GKIDS announced today it will release Ghost Cat Anzu in theaters nationwide starting November 15. The film is the first collaboration between animation artist Yoko Kuno (BEASTARS) and live-action director Nobuhiro Yamashita (Linda Linda Linda). The rotoscope 2D film held its world premiere as an Official Selection at Cannes Film Festival, and went on to play as an Official Selection at Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Fantasia Film Festival, where it was also selected as the Audience Award winner.
Produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Miyu Productions, and adapted from the original manga by Takashi Imashiro, the offbeat comedy follows the strange relationship between plucky 11-year-old Karin, who is sent to live with her grandfather in the Japanese countryside, and Anzu, the capricious phantom cat who becomes her unlikely guardian.
The French-Japanese co-production was initially shot as a live action “model” film, and then animated, retaining the live voice performances of the cast from the live-action filming as the voiceover.
Synopsis: Precocious tween Karin finds herself abandoned by her father in rural Japan. Living in a temple with her grandfather, she meets Anzu, a giant “ghost cat” and notorious layabout tasked with looking after her. Distrustful of her new guardian, Karin sabotages Anzu’s odd jobs for the townsfolk and befriends the eccentric local forest spirits. In an effort to win Karin over, Anzu accidentally makes a deal with the devil, and all Hell breaks loose.
