Film production and distribution company Asmik Ace announced an anime film titled Inu-Ou at the 2019 Annecy International Animated Film Festival's MIFA market on Wednesday. Masaaki Yuasa (Devilman Crybaby) is directing the musical fantasy film based on Hideo Furukawa's 2017 novel Heike Monogatari: Inu-Ou no Maki (Tales of the Heike: Inu-Ou). The film will screen in theaters in Japan in 2021.

Synopsis
The historical novel is based on the life of Inu-Ou, a famous Sarugaku Noh performer in the 14th-century. Inu-Ou tells the story of brotherhood between the legendary playwright and a certain Biwa musician, incorporating both modern song and dance.

Science SARU is producing the anime film, featuring character designs by manga artist Taiyou Matsumoto (Ping Pong the Animation). Screenwriter Akiko Nogi (I Am a Hero live-action) is composing her first anime film script. Asmik Ace will distribute the film.

The script for the 90-minute anime film was written last year, and the project is currently in its pre-production stage. The film's production will begin this summer and is planned to be completed by the end of 2020.

Yuasa made his directorial debut with the award-winning film Mind Game in 2004. His recent works include Yoru wa Mijikashi Arukeyo Otome (Night Is Short, Walk on Girl), the second anime adaptation of a Tomihiko Morimi novel by him following Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (The Tatami Galaxy), and Devilman: Crybaby, a modern anime adaptation of Go Nagai's original Devilman manga. Yuasa's new Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara (Ride Your Wave) anime film will open in Japanese theaters on June 21.

Source: IT Media, Animation Business Journal

Inu-Ou on MAL