The Cosmic Princess Kaguya! original anime film’s theatrical run will expand its reach to 100 locations starting March 13. A music video for the song “Reply” by kz(livetune) and the titular character Kaguya (Yuko Natsuyoshi) was released to commemorate the occasion.
It was also announced that the second wave of goodies for those who catch Cosmic Princess Kaguya! in cinemas will consist of illustration boards sporting the “Memorial Visual,” drawn by the anime’s Tsukuyomi character designer hechima. Only 300 thousand moviegoers will be able to get their hands on an illustration board.
The movie, which originally premiered on Netflix on January 22, previously opened in 19 locations on February 20 for a limited theatrical run and proceeded to claim the fifth spot of the February 20 to February 22 Japanese weekend box office ranking. On February 23, it was announced that it would screen for longer than the initially planned one week period, and that eight more locations would be added. The later screenings include the “ray Cho Kaguya-hime! Version” (“ray Cosmic Princess Kaguya!” Version”) music video, which features new animated footage that include post-movie content.
Image source: Press release
Cosmic Princess Kaguya!, a near future-set yuri retelling of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter with aspects inspired by modern entertainment culture, is still among Japan’s Top 10 movies on Netflix (although it has dropped to fourth place after multiple consecutive weeks in second). An appreciation event is planned to be held in VRChat and streamed on the official Cosmic Princess Kaguya! YouTube channel in the middle of.this year.
The anime’s synopsis reads:
Tsukuyomi is a virtual realm where hopes and dreams come together. Iroha Sakayori, a 17-year-old high school student in Tokyo, leads an extremely busy life trying to balance part-time work and academics. She finds peace by watching a popular streamer named Yachiyo Runami, who is the administrator of an online virtual space called Tsukuyomi. Iroha frequents Tsukuyomi, where people can live different lives and freely pursue their creativity, and she passes the time by supporting Yachiyo and playing battle game to earn a little extra money.
On her way home one day, Iroha finds a telephone pole shining with iridescent hues. To her surprise, an adorable baby emerges from the pole. Unable to abandon it, Iroha takes the infant home and watches her rapidly grow into a girl her own age.
“Are you Princess Kaguya?” The grown-up Kaguya develops a self-indulgent personality. At Kaguya’s fervent request, Iroha helps her start streaming in Tsukuyomi. With Iroha as producer and songwriter and Kaguya as streamer and singer, the two grow steadily closer. Little do they know that ominous forces lie in wait, eager to take Kaguya back to the moon.
This is the tale of Princess Kaguya as never seen before.
Cosmic Princess Kaguya! marked the feature directorial debut of Shingo Yamashita (Pokétoon chief director; opening storyboard artist and director for Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1, and more) and had music contributions from vocaloid producers ryo (supercell), 40mP, HoneyWorks, yuigot, Aqu3ra, and kz(livetune. KADOKAWA has released a light novel and a manga adapting the film.
Staff
• Director: Shingo Yamashita
• Tsukuyomi character designer: illustrator hechima
• Real world character designer: Akihiro Nagae (Drifting Home)
• Scriptwriter: Saeri Natsuo (Sono Toki, Kanojo wa.)
• Scriptwriter: Shingo Yamashita
• Live performance director: Naoya Nakayama (storyboard artist and unit director for YOASOBI’s “Idol” music video, OSHI NO KO Season 1 and 2)
• Background art director: Taichi Shishido
• Color designer: Izumi Hirose
• Tsukuyomi concept designer: illustrator Higashi Mizutamari
• Tsukuyomi concept designer: illustrator Fujimoto Gold from Gokinjo
• Real world concept designer: Hitomi Kariya
• Compositing director: Folium’s Daisuke Chiba (Stardust Telepath and Amane Kanata’s “Oracle” music video compositing director)
• CG director: Stimulus Image’s Masaya Machida (Overtake! co-CG director)
• Music composer: Conisch
• Animation production: Studio Colorido and Studio Chromato
Cast
• Yuko Natsuyoshi as Kaguya
• Anna Nagase as Iroha Sakayori
• Saori Hayami as Yachiyo Runami
