About

The latest feature film from award-winning Japanese director Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, Wolf Children): When Kyuta, a young orphan living on the streets of Shibuya, stumbles into a fantastic world of beasts, he’s taken in by Kumatetsu, a gruff, rough-around-the-edges warrior beast who’s been searching for the perfect apprentice. Despite their constant bickering, Kyuta and Kumatetsu begin training together and slowly form a bond as surrogate father and son. But when a deep darkness threatens to throw the human and beast worlds into chaos, the strong bond between this unlikely pair will be put to the ultimate test—a final showdown that will only be won if the two can finally work together using all of their combined strength and courage.

About the Director, Mamoru Hosoda

Masterful animator and director Mamoru Hosoda has been called “the preeminent director of theatrical animation in Japan today, the obvious spiritual heir to Hayao Miyazaki.” (Brain Camp, Otaku USA Magazine) This is high praise indeed, but Hosoda’s stellar body of work certainly merits any and all plaudits. Trained as an oil painter at Kanazawa University of Arts and Crafts, Hosoda honed his considerable skills working at famed anime production houses such as Toei and Studio Ghibli. His directorial credits include The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, and Wolf Children, all three of which received the Japan Academy Prize for Best Animated Film.

Animation by Studio Chizu

Established during the production of Wolf Children, Studio Chizu (“map” in Japanese) is the world’s smallest animation studio and Director Mamoru Hosoda’s headquarters. Created out of a desire to discover a new continent of movies that nobody has ever seen before, and to “draw a map on that uncharted land,” Studio Chizu is a place that embraces Director Hosoda’s thoughts and philosophies—keeping both in mind as they work to produce films that children and adults can enjoy together.

Crew