GKIDS is bringing Another World, a visually arresting animated dark fantasy from Hong Kong, to audiences following the film’s landmark theatrical and festival success.
Directed by Tommy Ng Kai Chung in his feature directorial debut, Another World has already made history as the No. 1 highest-grossing Hong Kong film of 2025 and the highest-grossing Hong Kong animated film of all time. The film also earned Best Animated Feature at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards and was selected for several major international festivals, including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025, the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and the 21st Zurich Film Festival.
Based on Naka Saijo’s novel SENNENKI, published by Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd., Another World blends supernatural fantasy with deeply human themes of grief, rage, forgiveness and reconciliation.
A Dark Fairy Tale Between Life, Death and Reincarnation
Another World follows Gudo, a Soul Keeper responsible for guiding human souls into their next life. When Gudo befriends a young girl named Yuri, he discovers that her untimely death has left her soul cursed by unresolved rage and regret.
As Yuri’s soul teeters on the edge of annihilation, Gudo sets out on a dangerous journey to prevent her pain from unleashing destruction across both the human world and the spirit realm.
Described as a dark fairy tale, the film explores how hatred and despair can shape a soul — and how compassion, even in its smallest form, can become a path toward healing.
A Story Rooted in Forgiveness and Emotional Healing
In his director’s note, Tommy Ng Kai Chung describes Another World as a reflection of the harshness of the real world and the hidden struggles people often carry. He explains that the film centers on belief: the belief that compassion can bridge generations and heal even the deepest scars.
Screenwriter and producer Polly Yeung Po Man also connects the film’s emotional core to anger, regret and redemption. Her note frames the story around a central question: how long does it take for someone to let go of anger and hatred, not only toward others, but toward themselves?
That question gives Another World its emotional weight, positioning the film not only as a fantasy adventure, but as a meditation on pain, self-forgiveness and the possibility of change across lifetimes.
Interview with Tommy Ng Kai Chung
In collaboration with VTuber, Krystal Vee, we had the opportunity to sit down with director Tommy Ng Kai Chung for a special virtual interview about the making of the film.
Cast and Creative Team
The Cantonese-language film stars Chung Suet Ying as Gudo, Choi Hiu Tung as Yuri, Louis Cheung as Dark Sky, Kay Tse as Goddess, Will Or as Keung and Yeung Nga Man as Goran.
The film is directed by Tommy Ng Kai Chung, written by Polly Yeung Po Man and produced by Yeung alongside Chan Gin Kai. Another World runs 112 minutes and is presented in its original Cantonese language. The film is currently not rated.
Ng is the founder of Point Five Creations, a Hong Kong-based animation studio specializing in full-service cel animation production. His previous work includes award-winning animated shorts such as Everywhere, Another World and Tale of Rebellious Stone, along with commercial and music video projects for brands and titles including Assassin’s Creed, Nike Air Max and Snakehips X Jess Glynne’s “Lie For You.”
Hong Kong Animation Steps Onto a Larger Global Stage
With its record-breaking box office performance and growing international festival presence, Another World represents a major moment for Hong Kong animation. The film’s combination of hand-crafted visual style, spiritual fantasy and emotionally driven storytelling places it alongside the kind of global animated cinema GKIDS has long championed.
GKIDS has built its reputation around bringing artist-driven animation to North American audiences, including works from acclaimed filmmakers such as Makoto Shinkai, Satoshi Kon, Tomm Moore and Mamoru Hosoda. The company also serves as the North American home of Studio Ghibli.
For audiences drawn to fantasy stories with emotional depth, Another World offers a journey through rage, sorrow and redemption — one that asks whether compassion can survive even across death, reincarnation and a thousand years of unresolved pain.
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Singer and composer Andrew Choi made a recent appearance at the Amazing Art Expo in Long Beach, where he met with fans and reflected on his role as the singing voice of Jinu in the Oscar-winning animated film KPop Demon Hunters.
Known for his work across the music industry, Choi’s contribution to KPop Demon Hunters showcases a distinct blend of performance styles, merging K-pop-inspired vocals with character-driven storytelling. During the event, Choi spoke with The Kitsune Network about his approach to shaping Jinu’s musical identity and bringing the character’s performances to life.
Connecting with Fans at Amazing Art Expo
Choi’s appearance at the Amazing Art Expo offered attendees the opportunity to meet him during autograph sessions and live interactions. The event, known for featuring artists, pop culture figures, and live showcases, provided an ideal setting to spotlight a project rooted in both visual and musical creativity.
Throughout the day, Choi engaged with fans, discussing his work and sharing behind-the-scenes insights into KPop Demon Hunters, which continues to resonate with audiences nearly a year after its release.
Interview with Andrew Choi
We sat down with Andrew Choi for a brief but insightful conversation about his experience working on KPop Demon Hunters, including his approach to Jinu’s vocals and the lasting impact of the film.
Looking Ahead
Nearly a year after its release, KPop Demon Hunters continues to maintain a strong cultural presence, bolstered by its two Oscar wins and a widely publicized collaboration with McDonald’s. At the center of its musical identity, Andrew Choi’s performance as Jinu remains a standout, helping define the film’s unique sound. By blending idol culture with action-driven storytelling, the project has continued to resonate with both anime audiences and K-pop fans, extending its impact well beyond its initial debut.
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Renowned anime creator Shoji Kawamori is ready to release his latest original feature film, Labyrinth in North America, marking a highly anticipated return to long-form storytelling from one of the industry’s most influential visionaries.
Best known for his work on the Macross franchise and his contributions to mechanical design and worldbuilding across decades of anime, Kawamori’s new project is already drawing attention for its ambitious concept and creative pedigree.
A New Original Vision
Labyrinth is described as an original anime film that explores complex themes through a visually immersive narrative. The film’s plot is described as follows; Shiori is a typical high school student who dreams of online stardom, but struggles to capture attention. After an embarrassing video of her goes viral, she gets trapped in her smartphone and replaced by a charismatic alter ego. As the doppelganger charms the internet and devises a nefarious plot to replace mankind with brainrot, Shiori must partner with other online outcasts to stop her digital counterpart and reclaim her life in the real world.
Additionally, Labyrinth stars globally popular Japanese girl group ATARASHII GAKKO!’s Suzuka as “Shiori Maezawa” in her voice acting debut, joined by Taizo Harada as “Komori” and Takuto Teranishi, from the boy group timelesz, in his debut acting role as “Suguru Kagami”. Fans of ATARASHII GAKKO! can also look forward to their performance of the film’s theme song “Sailor, Sail On,” with additional music by yonkey.
Kawamori has long been recognized for crafting narratives that balance spectacle with introspection, and Labyrinth appears poised to continue that legacy. The project is expected to feature intricate worldbuilding and symbolic storytelling elements, hallmarks of his past works.
INTERVIEW WITH SHOJI KAWAMORI
To learn more about the creative vision behind Labyrinth, our VTuber talent Krystal Vee, spoke directly with Shoji Kawamori about the film’s origins, themes, and what audiences can expect from this ambitious new project,
Kawamori’s Legacy in Anime
Over the course of his career, Kawamori has played a pivotal role in shaping modern anime, not only as a director but also as a designer and conceptual creator. In addition to Macross, his credits include work on titles such as Aquarion and AKB0048, where he explored themes of identity, music, and society.
His influence extends beyond storytelling—Kawamori is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of transforming mecha design, helping define the look and functionality of variable fighter systems that remain iconic today.
Watch Labyrinth Now
Tickets are now on sale for Labyrinth, and will be released in theatres for two nights only in Japanese with English subtitles and English-dubbed from May 10–11.
GKIDS, the acclaimed animation distributor and producer, also revealed a new English dub trailer for the film. The English dub voice cast stars Shay Rudolph as “Shiori”, Jesse Inocalla as “Komori”, Nicholas Leung as “Suguru”, Patrick Mealey as “Yamada”, and Brianna Gentilella as “Kirara”.
English Trailer
Japanese Trailer
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The world of KPop Demon Hunters is stepping off the screen and into real life as McDonald’s and Netflix unveil a new collaboration that transforms the film’s iconic rivalry into an interactive dining experience.
Beginning March 31, fans across the United States will be able to choose their side with two limited-time meals inspired by the film’s central groups — HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys — alongside exclusive collectibles and digital rewards.
The campaign blends anime-style storytelling, K-pop energy, and Korean-inspired flavors, creating an experience that goes beyond a traditional fast-food promotion and taps directly into the film’s growing global fandom.
Pick Your Side: HUNTR/X vs. The Saja Boys
At the center of the collaboration are two themed meals designed to reflect each group’s identity.
The Saja Boys Breakfast Meal channels the group’s fiery, charismatic energy with a spicy Sausage McMuffin with Egg, crispy hash browns, and a drink — a bold start for fans aligning with the rival boy group.
Meanwhile, the HUNTR/X Meal takes the spotlight for the rest of the day, featuring 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, a medium drink, and unique additions like Ramyeon McShaker fries and two signature sauces — Hunter Sauce and Demon Sauce — inspired by the group’s dynamic personalities.
The menu also incorporates Korean flavor influences, reinforcing the cultural roots that define KPop Demon Hunters.
Collectibles and Exclusive Fan Access
Each meal comes with a collectible photocard pack tied to either HUNTR/X or the Saja Boys, alongside a special “Derpy” access card. By scanning the QR code through the McDonald’s app, fans can unlock exclusive content and participate in a campaign-wide “Battle for the Fans” event, culminating in a final reveal of the winning group.
This interactive element turns the collaboration into more than a promotion — it becomes a fan-driven experience that mirrors the competitive spirit of the film itself.
A Sweet Newcomer Hits the Menu
Rounding out the collaboration is the debut of the Derpy McFlurry, a new dessert featuring vanilla soft serve blended with berry popping pearls and wild berry sauce. Inspired by the film’s mascot-like character, the treat adds a playful finishing touch to the lineup.
Derpy McFlurry
Expanding Anime’s Cultural Footprint
Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, KPop Demon Hunters follows a K-pop girl group balancing global stardom with secret lives as demon hunters, all while facing a rival boy band hiding a darker truth.
With this collaboration, McDonald’s and Netflix continue to push anime and animation-inspired properties further into mainstream culture — not just through streaming, but through real-world, interactive fan experiences.
For anime fans, K-pop listeners, and collectors alike, the question now becomes simple:
Which side are you on?
The KPop Demon Hunters meals and promotional rewards will be available for a limited time through April 26 at participating McDonald’s locations nationwide.
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Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era, the first feature-length anime film from Cygames’ long-running Umamusume franchise, will receive its first North American theatrical release on Feb. 27, 2026.
The film marks a significant milestone in the franchise’s expansion outside Japan, following a strong domestic performance in 2024 that saw the film surpass 1.4 billion yen at the Japanese box office. Its North American release reflects the growing international presence of the Umamusume brand, which has steadily expanded through anime, manga and mobile games .
Prior to its theatrical debut, Beginning of a New Era screened at Anime Expo 2025 in Los Angeles and Anime NYC 2025 in New York City. Both showings drew large and enthusiastic crowds, signaling strong demand for a wider theatrical release among North American anime audiences .
The film is part of the broader Umamusume Project, a multimedia franchise produced by Cygames that centers on character-driven stories inspired by real-life racehorses. Set within the competitive Twinkle Series racing circuit, the franchise follows Umamusume athletes as they train and compete in pursuit of their dreams alongside classmates and trainers .
Cygames’ flagship mobile title, Umamusume: Pretty Derby, has surpassed 30 million downloads across Asia since its Japanese launch in 2021. The English-language version debuted last summer and quickly gained traction, earning Best Mobile Game honors at The Game Awards 2025 .
Beginning of a New Era follows Jungle Pocket, known as “Pokke,” a free-spirited racer who resolves to challenge the Twinkle Series after witnessing a defining performance by Fuji Kiseki. After enrolling at Tracen Academy, she trains under veteran coach Tanabe and faces formidable rivals in pursuit of the Triple Crown, a series of three races that can only be attempted once in a lifetime .
The film is directed by Ken Yamamoto, with a screenplay by Kiyoko Yoshimura and music composed by Masaru Yokoyama. Animation production is handled by CygamesPictures, with Jun Yamazaki serving as character designer and lead animation director .
Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era will be distributed theatrically in North America by GAGA Corporation.
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The Jujutsu Kaisen franchise returns to the big screen with a colossal new theatrical feature, JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution. Fans across North America will get the first chance to witness the chaos when the film debuts exclusively in IMAX theatres for one night only on December 3, followed by a nationwide rollout beginning December 5, presented by GKIDS in both Japanese and English-dubbed versions.
For the first time ever, JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution unites the franchise’s two most intense arcs—“Shibuya Incident” and “Culling Game Part 1”—into a single cinematic experience designed for the big screen. The feature serves as a special compilation of the Shibuya Incident saga, reimagined for theatrical presentation, and includes the world premiere of the first two episodes of Season 3, ahead of their January 2026 streaming debut.
The IMAX screening event will feature one exclusive showing across 100 screens nationwide on December 3, giving fans an early-access experience before the film opens widely. A new IMAX-exclusive poster was also unveiled in celebration of the announcement.
About JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution
Released in Japan under the title JUJUTSU KAISEN: The Movie – Shibuya Incident Special Edition x Culling Game Advance Screening on November 7, 2025, the feature brings the franchise’s most ambitious story arc to life. Produced by TOHO animation and animated by MAPPA, the film continues the legacy of Gege Akutami’s best-selling manga published by Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump.
Since its 2020 debut, JUJUTSU KAISEN has evolved into a global phenomenon—earning “Anime of the Year” at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards and amassing millions of fans worldwide. Earlier this year, GKIDS released JUJUTSU KAISEN: Hidden Inventory / Premature Death – The Movie, grossing over $3.25 million in North America. The previous film, JUJUTSU KAISEN 0, went on to exceed $188 million globally.
A veil abruptly descends over the busy Shibuya area amid the bustling Halloween crowds, trapping countless civilians inside. Satoru Gojo, the strongest jujutsu sorcerer, steps into the chaos. But lying in wait are curse users and spirits scheming to seal him away.
Yuji Itadori, accompanied by his classmates and other top-tier jujutsu sorcerers, enters the fray in an unprecedented clash of curses — the Shibuya Incident.
In the aftermath, ten colonies across Japan are transformed into dens of curses in a plan orchestrated by Noritoshi Kamo, the most wicked sorcerer in history. As the deadly Culling Game starts, Special Grade sorcerer Yuta Okkotsu is assigned to carry out Yuji’s execution for his perceived crimes.
The desperate confrontation between Satoru Gojo’s two beloved students comes to the big screen with an early preview. Be the first to experience Yuji and Yuta’s fateful battle with the hotly anticipated kickoff to Season 3 in theatres nationwide.
Fans can experience the ultimate Jujutsu Kaisen spectacle early with IMAX Fan Event screenings on December 3. The film then expands to standard theatres nationwide starting December 5.
Be among the first to witness JUJUTSU KAISEN: Execution — where the Shibuya Incident reaches its devastating climax and The Culling Game begins.
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MAKE A GIRL had its world premiere at the Global Stage Hollywood 2024 Film Festival on November 3rd! The new and upcoming animated film is directed by Gensho Yasuda, an independent artist and rising star in the world of Japanese animation. The film began as a crowdfunding campaign where it met its goal of 10 million yen to bring this film to life. The film is set to premiere in Japan on January 2025. I had the opportunity to watch MAKE A GIRL , ahead of its Japanese premiere, a rarity in anime.
Dir.Yasuda Gensho, and lead actress Tanezaki Atsumi, (No. 0) at the Global Stage Hollywood 2024 Film Festival | Source
Prior to watching this movie, I only knew a few bits and pieces about it and had never heard of Gensho Yasuda. The first time I heard about him and his work, was through my colleague’s interview from this year’s Anime Expo. I approached the movie with no expectations, just hoping it would be enjoyable. I must say, the movie was unexpectedly amazing!
Amazing CGI Animation
What truly surprised me about MAKE A GIRL was its CGI animation. For me, CGI-animated movies can be hit or miss, but this one was absolutely stunning. The animation was crisp, clean, and packed with detail. From the subtle character movements to the dynamic action scenes, every moment felt alive and engaging. It’s clear that an incredible amount of time and effort went into bringing this film to life. It’s been a while since I’ve seen CGI animation this impressive, and MAKE A GIRL has definitely earned a spot on my list of outstanding examples of the craft.
MAKE A GIRL is both intriguing and enjoyable. In the aforementioned interview, director Gensho Yasuda shared that the plot was inspired by the phrase “make a girlfriend” and its various interpretations. While I’m not sure if this was his original intent, I saw the plot from a different perspective. To me, the film explores the many meanings of love and what it truly means to be alive. This theme is beautifully conveyed through the interactions between Akira, the main character, and Zero, the girlfriend he creates. Their unique relationship brings depth and emotion to the story.
The movie is full of unexpected twists, especially when it comes to Akira’s backstory and the ending. The final twist ties beautifully back to the film’s opening, creating a seamless connection. Without giving too much away, there’s a key moment where characters, Zero and Akira share an emotional conversation about their relationship. I highly recommend watching this film—it truly resonated with me and brought my interpretation to life.
MAKE A GIRL is an impressive film with breathtaking CGI animation and a captivating story. Coming in with no expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by how well-thought-out the plot and characters were. The animation truly stood out—it was clean, smooth, and an absolute visual delight. As someone who doesn’t watch much CGI animation, it’s been a while since I’ve seen work this polished, making MAKE A GIRL a must-watch for anime fans.
The film set to release on January 31st of the incoming year, I highly recommend watching this movie when it gets its international debut.
This marks the first full-length theatrical project by animator Gensho Yasuda, who has amassed over 6 million followers across YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms. Known for his 3D short animations, music videos, and corporate promos, Yasuda’s work has been praised both in Japan and abroad. MAKE A GIRL is a completely original story, brought to life with 100% 3DCG and described as “300% Gensho Yasuda purity.” Its success is already evident—the crowdfunding campaign exceeded its goal by 230%, showcasing Yasuda’s incredible popularity and the high anticipation for this film.
KADOKAWA describes the film as follows,
The story takes place in the near future: Akira Mizutamari, a scientific genius who succeeded in developing and commercializing SALT, a robot that supports people’s lives, finds himself stuck in a rut when all of his new inventions fail. After hearing from a friend that he can “power up” by creating a girlfriend, he does literally that and scientifically creates an “artificial” girlfriend named “No. Zero”. Torn between her programmed emotions and her growing feelings, No. Zero starts to waver. Is it “love” that buds between her and Akira, who is unaccustomed to communicating with others, or perhaps something else?
The fascinating characters for this story are played by Atsumi Tanezaki (No. Zero), who has shown her ability to transform from one character to another in roles such as Anya in “SPY x FAMILY” and Frieren in “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End”, and Shun Horie (Akira Mizutamari), who has been selected for leading roles in various popular works, including Kyoutarou Ichikawa in “The Dangers in My Heart”. Gensho Yasuda’s unpredictable super-new cyber love suspense animation is now coming to the world ──!
Read our interview with Make A Girl director, Gensho Yasuda during Anime Expo 2024 here. For more updates and information visit the film’s official website (Japanese).
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Fans of the supernatural comedy manga Ghost Cat Anzu are in for a treat with the upcoming animated film adaptation. However, this film isn’t just a direct translation of the manga — it’s taking a bold new approach. While the original manga series charmed readers with lighthearted, comedic antics, the film adds a more adventurous twist to the familiar story of Anzu, the mischievous ghost cat.
Meet The Makers
The film is a collaboration between directors Kuno Yoko and Nobuhiro Yamashita. Kuno Yoko is responsible for the animated segments, while Nobuhiro Yamashita directs the live-action segments used in the rotoscoping process.
Often compared to Aki Kaurismäki, known for his films centering on characters who are usually left alone facing the consequences, Nobuhiro Yamashita is best known for his first 35mm film, Linda Linda Linda (2005), about a group teenagers who form a band to cover songs by the Japanese punk rock band the Blue Hearts. The film was a popular success that brought him squarely into the realm of commercial cinema.
Kuno Yoko is a talented animator and manga creator recognized both nationally and internationally. She began creating manga in high school, and her debut publication, The Horn and Love of Yuiko Amagi (2017), won second prize for debut works at the Japan Media Arts Festival, where she also became the first artist to win two First Work prizes in different categories.
Credit: John Salangsang for AIF
She was a rotoscoping animation director known for her work on Shunji Iwai’s The Case of Hana and Alice (2015) and for directing the opening film for the puppet show Gara Piko Pu in 2016. She also worked as a character designer for Shiriri in Alien Shiriri from the Crayon Shin-chan series, created animations for Crayon Shin-chan: Kung-fu Boys Ramen Scrimmage in 2017, and directed episodes of Houseki no Kuni / Age of Crystals, earning significant international recognition. Ghost Cat Anzu marks her feature film directorial debut.
Rotoscoping Ghost Cat Anzu
The film is stands out from most anime films as the production team used a technique called rotoscoping. Rotoscoping involves artists tracing over live-action footage, one frame at a time, to make the animations look more realistic.
This method helps animators capture lifelike movements and is often used to blend animated characters with live-action scenes. While time-consuming, rotoscoping is great for creating detailed, realistic animations.
As you watch the film, you can hear the actors’ voices as if they were recorded along with the live-action scenes, and that’s because they were! The characters’ voices were captured on-site, which enhances the authenticity of the film’s sound design. This blend of live-action and animation creates a unique viewing experience, with real locations being animated over to create a surreal effect.
INTERVIEW
We had the pleasure to briefly speak with director Kuno Yoko and producer Keiichi Kondo at this year’s Animation Is Film Festival,
The Ghost Cat Anzu manga is loved for its fun, slice-of-life style, revolving around Anzu, a mischievous bakeneko (ghost cat), and the residents of his town. The lighthearted interactions between characters are shown with simple and defined artwork, where humor and charm come from Anzu’s everyday situations. The manga focuses on episodic stories instead of one continuous plot. But the film takes the story in a different direction…
The film diverges from the manga by focusing on a complete, full adventure with Aznu and a new character, Karin, a precocious tween who unexpectedly moves to rural Japan to live with her grandfather.
Karin’s distrust of Anzu becomes a central theme in the movie, which contrasts with the lighter and more comedic tone of the manga. Karin actively resists Anzu’s attempts to help her, giving the film a more rebellious and adventurous feel. It’s essential to highlight that the film incorporates various short stories from the manga, adding Karin to the mix while significantly altering other pivotal characters like Anzu’s “mother” and Tetsuya.
According to directors Kuno Yoko and Nobuhiro Yamashita,
In the original work, Anzu is a ghost cat living with a monk in a temple. Unlike the typical expectations associated with ghost cats, which are supposed to surprise and scare people, Anzu behaves like an idle old man: he aimlessly sleeps, works part-time as a massage therapist, and is seen urinating in front of the temple. To present Anzu in a more appealing light, the film required a character to contrast with him. This is how we introduced the original character of Karin into the film, a girl as difficult to deal with as Anzu.
– Via Press Release
What Fans Can Expect from the Film
The film promises a blend of comedy, action, and emotional depth, with Karin and Anzu having to face the demonic consequences of Karin’s impulsive and rebellious actions. Fans can expect intense action scenes and dramatic tension that weren’t present in the manga while still holding onto the comedic elements that make Ghost Cat Anzu beloved.
Fans of the original manga will observe significant shifts in the tone, character dynamics, and stakes of the story. While the manga presents a relaxed, slice-of-life narrative, the film elevates the emotional stakes, infuses dramatic action, and establishes a more compelling plot arc. Despite these transformations, the film preserves the essence of Ghost Cat Anzu by maintaining its comedic core.
That being said, the film faces challenges with narrative coherence and structure; for a runtime of 97 minutes, the film would have been better as short film. However, for fans of the manga the film delivers a cinematic interpretation that skillfully balances humor, adventure, and emotional resonance. This new adaptation presents an innovative perspective on Ghost Cat Anzu, providing an enjoyable experience for both dedicated fans and those new to the series.
Gensho Yasuda, a member of Xenotoon Inc., is a rising star in the world of animation. With a social media following exceeding 6 million, Yasuda has captured the attention of a global audience through his innovative and captivating anime shorts. His breakthrough came with the self-produced anime “Make Love,” which garnered critical acclaim and won a prize at the prestigious 29th CG Anime Contest in 2020, Japan’s oldest CG animation contest. Building on this success, Yasuda has taken on the role of director for his latest project, “MAKE A GIRL,” further showcasing his talent and vision in the animation industry.
MAKE A GIRL is scheduled for release in Japan sometime in 2025. Film’s synopsis is as follows,
Akira Mizutamari, a scientific genius who succeeded in developing and commercializing SALT, a robot that supports people’s lives, finds himself stuck in a rut when all of his new inventions fail. After hearing from a friend that he can “power up” by creating a girlfriend, he does literally that and scientifically creates an “artificial” girlfriend named “No. Zero”. Torn between her programmed emotions and her growing feelings, No. Zero starts to waver. Is it “love” that buds between her and Akira, who is unaccustomed to communicating with others, or perhaps……?
The fascinating characters in this story are brought to life by Atsumi Tanezaki (No. Zero), known for her versatile performances as Anya in “SPY x FAMILY” and Frieren in “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End,” and Shun Horie (Akira Mizutamari), who has captivated audiences in leading roles such as Kyoutarou Ichikawa in “The Dangers in My Heart.”
We had the opportunity to interview Yasuda-san regarding his latest project, “MAKE A GIRL” who Yasuda serves as the director. Before we could ask our questions, KADOKAWA promotion team had the following questions for Yasuda-san,
KADOKAWA PT: Yasuda-san published many CG animations on SNS and YouTube. Total number of social media followers is more than 6 million followers. His works have been seen all over the world. What made you decide to create and post your own CG animation?
Gensho Yasuda: I enjoy reading and creating stories as a hobby. I work as a 3D animator, and I’ve been wanting to make 3D animations based on my own stories. In Japan, many creators, like mangakas, don’t frequently use social media to promote their work. Therefore, I’ve decided to use social media to promote my own creations.
KADOKAWA PT: For the production of the film “MAKE A GIRL,” you have set up a studio called Gensho Yasuda Studio. Is there any difference between working alone and working with a studio?
Gensho Yasuda: so working on my own the freedom that I experience is really the best part. It really allows me to set up and think about the technical approach in detail before starting so it’s really the advantage is being able to research while I’m working. So it’s kind of like a two birds one stone situation. Working in teams, in contrast really it’s a strength in numbers. The workload is reduced. The research can be done much faster. And in terms of MAKE A GIRL we worked with that eight-person team and so it was kind of like eight times the work was done in a very short amount of time. The research was done eight times faster, but it wasn’t just that it was that each animator brought with them their unique careers and their unique ideas and techniques, they discovered new techniques and they even taught me new techniques as well. So the ideas that weren’t mine got to be incorporated into this as well, which was a huge strength of working with that team.
KADOKAWA PT: What are some of the highlights of the film? What should the audience keep an eye out for?
Gensho Yasuda: So I’ve made a lot of short animes and in these short animes that were online I didn’t use any voice actors and it was just about the movement. It was simply only the visual that was involved which required some imagination from the audience and this time in this film, I’ve used voice actors and they really gave life to these characters so you can enjoy it a lot more like a classic anime. And in the sort of CG action scenes, that’s one of my strengths and one of my deeper wells of experience I would say so I think that will be a really fun and exciting part for audiences to watch as well.
Our Questions
Gensho Yasuda & Krystal during Anime Expo 2024
KRYSTAL: Usually your animations have little to no voiceover, for each character in this project has a voice actor. Do you think this project will resonate with your audience?
Gensho Yasuda: Yeah, I think so, but you know until now, imagination was such a big part of the shorts that hit, as you said, and people were just kind of free to imagine what they wanted based on their life experiences and what came to mind. This is a lot more like classic anime, so there isn’t as much that people can use their imagination with, so yeah. That’s a point that will be interesting to see how people relate to this.
KRYSTAL: Tell how you came up with initial story of MAKE A GIRL?
Gensho Yasuda: it’s literally ‘make a girlfriend’, is how you described when you get a girlfriend or that kind of thing. So thinking about the sentence written down I thought about how there could be a lot of different meanings to that sentence and the noun of girlfriend can be thought of in different ways. So I thought well what if there was a scientist that used science to create his girlfriend and I love science fiction and it’s sort of a meta expression of my love of SF that I put into this piece this film.’
KRYSTAL: What were some of the challenges that you faced in this project?
Gensho Yasuda: So the biggest challenge was really just making the film itself. There were 8 members including myself in this project and to get each of these people to become this fully fleshed-out animator was a process especially because I have a very unique know-how and I have some very interesting specialties that I taught these other people so that was the most challenging part was like creating the environment for that to happen before we even started making the film. However, at the same time, you know, six months or about a year in, each person focused on a different section, for example, like 3D modeling or background work, that sort of thing. And so each person kind of became a specialist in each area and so much so that their level of detail and expertise became deeper than mine in those areas. So I really came to rely on them and learn from them.
KRYSTAL: I know it’s probably too early to tell but you have created a numerous characters throughout your career releasing your shorts. Do you think you’ll create a film or a larger animations based on the other characters you’ve created?
Gensho Yasuda: In terms of characters I’d like to expand upon, definitely the cursed doll and the Miko character, I’d like to flesh out their stories. I have a clear image of how their stories end and how their journey ends but I don’t know exactly what medium would be best to tell that story. So it might be short, it might be long, I’m not too sure yet.
KRYSTAL: During the casting, was there a moment where you said to yourself, “Ah, There! There’s the voice of my main character”?
Gensho Yasuda: So I’d say yes, Akira’s- Yeah, I had an idea of what sort of acting I wanted to use for the character of Akira and then Shun Horie who played him really did an incredible job with like small nuances at the end of sentences or doing that sort of thing in bringing him to life because if you just read his dialogue, he’s not a very likeable character and yet he truly became Akira and even I think was somewhat likable and there were moments like that. That really made me think. Oh, yeah, this is this is Akira for sure.
KRYSTAL: Have you given any thought to venturing into other mediums, such as 2D animation or hand-drawn animation?
Gensho Yasuda: No, I have not. I think the reason is that people who can’t draw enter 3D; that is really why I entered. The 3D that I create look like hand-drawn and feels hand-drawn animation, and to do that, there are interesting adjustments that need to be done over and over again, and in making these adjustments, I find myself learning a little bit more skills in drawing, but that doesn’t mean I can draw anime.
You can follow Gensho Yasuda on social media here. Visit the film’s official website. I would to special thanks to KADOKAWA and the MAKE A GIRL PR team for this wonderful interview opportunity.
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The highly anticipated hit film, HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle is set to serve worldwide theaters starting May 30. The film will be available in Japanese with English subtitles and dubbed in English. The film will serve as one of two films that will conclude the Haikyu series.
May 30: Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland (Italian-speaking), Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama), Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru
May 31: Canada, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States
June 7: Turkey
June 12: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland (French-speaking)
June 25: Austria, Germany
June 27: Switzerland (German-speaking)
The film is directed and written by Susumu Mitsunaka, with an original story by Haikyu!! creator, Haruichi Furudate. It is produced by the highly acclaimed Production I.G.
Based on the original Weekly Shonen Jump manga series from Haruichi Furudate, HAIKYU!! is a slice-of-life sports anime about high school student Shoyo Hinata’s love of volleyball. Inspired by a small-statured player known as the “Little Giant,” Hinata creates a team in his last year of middle school. Unfortunately, his team is matched up against “King of the Court” Tobio Kageyama’s team in their first tournament, inevitably losing.
After the crushing defeat, Hinata vows to surpass Kageyama. Entering high school, he joins the volleyball team only to find that Tobio has also joined, making his once rival his new teammate.
TOHO Animation produces the anime series HAIKYU!! The first four seasons are currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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