What You Need to Know:
- GKIDS, Japanese production company Science SARU INC. and its partner Asmik Ace, Inc., Japanese production, distribution and sales company, announced that GKIDS has acquired the North American distribution rights for the animated feature INU-OH, the latest feature from acclaimed director Masaaki Yuasa (Ride Your Wave, Keep Your Hands Off Of Eizokuen!).
- Presented as a work in progress at the 2020 Annecy Film Festival, the musical animated feature tells the story of the friendship between the legendary 14th century Noh performer Inu-Oh, and the blind Biwa player Tomona. As the two rise from hardship to stardom through their creative partnership, they may break each other’s curse.
- The film features character creation from manga artist Taiyo Matsumoto (Tekkonkinkreet), who previously collaborated with Yuasa on the anime adaptation of Matsumoto’s series Ping Pong the Animation. INU-OH marks GKIDS’ fifth title from visionary director Masaaki Yuasa, following local releases of Lu Over the Wall, The Night is Short, Walk On Girl, Mind Game, and most recently, Ride Your Wave. GKIDS will theatrically release the film in 2021.
Source: Official Press Releas
Synopsis
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.
I have been excited to deliver audiences this new film next year, being created with director Masaaki Yuasa, producer Eunyoung Choi and their production team, whom I worked for The Tatami Galaxy together. GKIDS is the distributor who has been bringing wonderful animations of the world to the North American audiences with passion and affection for more than 10 years. I am so happy and reassured having GKIDS to this brand-new voyage with director Masaaki Yuasa.
Fumie Takeuchi of Asmik Ace, producer of INU-OH
