Asmik Ace has uploaded a new clip from Masaaki Yuasa’s Inu-Oh film, showcasing the titular character running in the streets. The historical animated feature will premiere in Japanese theaters on May 28, 2022. 

Inu-Oh’s voice 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.

Joining Yuasa on the production staff are Akiko Nogi (The Voice of Sin live-action movie) as scriptwriter, Taiyou Matsumoto (Ping Pong) 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 as music composer. Science SARU is in charge of the film’s animation production.

Based on Hideo Furukawa‘s The Tale of the Heike, the film is set in 14th century Japan and follows the life of Inu-Oh, a historical figure of whom little is known about. GKIDS describes the film as:

Inu-Oh is born with unique physical characteristics, and the horrified adults cover every inch of his body with garments, including a mask on his face. One day, he meets a boy named Tomona, a blind biwa player, and as Tomona plays a delicate song of tangled fate, Inu-Oh discovers an incredible ability to dance.

Inu-Oh and Tomona become business partners and inseparable friends, using their creative gifts to survive on the margins of society, as song after song gain them notoriety and propel them to stardom. Through the songs, Inu-Oh mesmerizes his audiences on stage, and gradually begins to transform into someone of unequaled beauty. But why is Tomona blind? Why was Inu-Oh born with unique characteristics? It is a story about the friendship of Inu-Oh and Tomona, who dance and sing to get to the truth and break each other’s curse.

GKIDS has licensed Inu-Oh for theatrical and home video release in North America. It first premiered at the 2021 Venice Film Festival before debuting at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. The film then screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival in November 2021. 

Source: Asmik Ace YouTube Channel