"A Whisker Away" Audio Commentary by Shida Mirai, Hanae Natsuki, Kotobuki Minako, and Ono Kenshou has been released! A new "afterwards" illustration has also arrived!
An audio commentary featuring the splendid cast of Netflix's animated film "A Whisker Away", which includes Shida Mirai (as Muge), Hanae Natsuki (as Hinode), Kotobuki Minako (as Muge's close friend Fukase Yoriko), and Ono Kenshou (as Hinode's close friend Hisami Masamichi), has been released and will be available until Jul. 31.
In addition, comments from directors Satou Junichi and Shibayama Tomotaka have been received, along with the release of new illustrations of the feature film.
Although the broadcast of the movie has just started some days ago on Jun. 18, it has already gained a lot of attention from the fans and has been ranked in the TOP 10 list of Netflix Japan, which is updated every day.
The film has received many positive comments on social media, such as "I was touched by the lines that went straight to my heart", "I empathized with Muge's feelings", and "Best movie in 2020". Director Satou also expressed his gratitude and joy towards the fans, "I'm encouraged that so many people can sympathize with the ambiguous feelings and Muge, Hinode, and the others, and also makes me feel happy to have produced this film".
The audio commentary, which is now available on YouTube for a limited time, was produced by remote recording in response to the great impact that the film has had on the fans.
The splendid cast members Shida, Hanae, Kotobuki, and Ono appear two by two and explain each scene from the beginning to the end of the film.
It is a special and exclusive content where fans will be able to enjoy hearing new details about the characters, the cast's reactions to the film, and their first impressions of each other's performances.
In the middle of the show, a fan quiz is also held and the winner will receive a script signed by Shida and Hanae along with original items of the movie.
Furthermore, a new official illustration depicting the afterward of the film has also been released. It shows Muge, Hinode, Yoriko, and Masamichi visiting a summer festival, where the smiling Muge is dressed in yukata and is holding Hinode's hand, while Hinode looks embarrassed, but not too bothered from it. It's a picture that would make you smile instinctively.
Director Shibayama said about the illustration, "For both who have already seen the film and who haven't seen it yet, the festival has just begun, so please come visit us as often as you like. From the staff and the people involved in this work, this is a way to thank all the fans who support us".
Netflix's animated film "A Whisker Away" is being broadcast worldwide exclusively on Netflix.
<Full comments are as below>
[Director Satou Junichi]
The distribution on Netflix has started successfully, and it's a great pleasure to know that fans from all over the world will be able to watch it. I'm now on the edge of my seat waiting for fans' reactions every day. The story revolves around the subtle feelings of junior high school students. Everything is so immature and fuzzy, but that's why it's so irresistibly lovable, and at the same time reminds me of the difficulties I had in making a drama where the emotions are hard to come out and the acting performance is not that easy. But I'm encouraged that so many people can sympathize with the ambiguous feelings of Muge, Hinode, and the others, and also makes me feel happy to have produced this film. Muge and his friends will continue to live their lives by throwing away the cat masks and being themselves, and that also represents us, meaning that being aware of our weaknesses is the first step to our strengths. We live in a time when it's difficult to find a sense of distance between people, but I hope that this film can help as many people as possible, even if it's just a little".
[Director Shibayama Tomotaka]
<A message of gratitude to all the fans>
Thank you for watching the movie. Muge has been nicknamed 'The Great Mysterious Girl', but there is a reason for her mysterious behavior. If you've seen it once, you know the true intentions of Muge, Hinode, and the other characters, and the side of them that doesn't come out, but if you watch it a second time, it would be interesting to notice that there's something different. In the second half of the film, there are a lot of night scenes after going to the Cat Island, but it gets a little harder to see the detailed depiction of the background art in a bright viewing environment.
If you turn off the lights in the room and watch it in a dark space, you will feel more immersed and enjoy it more.
<About the illustration>
The illustration shows the scene where the four of them come to visit the festival, which was postponed due to rain, after returning from Cat Island. Yoriko and Isami are waiting for Muge and Hinode after arriving a little early and walking around the stands. It's interesting to see how Hinode looks embarrassed even though he and Muge are supposed to be close friends. For both who have already seen the film and who haven't seen it yet, the festival has just begun, so please come visit us as often as you like. From the staff and the people involved in this work, this is a way to thank all the fans who support us".
(C) 2020 "A Whisker Away" Production Committee
