Masaaki Yuasa is one of the most distinctive anime auteurs of the current generation. Fans of Yuasa and his production company, Science Saru, have to wait no longer for a glimpse of his next project now that a teaser for his upcoming anime film, Inu-Oh, has been released online ahead of the film's premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
The upcoming film Inu-Oh has Yuasa placing a prime focus on 14th-century Japan and the real-life historical figure Inu-Oh, a deformed child performer of the classical art form Noh who is covered in a mask and garments by adults to hide his unpleasant features. Inu-Oh discovers his ability to dance after meeting a friend named Tomona, and their resulting struggle to become fruitful through Noh results in story events that commentate on themes of friendship, beauty, and purpose among others.
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Inu-Oh is directed by Yuasa, who adapted a story by Hideo Furukawa and a screenplay by Akiko Nogi. Furukawa is an award-winning Japanese author behind many renowned novels including The Holy Family, Belka, and Why Don't You Bark?, while Akiko Nogi has been a screenwriter of Japanese media for over a decade, having written many projects including a feature film adaptation of Kengo Hanazawa's zombie apocalypse manga I Am a Hero. Avu-Chan and Mirai Moriyama voice Inu-Oh and Tomona, respectively, while Japanese composer Yoshihide Otomo is responsible for the film's score.
Inu-Oh is the first 2D Japanese film to compete in the Venice Film Festival's Horizons category and the first animated film competing for a prize at Venice since 2019's No. 7 Cherry Lane by Hong Kong filmmaker Yonfan. The film was scheduled to be released in Japanese theaters in 2021 but was delayed due to COVID-19 and will now release in Japan early next summer. Beloved animation distributor GKids will be releasing Inu-Oh in North America, though they may or may not submit the film for the Animated Feature category at the next Academy Awards. The category is looking to be the most competitive it's been in years due to strong offerings by Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and Sony Pictures Animation, as well as Mamoru Hosoda's Belle and Neon's refugee documentary, Flee.
Other modern anime filmmakers such as Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai, and Mari Okada focus on telling traditional stories in the fantasy, sci-fi, or general fiction genres (Wolf Children, Your Name, A Silent Voice). However, Yuasa is notable for the experimental approach he brings to his extensive resume of projects, which includes Ping Pong the Animation, Devilman Crybaby, Lu Over the Wall, Japan Sinks: 2020, and even a sole episode of the Cartoon Network show Adventure Time.
Nevertheless, a new feature film by Yuasa will always be an exciting announcement for any animaniac. Inu-Oh will surely astound audiences during its premiere at the Venice Film Festival as well as during its imminent theatrical release. It may be hard to know what to expect from a Yuasa project (besides stunning animation and a brazen willingness to experiment), but that notion is nothing if not reliable.
Inu-Oh is scheduled to be released in theaters in 2022.
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Source: Asmik Ace/YouTube
