Film Screening Announcement: "Labyrinth" by Shōji Kawamori
GKIDS recently disclosed its acquisition of the North American theatrical rights to Shōji Kawamori's original animation film "Labyrinth" (Meikyū no Shiori). The movie will be showcased for two exclusive nights on May 10-11 with Japanese audio and English subtitles, as well as an English dub.
Casting and Background
The film initially premiered in Japan on January 1 and features a stellar cast, including Suzuka from Atarashii Gakkō! as protagonist Shiori Maezawa, complemented by various talented actors. Kawamori, renowned for his works like Macross and Aquarion, directed this venture under the banner of SANZIGEN.
Furthermore, the original concept was collaboratively credited to entities like Slow Curve, Vector Vision, GAGA, and Fuji Television, with Slow Curve leading the planning and production. Risa Ebata, known for Macross Frontier and AKB0048, designed the characters, while Taichi Hashimoto penned the script.
Additional Team Members
- CG Supervisor: Naoya Okugawa
- Chief Animation Director: Takuya Chanohara
- Color Key Artist: Mana Watanabe
- Production Design: Barnstorm Design Labo
- Background Director: Tatsuki Ooishi, Hirofumi Morikawa
- Compositing Director of Photography: Shouko Hayashi
- Editing: Hatsumi Hidaka
- Sound Director: Fumiyuki Go
- Sound Effects: Ryūta Nakahara
- Sound Production: Bit Grooove Promotion
- Music Producer: Yoshio Tamamura
- Animation Producer: Hiroaki Matsuura
- Development Producer: Shōta Hozumi
- Production: Tatsumi Yoda, Yōka Matsuzaki
- Producers: Ken Teraizumi, Kazuki Ōshima, Masako Iwamoto
- Creative Producer: Taichi Hashimoto
- Planning Producer: Toshiaki Obata
Artistic Vision and Theme Song
Kawamori delved into the concept behind the film, highlighting the significance of smartphones as entities collecting personal data, essentially serving as an "alternate self." His artistic vision aimed at creating an amalgamation of emotions, pop entertainment, songs, and horror. The film's theme song, "Sailor, Sail On," is performed by the popular pop group, Atarashii Gakkō!.
This ambitious project marks Kawamori's foray into feature-length animated films outside pre-existing franchise works, showcasing his versatility and innovative storytelling approach. The collaborative efforts of the creative team promise a captivating cinematic experience for audiences, blending cutting-edge animation with a compelling narrative.
Stay tuned for this rare cinematic event featuring "Labyrinth" by Shōji Kawamori, a unique blend of creativity, technology, and storytelling prowess.
