Danica Davidson
May 27, 2022 
Masaaki Yuasa’s anime movie INU-OH has been shown in a number of film festivals, including the Venice Film Festival in 2021. It hits Japanese theaters tomorrow, and GKIDS just revealed that it will be coming to American theaters August 12.
The movie is based on the novel Heike Monogatari: INU-OH no Maki (translated as Tales of the Heike: Inu-Oh) by Hideo Furukawa.
GKIDS gave this description:
“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.”
Yuasa, who has previously worked on Japan Sinks 2020 and DEVILMAN crybaby, helms Inu-Oh as the director. Original character design credit goes to mangaka Taiyo Matsumoto (Ping Pong, Tekkonkinkreet). The movie’s script was written by Akiko Nogi of I am a Hero. The animation was done at Science SARU INC, which in turn is working with Asmik Ace, Inc.
Avu-chan stars as Inu-oh and Mirai Moriyama has been cast as Tomona. In addition, Tasuku Emoto plays Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Kenjiro Tsuda plays Inu-Oh’s dad, and Yutaka Matsushige plays Tomona’s dad.
Do you want to see it in theaters?
Source: ANN, Press Release
____
Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin. She is also the author of its upcoming sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
