Miss Hokusai

“This live-action-worthy look at a creative father-daughter duo serves as a stellar example of the oft-cited principle that animation is an art form, not a genre.”

- Peter Debruge, Variety.
Out on:Theatrical 5th Feb. 2016

Fast sell:

Out in UK cinemas 5th February as part of the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme.

While legendary painters such as Renoir, van Gogh and Monet knew the name and brush-strokes of Katsushika Hokusai, the story of his artisan daughter O-Ei had been lost to history - until now. Based on Hinako Sugiura’s cult manga Sarusuberi, this Annecy Award-winning feature film paints a new picture of Edo Japan’s forgotten artist and her daily life on a canvas similar to Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-nominated The Wind Rises.

Key talent:

Directed By: Keiichi Hara (Colorful). Screenplay by Miho Maruo (Colorful).
Starring: Anne Watanabe (O-Ei Hokusai), Yutaka Matsushige (Katsushika “Tetsuzo” Hokusai).
Studio: Production I.G. (Ghost In The Shell, Giovanni’s Island).

Synopsis:

Renowned for his world-famous The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, Katsushika Hokusai is one of Edo Japan’s most renowned artists, known for mesmerising followers by painting sparrows on rice grains and monks on 180-square metre canvases. Europe would discover the immense talent of Katsushika Hokusai decades later. He would mesmerize a whole generation of artists, from Degas to Monet, Van Gogh and Klimt, Debussy and Baudelaire. His iconic The Great Wave off the coast of Kanagawa print is now seen on t-shirts and coffee mugs all over the world.

Most people however, are unaware of the woman who assisted him all her life.

This is the untold story of twenty-three year old O-Ei Hokusai (Anne Watanabe), who utilises both the talent and stubbornness she inherited from her father to paint uncredited in his stead amongst the clutter of their house-atelier.

From the director-writer duo behind Colorful and the studio that brought you Ghost In The Shell, Miss Hokusai is a wonderful celebration of artistic vision and a marvellously engrossing snapshot of a young woman seeking to nurture both her talent and family.

We like it because:

Reminding the world of why they are a powerhouse of Japanese animation, Production I.G. has forgone the usual three-act formula of beginning-middle-end to allow Miss Hokusai the freedom to explore the story and human relationships surrounding a criminally forgotten young woman in a way that inspires confidence in theatrical anime post-Hayao Miyazaki.

Being a movie about artists by artists, every scene carries a profound feeling of the respect and admiration held for their fellow creator.

Hot Quotes:

“This live-action-worthy look at a creative father-daughter duo serves as a stellar example of the oft-cited principle that animation is an art form, not a genre.” - Peter Debruge, Variety.

“A wonderful portrait of an amazing woman who lived in 19th century Japan that leaves you feeling both melancholy and uplifted at the same time.” - Julia Young, Skwigly.co.uk.

“An outstanding celebration of feminine freedom” - Guillemette Odicino, Télérama.

“An...extremely rich anime” - Boyd van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter
“[a] gorgeously conceived feature” – Boyd van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter

Special Features:

Bonus Disc (only available with Collector's Edition and not Standard Blu-ray or DVD)

- Making of… featurette
- Interview with Director, Keiichi Hara
- Trailer

Language options:
Japanese with English subtitles only. (Applies to main feature and extras)

Editor's Notes:

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, the largest and only programme focusing on Japanese
cinema in the UK, returns in 2016 offering an enlightening and expansive introduction to Japanese
cinema, exploring issues surrounding the ways people live, and the views towards life and death in
Japan. Touring to 13 cities nationwide, the programme features films from a broad range of genres,
including classics by Japanese legendary filmmakers, documentary, contemporary films and the latest
anime blockbusters.

Awards:

1) Best Animated Feature Film, 70th Mainichi Film Awards
Started in 1946 (but with their roots dating back to 1935) and supported by the newspaper company Mainichi Shinbun, the Mainichi Film Awards celebrate every year the best in Japanese movie productions. The Best Animated Film Award was first established in 1989 to reward large scale cinematic animation.

2) Excellence Prize (Animation Category), 39th Japan Academy Prizes.
Started in 1978 and operated by the Japan Academy Prize Association with the mission of supporting the advancement and development of cinematic art, technique and science, the Japan Academy Prizes added the Animation Category in 2007 (30th edition), and Miss Hokusai is one of the five animated movies awarded for this 39th edition. Winners become nominees
for the Best Animated Feature Film Prize, that will be conferred by the jury during the official ceremony in Tokyo on March 4th, 2016. Movies released in Japan between December 14, 2014, and December 15, 2015 were eligible for the 39th edition of the prizes.

"Miss Hokusai" has won ten awards so far, plus three individual
recognitions to Keiichi Hara for his directorial achievements.

Gallery


RELEASE INFORMATION

Distributor
All The Anime
In Cinemas
5th February, 2016
Release date
5th February, 2016
Running time
90 minutes
Price
Standard DVD: £17.99 | Standard Blu-ray: £19.99 | Collector's Edition: £59.99

KEY TALENT INFORMATION

Director
Keiichi Hara

CONTACT / ORDER MEDIA