the popular series has published 55 million copies so far with 17 volumes. The story follows Jujutsu Sorcerers, who possess the power of purification against Cursed Energy that arises from the negative emotions of humans. ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Movie’ is a movie adaptation of ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0: Jujutsu High’, the prequel to the main story. ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Movie Release Commemoration Special Program’ will be broadcast on December 20th at 11:56 pm, shortly before the movie release. Details including the attendees are yet to be announced later. Also, on December 22nd, the seven episodes from the TV series will be broadcast for three hours straight on MBS and other channels. In addition, starting on December 1st, TVer, GYAO!, and MBS Dougaizm will broadcast one episode from the TV series every day for free. This will be a great chance for both the TV series fans and newbies to watch the episodes. (C) 2021 ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Movie’ Production Committee (C) Gege Akutami/Shueisha
‘Doraemon: Nobita’s Little Star Wars 2021’ has announced Romi Park, Yuki Kaji, and Jun’ichi Suwabe as its guest voice actors. Along with the announcement, a new trailer to reveal the characters' voices played by the three was released. As the 41st movie from the ‘Doraemon The Movie’ series, this work will be a remake of ‘Doraemon: Nobita’s Little Star Wars’ that was released in 1985. The movie depicts the adventure of Doraemon and friends on a small planet in space with an entirely new script and the latest technology. Coincidentally, all the three new cast members, Romi Park, Yuki Kaji, and Jun’ichi Suwabe, have played a role in the ‘Doraemon’ TV series but have never been in the movie series. Park plays Papi, a prodigy who graduated university at the age of eight and became the president of the planet of Pirika at the age of ten. Kaji voices Rokoroko, a talkative dog that comes to the earth following its owner, Papi. Suwabe plays Dorakoruru, the chief of an intelligence service, PCIA, led by General Gilmore. The voices of Papi (Park) and Rokoroko (Kaji) have already been unveiled in a previous trailer. The new trailer allows viewers to hear Gilmore (Teruyuki Kagawa), the dictator who controls the planet of Pirika, Papi’s sister Piina (Mayu Matsuoka), as well as Dorakoruru (Suwabe), raising fans’ hopes towards the film. ‘Doraemon: Nobita’s Little Star Wars 2021’ will be released on March 4th, at Toho Group theaters nationwide. (C) Fujiko Pro/Shogakukan/TV Asahi/Shinei/ADK2021
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures announced that the exhibition ‘Hayao Miyazaki’ will open as its inaugural exhibition on September 30 in Los Angeles. Along with the exhibition, 11 films directed by Miyazaki will be shown in the museum. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures presents a one-of-a-kind experience to worldwide visitors while introducing the art, science, artists, and the social impact of film production. Located in the middle of the Miracle Mile with a land area of over 300K square feet, the museum with seven floors holds valuable assets related to film production. It will be the only movie museum in Los Angeles and the largest museum of its kind in North America. The exhibition ‘Hayao Miyazaki’ will be one of the inaugural exhibitions, while it is also the first exhibition of Miyazaki in North America. From Miyazaki’s works such as ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ and the Academy award-winning ‘Spirited Away’, 400 objects including the original image boards, character designs, storyboards, layout, background images, posters, and cels, will be displayed in ‘Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Gallery’. The exhibition also includes a large-scale projection of the movies, allowing visitors to be immersed in the world of Ghibli and look back at Miyazaki's 60 years of career in the industry. In conjunction with the exhibition, a 288 page catalog with a wide range of illustrations will be released. The catalog contains an introduction by Toshio Suzuki, as well as essays and filmography by the members of Pixar, Pete Docter, Daniel Kothenschulte, and Jessica Niebel. There will also be other programs held during the exhibition, and the original merchandise will be available at the Academy Museum Store. Both Japanese and English screenings will be available in the on-site theater with state-of-the-art equipment. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will open on September 30 in Los Angeles, USA. Tickets are available only for pre-booking and can be purchased through the official website and the app.
The musical anime “Inu-Oh”, the latest work by the director Yuasa Masaaki that depicts the unknown popstar called “Inu-Oh”, is nominated for the special presentation award for “46th Toronto International Film Festival” (held in September 2021). Also, the character voices and singing scenes of two protagonists Avu-chan (Jououbachi) and Moriyama Mirai are revealed on the special video. “Inu-Oh” is the story of the unknown popstar “Inu-Oh”, who has been hidden behind the history of Noh (Japanese traditional performance) that has been passed down over 650 years, and is directed by Yuasa Masaaki, the character design by Matsumoto Taiyou, the script by Nogi Akiko, and music composed by Ootomo Yoshihide. It is based on “Heike Monogatari Kenou-no-Maki” by Furukawa Hideo, and describes the friendship between the real Noh performer Inu-Oh (CV: Avu-chan) and his buddy and the biwa player Tomona (CV: Moriyama Mirai). This movie has been nominated for the Special Presentation Award in “46th Toronto International Film Festival”. Toronto International Film Festival is the biggest movie festival in the North American Continent, and the movie winning the best award in this festival called “People’s Choice Award” will become one of the popular choices of Academy Award with great attention, which means that the film festival is "the preliminary stage to the Academy Award". The Special Presentation Award is also the target of the audience award, and this has been the first Japanese movie to be nominated after “The Wind Rises” in 2013 and “Weather with You” in 2019. The reason for nomination is that the programmer for the festival thought, “It was one of the most powerful works that I have ever watched. It contains several original ideas and it was just as beautiful”. The great attention is gathered toward this movie in “Toronto International Film Festival” North American Premium Screening after World Premium in “Venice International Film Festival”. “Inu-Oh” will be released in summer 2022. “46th Toronto International Film Festival” will be held from September 9 to September 18, 2021. Inu-Oh: Avu-chan (Jououbachi) I always live as the queen bee, but now I got the opportunity to live as “a king”. “Inu-Oh”. I can be honest that this movie is my fate. Please look forward to the release in the next year. Tomona: Moriyama Mirai “Inu-Oh” is the unexpected Noh animation by director Yuasa, which was produced under the idea of anything can happen because the story takes place before the modern Noh was established. I stayed together with the abnormal, sexy Inu-Oh played by Avu-chan as the Biwa artist Tomona. I believe this movie will tell you the possibility of Noh, which is the oldest musical exist in the world. 【Story Plot】 Inu-Oh is the demi-human, who was born in Sarugaku (another name for Noh) family in Kyoto in Muromachi Era. His face was hidden with a mask made of a gourd as he had been treated coldly by other people. One day, Inu-Oh meets a Biwa player boy called Tomona, who became blind due to Heike clan’s curse. They exchange their art even before telling each other their own names. Tomona hits the strings of the biwa and Inu-Oh makes sound with his steps. Their own world and breath instantly expands. “Our life begins from here!” Inu-Oh expands his possibility with his strong dance regardless of harsh fate. Tomona resonates with another world through biwa to look for truth of curse. The two boys became the partner to survive the severe age and gradually begin to excite the people. What awaits them at the top level of entertainment…? The story of friendship between the popstar “Inu-Oh”, an actual Noh performer that had been hidden behind the history, and Tomona now begins. © “INU-OH” Film Partners
Southeast Asia largest J-POP culture event "Anime Festival Asia（AFA）" was held online from December 5 to December 6 as "AFA SINGAPORE 2020 ～ONLINE～". The participating guests, such as Oohashi Ayaka, Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Aoi Eir, LiSA, May'n, Yanaginagi, and others, have been announced. "Anime Festival Asia（AFA）" is an event organizer by SOZO, a group under Sony Music Entertainment (SME) that is based in Singapore. After it was held in 2008 for the first time, it became popular for its concert and various stage performances where Japanese artists are invited. "AFA SINGAPORE 2020 ～ONLINE～" was held online from December 5 until December 6, at 2 PM of Singapore Time (3 PM of Japan Time). It's free to watch. Detailed information is available on a special website.
PG-TRADING Co., Ltd. (PG), a consolidated subsidiary of PIALA Co., Ltd., has set up an IP floor in "Shanghai Takashimaya" for the purpose of introducing Japanese culture in the Gubei area, where many wealthy people and foreigners live in Shanghai. As the first project, a cafe and goods sale of the Japanese anime "Inuyasha" have been held for a limited time until January 27, 2021. The popularity of Japanese anime and manga has not declined around the world, and in May 2019, a cafe and retail store of "Detective Conan", which is very popular in China, opened for a limited time. The IP business using Japanese anime and manga is now attracting a lot of attention, such as making a long line waiting for 3 hours on weekends. Currently, in China, not only local department stores and commercial malls, but also many Asian commercial malls from South Korea and Japan have been expanding, and competition has been intensifying more than ever. For this context, PG has planned an event that utilizes Japan's popular IP and proposed a floor construction to Shanghai Takashimaya, and will open a place to introduce Japanese culture by taking advantage of its strengths as a Japanese department store. This time, as the first step, a cafe and character goods sales event inspired by "Inuyasha", which is also popular in China will be held around the corner on the 7th floor of "Shanghai Takashimaya". It is expected to attract 5,500 to 6,000 customers a month. There are more than 30 types of meals, sweets and drinks, including menus inspired by the characters, and you can also purchase original goods such as charms and clothing inspired by the characters. Not only because of the cafe and products, but also because of the perfection of the atmosphere of the entire event area, Chinese influencers have come to the store and post on social media that they use, and it has become viral throughout China. PG has been proceeding with such IP-related projects not only at Shanghai Takashimaya but also at other Japanese department stores and commercial malls. PG says that they will contribute to the development of any company by establishing a place where Japanese culture can be introduced, setting the Japanese IP business in China as the new lynchpin in the future.
The animated film "The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily" created by the joint cooperation between France and Italy, which gotten the surprising score of 100 Tomato on America's rating website "RottenTomato" and was known as a "Graphic Jewel", will get a Japan release on January 14, 2022. The poster visual has been revealed. "The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily" (Original title: INVASION DES OURS EN SICILE) is the 2nd overseas purchase work by the animation production studio Thomas Entertainment, known for "Detective Conan" and "Lupin the Third". "The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily" is a popular children's book in Italy since it was released in 1945 by the Italian writer, Dino Buzzati. It depicts the king of a bear heading toward the human habitat to save his children that were captured by the hunters. The director of the film is Lorenzo Mattotti, the top illustrator of the magazine illustrations, such as "The New Yorker", "Cosmopolitan", "Le Monde", and the poster illustration for "Cannes Film Festival" and "Venice International Film Festival", and the production is handled by Prima Linea Productions, where Takahata Isao is working as the artistic producer. It has an important theme of accepting others in this multi-culture world, and had completely recreated the fantasy world setting overflowing with a humor from the original work. This work has fully made use of the charm of animation and had gotten a surprising score of 100 Tomato on America's rating website "RottenTomato" as well as being known as the "Colorful Graphic Jewel with a Song". Also, this work was nominated in the Feature Films Competition of the "New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival" (To be held from November 5 to November 8) that is known for gathering the art animation works that were chosen strictly from local and overseas. So, please check this festival for those fans that wished to watch it as fast as possible. "The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily" will premiere onfrom January 14, 2022, on Musashino-kan Shibuya, Uplink Jouji, and other theatres.
Fuji Television's late-night anime slot "+Ultra" has agreed to a joint production system with Crunchyroll, Inc., one of the world's largest anime streaming services, as a new partner. In addition, Slow Curve Co.,LTD., a general creative company, will participate in the joint development of the new project, and a new production system will be launched. Based on the concept of "spreading anime culture overseas," "+Ultra" is Fuji Television's anime slot that has been producing high-quality, world-class anime works. Joining the new production system is Crunchyroll, which was added to the Sony Pictures Group's Funimation Global Group in August 2021. Crunchyroll is one of the world's largest animation streaming platforms with 120 million free members and 5 million paid members, distributing content in over 200 countries and regions worldwide. Crunchyroll is one of the largest animation streaming services in the world, with 20 million users and 5 million paid subscribers. In addition, Crunchyroll will further develop its animation business, including marketing, exclusive streaming, and merchandising of "+Ultra" content in North America, Europe, and the rest of the world. Furthermore, Slow Curve, which is involved in the planning, production, and promotion of various entertainment content, especially animation, has decided to participate in the planning and development of animation for the world in addition to the marketing and production that it has been involved in for the "+Ultra". With these new partners, the joint development from April 2022 onward will include the original animation project "Establife," directed by Taniguchi Goro from "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion," the new project by Nihei Tsutomu, a manga artist known for "Knights of Sidonia" and "BLAME!" Polygon Pictures' new project, and Crunchyroll's participation in collaborative projects with overseas talents and creators. With these new partners, joint development after April 2022 will include "Establife," an original animation project directed by Taniguchi Goro from "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion," and a new project by manga artist Nihei Tsutomu and Polygon Pictures, known for "Knights of Sidonia" and "BLAME!". In addition, Crunchyroll will also participate in the project to collaborate with overseas talents and creators. The company plans to develop original projects and discover original works with an eye to the overseas market. Prior to the joint development, "Muv-Luv Alternative," which will be broadcast on "+Ultra" from October 2021, will be marketed and streamed exclusively by "+Ultra" and Crunchyroll. Exclusive streaming has been decided for the whole world except Asia, mainly North America and Europe. In addition, "Muv-Luv Alternative" will be produced for the first time by FLAGSHIP LINE, which was established by Avex Pictures and Graphinica. ＜The full text of the comments is as follows＞ Producer of "+Ultra": Mori Akitoshi (Fuji Television Network, Animation Production Department) "The "+Ultra" program, which started in October 2018, is now in its fourth year and we are pleased to welcome Crunchyroll as a new business partner. Japanese anime is a visual content that attracts attention not only in Japan, but also from overseas users. Crunchyroll's streaming platform has a great influence on overseas anime fans, especially in Europe and the United States, and we expect it to be a powerful driving force for "+Ultra" to reach the world. In addition, Slow Curve, which has been marketing "+Ultra" up until now, will be participating in the planning and development of the project in a more full-fledged manner, adding Crunchyroll's knowledge and know-how of anime fans in North America and Europe. In addition, Crunchyroll's knowledge and expertise of anime fans in North America and Europe will enable us to plan and develop animation. After completing Phase 1 in 2018, "+Ultra", which was launched with the goal of creating content for the world, will now begin Phase 2. Please look forward to an attractive lineup in the future!" [Anime! Anime! Biz / Article reprinted from animeanime.biz]
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures announced that the exhibition ‘Hayao Miyazaki’ will open as its inaugural exhibition on September 30 in Los Angeles. Along with the exhibition, 11 films directed by Miyazaki will be shown in the museum. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures presents a one-of-a-kind experience to worldwide visitors while introducing the art, science, artists, and the social impact of film production. Located in the middle of the Miracle Mile with a land area of over 300K square feet, the museum with seven floors holds valuable assets related to film production. It will be the only movie museum in Los Angeles and the largest museum of its kind in North America. The exhibition ‘Hayao Miyazaki’ will be one of the inaugural exhibitions, while it is also the first exhibition of Miyazaki in North America. From Miyazaki’s works such as ‘My Neighbor Totoro’ and the Academy award-winning ‘Spirited Away’, 400 objects including the original image boards, character designs, storyboards, layout, background images, posters, and cels, will be displayed in ‘Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Gallery’. The exhibition also includes a large-scale projection of the movies, allowing visitors to be immersed in the world of Ghibli and look back at Miyazaki's 60 years of career in the industry. In conjunction with the exhibition, a 288 page catalog with a wide range of illustrations will be released. The catalog contains an introduction by Toshio Suzuki, as well as essays and filmography by the members of Pixar, Pete Docter, Daniel Kothenschulte, and Jessica Niebel. There will also be other programs held during the exhibition, and the original merchandise will be available at the Academy Museum Store. Both Japanese and English screenings will be available in the on-site theater with state-of-the-art equipment. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will open on September 30 in Los Angeles, USA. Tickets are available only for pre-booking and can be purchased through the official website and the app.
From the “Gundam” series, “HG 1/144 RX-78-2 GUNDAM [PR ambassador of the Japan Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai]” the RX-78-2 Gundam gets released as Gunpla. Pre-orders are now available at “Premium Bandai”. The produc “HG 1/144 RX-78-2 GUNDAM [PR ambassador of the Japan Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai]” is the Gunpla model of the Gundam appointed as the Japan Pavilion’s PR Ambassador at the “Expo 2020 Dubai” hosted in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Designed by the very first mechanic designer in the Japanese animation industry, Okawara Kunio, the model is molded in a 1/144 scale. Furthermore, a special bonus leaflet containing an exclusive interview with Okawara is included in the model’s full colored package. “HG 1/144 RX-78-2 GUNDAM [PR ambassador of the Japan Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai]” is priced at 2,420JPY (tax included). Pre-orders are currently open at “Premium Bandai”, with shipping scheduled for October 2021. (C) Sotsu - Sunrise
The author of the mangas “Phantom Thief Jeanne” and “Idol Dreams”, Tanemura Arina has published an illustration of Kenshin and Tomoe, inspired by the movie "Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning", highlighting their beautiful and sorrowful love story. The illustration was followed by a commentary from the author. The illustration made by Tanemura looks almost as if it belongs to a gorgeous Shojo manga world, depicting the assassin Hitokiri Battosai/Himura Kenshin (portrayed by Sato Takeru in the movie) and his wife Yukishiro Tomoe (portrayed by Arimura Kasumi in the movie) laying side by side. Kenshin, who fights for the future, lies in the ground next to Tomoe, who softly touches his sword as though in a gentle attempt to draw closer to his heart. Tanemura mentioned that “The scene from the original work where Battousai is sleeping stood out the most for me. This same scene was used to show Kenshin’s change of heart in the movie, and my illustration was inspired by that”. The picture conveys the tragic yet beautiful story of the couple, sharing a fragile dream-like and fleeting moment. “Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning” is the final installment in the “Rurouni Kenshin” live-action film series. The movie is a prequel to the other entries, laying the events from which the rest of series develops upon. The movie was praised not only for its action scenes, but also for exploring thoroughly the relationship between Kenshin and Tomoe. In regards to the movie, Tanemura remarked “Tomoe’s is a character whose name matches the crucial role she plays in the story (in Japanese Yukishiro means melted snow). She is the one who, while mesmerized to the point of becoming breathless by the intensity of Battosai’s killer instinct, melts his heart in a time where his heart only grew colder.” She concludes “The story of the couple is a beautiful and ephemeral one.”, describing the loving bond of the couple in face of the twists and turns of fate. The illustration indeed blends all these themes in a stunning visual brimming in grace and ephemerality. “Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning” tells the way too tragic tale as never seen before, revealing the origins of Kenshin and serving as the starting point for the rest of the saga. Along with Kenshin’s final arc movie, “Rurouni Kenshin: The Final”, it is definitely one of those movies to rewatch countless times in the theater. [Tanemura Arina] Tomoe’s is a character whose name matches the crucial role she plays in the story (in Japanese Yukishiro means melted snow). She is the one who, while mesmerized to the point of becoming breathless by the intensity of Battosai’s killer instinct, melts his heart in a time where his heart only grew colder. The story of the couple is a beautiful, and ephemeral one. The scene from the original work where Battousai is sleeping stood out the most for me. In the movie the same scene was used to display Kenshin’s change of heart, so my illustration was inspired by that. (C)Watsuki Nobuhiro / Shueisha (C)2020 Movie “Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning” Production Committee
Ongoing movie “Rurou ni Kenshin The Final” marked 5.3 billion JPY box-office revenue, and this ranked on the top of 2021 live-action movie revenue. (At the point of this article’s release) Commemorating this achievement, the making movie behind the scenes featuring Satou Takeru (Himura Kenshin) and Kamiki Ryuunosuke (Seta Soujirou)’s surprise co-starring, and the offshoots photographs were released all at once. Moreover, the visual for the 2nd item of 3 week-special visitor’s gift from June 26, 2021 called “’The Final’ Photo Card” has been announced. “Rurou ni Kenshin The Final” is released in 2 parts: the first part “The Final” is based on the last episode of the original manga called “Jinchu Arc” and the 2nd part “The Beginning” is based on “Nostalgy Arc” that approaches to the secret of crossed scar” of Kenshin. In “The Final”, Seta Soujirou, who fiercely fought with Kenshin in the previous movie “Rurou ni Kenshin Kyoto Fire Arc/The End of the Legend Arc”, surprisingly appears, and dream co-starring with Kenshin is now accomplished. The appearance of Kamiki Ryuunosuke as Soujirou had not been revealed until the release, and the original setting in the movie both surprised “Rurou ni Kenshin” series fan and the manga fans. The making movie of the scene that Kenshin and Soujirou’s co-appear is released. The video recorded Satou and Kamiki exchanging ideas and thinking about actions one by one, and it showed that both actors trusted each other and brushed-up the co-starring scenes. Moreover, in the scene where the both players jump off from the 2nd floor, Satou and Kamiki seemed to trust each other, and Satou proposed ideas as the both actors reviewed the movie to make it more impressive. They seemed to try their best. Kamiki commented on Soujirou, that “He is my favorite character and I am glad that I could play him one more time”. He expressed happiness toward surprising offer. Satou commented on co-starring with Kamiki, that “I sometimes feel stressed from playing the scenes together with other actors because I get nervous, but the scenes with Kamiki-kun never got me stressed and I was relaxed when playing scenes”, and he implicated that the scenes of Kenshin and Soujirou could be completed because the both actors matched perfectly. The 2nd item of 3 week-special visitor’s gift “’The Final’ Photocard”’s visual is revealed this time, and it was the scene phots of Kenshin and Soujirou. Fans must get this gift. “Rurou ni Kenshin The Final” is currently available at theaters. © Watsuki Nobuhiro/ Shueisha © 2020 Movie “Rurou ni Kenshin The Final” Production Committee
From "Rurouni Kenshin -Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan-" comes a custom-made stamp that can be made with your favorite character and your favorite name or letters. There are a total of 31 different illustrations to choose from, including Kenshin, Kaoru, Sanosuke, and more. Pre-orders are now available at "Inkan Hanko SHOP Hankos". There are 31 illustrations to choose from the "Rurouni Kenshin Hanko Collection", including Himura Kenshin, Kamiya Kaoru, Sagara Sanosuke, Shinomori Aoshi, and Saito Hajime, as well as the strongest Juppongatana (Ten Swords) Seta Sojiro and Shishio Makoto. There are three types of fonts, ranging from classic fonts that go well with the attractive characters to slightly cute fonts. In addition to surnames, first names, old characters, pen names, and nicknames, messages such as "OK," "I saw it," and "Thank you" can also be added. (Up to three kanji characters, five hiragana-katakana characters, and six alphabet characters can be used. They can create the same character name as in the sample illustration.). There are three types of materials to choose from: a self-inking type that can be used as a signature for receiving packages and notes, for naming personal belongings, and for stamping on parent-teacher notebooks and reading-aloud cards; a wood engraving type that can be registered at most financial institutions in Japan; and a black buffalo type. All of them come with a special case depicting Kenshin and his fellows. (C) Watsuki Nobuhiro/Shueisha
From "Rurouni Kenshin - Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan -" comes neckties featuring Himura Kenshin and other characters. They are now on sale at the “P.S.FA Online Shop” and other stores. The ‘"Rurouni Kenshin - Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan -" Neckties’ feature a total of six characters, including Himura Kenshin, Sagara Sanosuke, Saito Hajime, Shinomori Aoshi, Yukishiro Enishi, and Shishio Makoto (only Kenshin comes in two colors). Each character's image is subtly incorporated into the blade of the necktie, while the tail of the necktie, which is not visible from the front, is designed with each character's illustration, style, beliefs, and technique name, making it an item that can be easily used in business. The "Himura Kenshin Model" features a cross-shaped scar motif on the tip of the blade to represent Himura Kenshin. The tail is decorated with the words "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu," the school of swordsmanship wielded by Himura Kenshin, and an illustration of Himura Kenshin. The necktie is available in two colors, wine and navy, and is designed to fit in easily for business. For the "Sagara Sanosuke Model", the "Aku" character on the tip of the blade represents Sagara Sanosuke. The tail has an illustration of Sagara Sanosuke and the "Aku Ichimonji". The color scheme of the simple but impactful stripe pattern matches the colors of Sagara Sanosuke's hachimaki and costume. The design can be an accent to your outfit. The stripe pattern on the blade of the "Saito Hajime Model" is based on the color scheme and lines of the "Shinsengumi." The tail is decorated with an illustration of Saito Hajime's belief, "Aku, Soku, Zan". The base color is navy, which is easy to use in business. The "Shinomori Aoshi Model" features a design on the blade with a motif of two swords and a hollyhock crest to represent Shinomori Aoshi. The tail is decorated with the technique name "Kaiten Kenbu Roku Ren" and an illustration of Shinomori Aoshi. The unique design can be an accent to your outfit. The "Yukishiro Enishi Model" has a small pattern of snowflakes on the blade to represent Yukishiro Enishi. The tail is decorated with the key word "Jinchu" and an illustration of Yukishiro Enishi. The color scheme of the small pattern is subdued and easy to use for daily use. The "Shishio Makoto Model" has a motif of a bandage and an infinity sword on the blade to represent Shishio Makoto. On the tail, there is an illustration of Shihio's creed, "Survival of the fittest". It is a unique pattern, but the stripes make it suitable for business. The ‘"Rurouni Kenshin - Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan -" necktie’ is priced at 1,990 JPY (tax excluded). It is currently on sale at “P.S.FA stores” nationwide (excluding some stores) and on the “P.S.FA online store.” (C) Watsuki Nobuhiro/Shueisha
The 2nd PV for TV anime Ahiru no Sora has been released and features the passionate plays of a freakishly tall basketball club member. Broadcasting information was released at the same time. The series will be aired on TV Tokyo’s channel 6 starting on October 2nd.
「Gundam AGEII Magnum SV ver.」 piloted by Kujo Kyoya in 『Gundam Build Divers』 gets a gunpla kit with a scale of 1/144(HG). Currently available for pre-order on Premium Bandai.
「BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!」 and its 4th tie-up with Lawson as of September the 3rd, has been revealed. The campaign is to give out a limited quantity of originals goods which will be sold on a first-come-first-serve basis
From TV anime "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind" comes blazers and pants (slacks) which can be worn together as business suits inspired by Giorno Giovanna and Bruno Bucciarati. Pre-orders are available at "Premium Bandai" until Dec. 26, 2019.
The Anime adaptation of the silly cute FemBL "Fucked by My Best Friend" released a promo video with two versions. Shion and Rui are an amazing pick-up artist team with a success rate of 100. But one day, Shion was drugged by a mysterious lady, and a few hours later, he wakes up to find himself transformed into a woman's body. Rui, who comes to check on Shion, see's him in a woman's body and his male switch turns on. He hits on her(him) without knowing it's Shion, and... Two promo videos, each narrated by Chihaya Rui (voice: Furukawa Makoto) and Chihara Shion (voice: Yamamoto Kazuomi) have been released. Let's enjoy a bit of Rui's hot voice, Shion's Male and Female voice. It was also announced that the anime will be broadcast on BS11, so we can watch "Fucked by My Best Friend" anime all over Japan. The on-air version short anime of "Fucked by My Best Friend" is scheduled to be broadcast on Tokyo MX and BS11 on April 4, 2021. The premium version, which depicts the "graphic" scenes, will also be streamed from the same day. "Fucked by My Best Friend" Anime Broadcast/Streaming Information
Movie “Kimetsu no Yaiba : Demon Slayer” Infinity Train arc decided to be released on 2020. The new teaser and visual has been released on the 2nd info.