Toshinari Shinohe, the original creator of Child of Kamiari Month, has revealed new details for his latest anime film, Beast of Kamisari Month (Kamisarizuki no Kemono). The announcement on Thursday included the release of a “pilot film” and three captivating new visuals for the upcoming movie, which is being positioned as a counterpart to his previous work.
Unveiling the “Beast”: Visuals and Pilot Film
The newly released visuals for Beast of Kamisari Month are accompanied by the evocative tagline, “The story of a beast that races to the place that gave birth to the island nation.” These images provide a first glimpse into the aesthetic and tone of Shinohe’s new project. Alongside the visuals, a “pilot film” has also been unveiled, offering an initial animated preview of the film’s world and characters.
Tracing Ancient Myths: The Film’s Narrative Roots
Beast of Kamisari Month delves deep into Japan’s ancient myths, drawing inspiration from the Kojiki, an early chronicle of Japanese legends and the origins of the archipelago. The narrative journey is set to span from Izumo, a region believed to be the origin of Japan’s nation-building myth, to Awaji Island, often referred to as Japan’s island of birth. Shinohe has explicitly stated that this new film is intended as a direct counterpart to his earlier feature, Child of Kamiari Month.
Production Team and Project History
The Beast of Kamisari Month project was first revealed at the Osaka Expo in April. Its origins trace back further, with cretica universal announcing the project along with its initial crowdfunding campaign in March 2019.
The film brings together a seasoned team of anime professionals:
- Original Work & Planning: Toshinari Shinohe
- Original Concept & Animation Director: Takana Shirai
- Animation Producer: Tetsuro Satomi (LIDEN FILMS representative director)
- Creation Director: Kazuya Sakamoto (She and Her Cat -Everything Flows-)
- Planners & Producers: Michihiko Suwa (Detective Conan films) and Teppei Mishima
- Character Designer: Haruka Sagawa
- Scriptwriters: Tetsurō Takita and Ryūta Miyake
Connecting to Child of Kamiari Month
Beast of Kamisari Month builds upon the foundation laid by Child of Kamiari Month, which premiered in Japanese cinemas in October 2021. That film later found an international audience when Netflix began streaming it in February 2022. Singer-songwriter miwa performed the theme song “Kanna” for Child of Kamiari Month. While Beast of Kamisari Month is presented as a thematic continuation, further details regarding its specific release date and additional promotional materials are anticipated.
