GKIDS Release Masaaki Yuasa's 'In-Oh' This August
Is there any harder worker in Japanese animation than Masaaki Yuasa? The auteur has been incredibly prolific over recent years, both on the big screen (with the likes of Ride Your Wave) and on the small screen with shows such as Devilman Crybaby. His work is also incredibly varied- you never know what he will put out next. His latest opus Inu-Oh is described as a historical Rock Opera.
The film has already screened to some acclaim on the festival circuit, screening last year at both Venice and Toronto's festivals. It's also been selected for the 2022 Annecy International Animation Festival, where Yuasa will be in attendance.
From visionary director Masaaki Yuasa, hailed by IndieWire as “one of the most creatively unbridled minds in all of modern animation," comes a revisionist rock opera about a 14th-century superstar whose dance moves take Japan by storm.
Born to an esteemed family, Inu-oh is afflicted with an ancient curse that has left him on the margins of society. When he meets the blind musician Tomona, a young biwa priest haunted by his past, Inu-oh discovers a captivating ability to dance. The pair quickly become business partners and inseparable friends as crowds flock to their electric, larger-than-life concerts. But when those in power threaten to break up the band, Inu-oh and Tomona must dance and sing to uncover the truth behind their creative gifts.
Featuring character design by Taiyo Matsumoto (Tekkonkinkreet, “Ping Pong the Animation”) and awe-inspiring vocals by Avu-chan (Queen Bee) and Mirai Moriyama, INU-OH is a glam-rock ode to the power of music and a forceful statement on artistic freedom from one of animation’s singular talents.
