The upcoming musical anime film “Toritsukare Otoko” has unveiled a new “music trailer” that provides a deeper look into its cast, showcases a key song, and confirms its Japanese premiere date of November 7, 2025. This latest preview highlights the film’s unique blend of animation and music, based on Shinji Ishii’s popular novel.
New Cast Members and Their Musical Roles
The trailer confirmed the main voice cast, with Masaya Sano from the idol group Ae! playing the protagonist, Giuseppe, and Moka Kamishiraishi cast as the heroine, Pechka, a balloon seller. Both Sano and Kamishiraishi are not only lending their voices to the characters’ dialogue but are also performing the film’s musical numbers, emphasizing the project’s “musical anime” designation. Sano expressed his captivation with Giuseppe’s “pure and simple way of life” and the film’s warm animation. Kamishiraishi, also an artist under the name “adieu,” shared her happiness about breathing new life into the story.
Featured Song and Music Production
A prominent feature of the new trailer is the song “Fanfare ~Koi ni Ukarete~” (Fanfare ~Giddy in Love~), which is performed by Sano and Kamishiraishi as their characters, Giuseppe and Pechka, in perfect unison. This song is one of five tracks composed by Atagi from the band Awesome City Club, who is contributing to an anime film’s soundtrack for the first time. Atagi is also responsible for a portion of the film’s background music, aiming to match the story’s soft, romantic mood with his compositions.
The Story of “Toritsukare Otoko”
The film adapts Shinji Ishii’s 2001 novel, “Toritsukare Otoko” (meaning “Obsessed Man” or “A man obsessed with something”), which tells the whimsical and touching love story of Giuseppe. Giuseppe is known in his town for his tendency to become completely absorbed in whatever fascinates him at the moment, from detective work to singing, often to the exclusion of everything else. His life takes a new turn when he falls in love at first sight with Pechka, the balloon seller. Despite Pechka carrying a quiet sadness, Giuseppe, with the help of his clever mouse companion Cielo, utilizes his peculiar array of obsessively acquired skills to try and ease her worries and draw closer to her. The original novel was praised for its blend of strange ideas and gentle emotions, a spirit the film aims to capture with the addition of voices, color, and music.
Production Team and Release
The “Toritsukare Otoko” film is directed by Wataru Takahashi, known for his work on several Crayon Shin-chan movies. Naoyuki Miura is credited for the screenplay, and Masatsugu Arakawa is handling character designs. Shinei Animation is producing the film, with Bandai Namco Filmworks managing its distribution. The film is set to open in Japanese cinemas on November 7, 2025. There is currently no information available regarding an international release.
