Are you ready to rock with a new experimental performance from award-winning auteur Masaaki Yuasa? Once thought lost to history, Anime Limited are excited to uncover the life of the masked minstrel Inu-Oh with a brand new film that blends historical fantasy and rock musicals to tell the story of 14th century rock stars and their struggle to assert their creative voices in the face of tangled fate and political turmoil. Anime Limited will be releasing INU-OH exclusively in cinemas in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 28th September 2022.

Based on a novel by renowned Japanese author Hideo Furukawa and inspired by history, INU-OH tells the story of a young man who aspires to be a performer, but is shunned because of his unique physical appearance. However, he can hear the voices of samurai who died fighting for the historic Heike clan 200 years ago, and each time he performs their stories, a part of his human appearance is transformed. After a fateful encounter with the blind biwa priest Tomona, the two join forces to climb the ladder to stardom. However, in an era of political turmoil, not everyone is ready for the true story of the Heike.

INU-OH is the latest anime film by Masaaki Yuasa, an award-winning director celebrated for his fluid visual style seen in celebrated works such as MIND GAME and The Night is Short, Walk on Girl. The film sees him joined by remarkable talent such as experimental rock guitarist and composer Otomo Yoshihide, as well as character designer Taiyo Matsumoto, the Eisner Award-winning creator of Tekkonkinkreet and Ping Pong. Together, they craft characters whose intricate yet passionate movements enthral with performances on par with real-life superstars.

Synopsis:
Inu-oh is born with unique physical characteristics, and the horrified adults cover every inch of his body with garments, including a mask on his face. One day, he meets a boy named Tomona, a blind biwa player, and as Tomona plays a delicate song of tangled fate, Inu-oh discovers an incredible ability to dance. Inu-oh and Tomona become business partners and inseparable friends, using their creative gifts to survive on the margins of society, as song after song gain them notoriety and propel them to stardom. Through the songs, Inu-oh mesmerises his audiences on stage, and gradually begins to transform into someone of unequalled beauty.But why is Tomona blind? Why was Inu-oh born with unique characteristics?
It is a story about the friendship of Inu-oh and Tomona, who dance and sing to get to the truth and break each other’s curse.

INU-OH will be shown in selected cinemas from 28 September 2022 in Japanese with English subtitles. For more information and to book tickets, please visit https://inu-oh.co.uk/

For further information, please contact Fetch Publicity |Josh Stevens / Lisa DeBell | josh@fetch.fm / lisa@fetch.fm

About Masaaki Yuasa:
An animated feature director. Debuted in 2004 with “Mind Game”. Won Grand Prize at the Animation Division of the 8th Japan Media Arts Festival, Ofuji Noburo Award at the 59th Mainichi Film Awards, as well as Best Film, Best Director, Best Script Awards and a Special Award for its Visual Accomplishment at the 2005 Fantasia International Film Festival (Montreal). The animated feature “Lu over the Wall” won Cristal du long metrage; a prize equivalent to gold at the 2017 Annecy International Animated Film Festival. The animated feature “Ride Your Wave” won the Golden Goblet Award for Best Animation Film at the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival and the Award for Best Animated Feature at the 52nd Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia. Other representative works include “Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!”, “Ping Pong the Animation”, “The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl”, and “DEVILMAN crybaby”.

About Anime Limited:
Based out of Glasgow, Anime Limited is Europe’s premiere distributor for Japanese animation, renowned for bespoke collector’s editions of fan-favourite anime and soundtracks, connecting Western audiences with creators across languages and oceans, and helping to bring anime front and centre in cinemas. Anime Limited proudly produces releases from the biggest franchises in anime including Cowboy Bebop, Attack on Titan, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION, Mobile Suit Gundam, Tokyo Ghoul, Your Name, Weathering With You, Mirai, BELLE and JUJUTSU KAISEN.