Inu-Oh, the glam-rock opera anime from acclaimed director Masaaki Yuasa (Ride Your Wave, Mind Game, Night Is Short, Walk On Girl) will arrive on major digital platforms December 20th and on Blu-Ray + DVD January 24th. Certified Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes, Inu-Oh, set in 14-century Japan, is an ode to the power of music, and a forceful statement on artistic freedom. Featuring character creation from manga artist Taiyo Matsumoto (Tekkonkinkreet), who previously collaborated with Yuasa on the anime adaptation of Matsumoto’s series Ping Pong the Animation, Inu-Oh features original rock songs by the lead voice actors Avu-chan and Mirai Moriyama.
From GKIDS, with distribution by Shout! Factory, the Blu-ray + DVD, now available for pre-order on GKIDS.com and ShoutFactory.com, includes the all-new English language dub in addition to the following bonus features: scene breakdowns and commentary, interviews with the original cast, an interview with director Masaaki Yuasa, and a Q&A session at the U.S. Premiere.
Read AWN’s article that goes inside the making of the film:
Masaaki Yuasa’s ‘Inu-Oh’ Rock Opera Reimagines Unrecorded Japanese History
In the film, Inu-oh was born to an esteemed family, but carries an ancient curse that has left him on the margins of society. When he meets the blind musician Tomona, a young biwa priest haunted by his past, Inu-oh discovers a captivating ability to dance. The pair quickly become inseparable friends as crowds flock to their electric, larger-than-life concerts. But when those in power threaten to break up the band, Inu-oh and Tomona must dance and sing to uncover the truth behind their creative gifts.
Inu-Oh made its world debut at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, followed by a North American premiere at the 46th Toronto International Film Festival, marking director Yuasa’s first invitation to both festivals. Following the film’s previous presentation as a work in progress at the 2020 Annecy Film Festival, Yuasa returned to Annecy honored as the patron of the 2022 Mifa campus. The film continued its world tour at several other international film festivals including Fantasia International (Satoshi Kon Award Winner), Warsaw, Seattle International, Bucheon International Animation (International Feature Winner), Tokyo International, and more. The Blu-Ray + DVD release follows a theatrical run in North America.
The original voice cast includes Avu-chan (Queen Bee) as Inu-oh; Mirai Moriyama as Tomona; Tasuku Emoto as Lord Yoshimitsu Ashikaga; Kenjiro Tsuda as Inu-oh’s Father; and Yutaka Matsushige as Tomona’s Father.
The English dub cast includes Joshua Waters as Inu-oh; Sena Bryer as Tomona; Cory Yee as Lord Yoshimitsu Ashikaga; Holden Thomas as Inu-oh (Teen); Carter Young as Tomona (Young); and Jonathan Leon as Tomona (Teen).
Whitney is a freelance writer focusing on VFX-driven fantasy film & TV as well as preschool animation.
