Masaaki Yuasa‘s Inu-Oh movie will be screened nationwide in the United States on August 12, distributor GKIDS has announced. The US release will come several months after the film’s Japanese premiere on May 28.

Inu-Oh was previously screened at the 78th Venice International Film Festival and 46th Toronto International Film Festival. GKIDS announced back in July 2021 that the movie would come to US theaters in Summer 2022.

The film, based on Hideo Furukawa‘s The Tale of the Heike, Inu–Oh’s Episode novel, takes place in 14th century Japan. It follows the titular Inu-Oh, a historical figure of whom few life-chronicling documents have survived. 

GKIDS describes the film as:

Born to an esteemed family, Inu-oh is afflicted with an ancient curse that has left him on the margins of society. When he meets the blind musician Tomona, a young biwa priest haunted by his past, Inu-oh discovers a captivating ability to dance. The pair quickly become business partners and inseparable friends as crowds flock to their electric, larger-than-life concerts. But when those in power threaten to break up the band, Inu-oh and Tomona must dance and sing to uncover the truth behind their creative gifts.

Inu-Oh‘s staff includes Akiko Nogi (The Voice of Sin) as scriptwriter, Taiyou Matsumoto (Ping Pong mangaka) as original character designer, Nobutake Itou (Lu Over the Wall) as character designer, and Yoshimichi Kameda (Mob Psycho 100 character designer) and Satoshi Nakano (Pokémon Sun and Moon character designer) as chief animation directors. Other staff include Hideki Nakamura (Fate/Grand Order The Movie Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot Wandering; Agateram co-art director) as art director, Yuuko Kobari (Great Pretender) as color designer, Yoshihiro Sekiya (Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop co-photography director) as photography director, and Ootomo Yoshihide (The Blue Kite) as music composer. Science SARU is the animation production company.

Meanwhile, the cast includes Queen Bee lead vocalist Avu-chan as Inu-Oh, Mirai Moriyama as Tomona, Tasuku Emoto as Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, Kenjirou Tsuda as Inu-Oh’s father, and Yutaka Matsushige as Tomona’s father.

Source: @GKIDSfilms