Shigeyoshi Tsukahara and Twiflo achieved a remarkable triumph with their original anime endeavor, the full-length film “Kurayukaba,” which garnered the prestigious Best Animated Feature in the Audience Awards category at the 27th annual Fantasia International Film Festival on Tuesday.
In the same category, the anime adaptation “The Concierge,” derived from Tsuchika Nishimura’s manga “The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store,” secured a commendable second place. Following suit, the freshly crafted anime film “The First Slam Dunk,” based on Takehiko Inoue’s beloved Slam Dunk basketball manga, secured the third-place spot.
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“The First Slam Dunk” also clinched the coveted Axis: Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation, clinching the title of the best animated feature film. Notably, the SAND LAND anime film garnered a special jury mention in the same category at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.
The inaugural strides of the Kurayukaba project were paved by its initial crowdfunding campaign, which spanned from December 2018 to February 2019. The campaign not only met but exceeded expectations, raising an impressive 6,901,864 yen (equivalent to about US$63,000) from 397 backers, surpassing its initial goal of 2,500,000 yen (around US$22,100) by 276%. Impressively, the campaign even achieved its stretch goal of 4,000,000 yen (about US$35,300), originally set for a 30-second video, which was then extended to a one-minute video.
Twin Engine’s official Motion Gallery crowdfunding initiative for the film took flight in April 2020. With a target of 20 million yen (approximately US$188,000) to fund a 40-minute or longer film, the campaign concluded in August 2020, having amassed 8,798,500 yen (about US$79,513).
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The narrative’s “opening chapter,” preceding pilot film, and an insightful documentary capturing the cast’s dialogue recording sessions graced the limited screening at Tokyo’s Cine Libre Ikebukuro theater in August 2021. This event coincided with the showcasing of director Shigeyoshi Tsukahara’s four earlier shorts.
Twiflo’s intricate portrayal of the anime unfolds beneath the bustling metropolis, within the depths of the Ogi-town district, in a realm of dreams enveloped in a mesmerizing haze of purple lignite smoke. A labyrinth of subterranean pathways hides lurking bandits around every bend. Amidst this enigmatic backdrop, the armored Sokore 463 train snakes through the abyss, armed with a potent 75mm mountain gun capable of obliterating any target. Leading this charge is the enigmatic figure, Tanne.
What lies ahead for Tanne and her companions? The journey spans from the labyrinthine alleys of Akegata (dawn) to the profound subterranean expanse of Kuragari (dark), promising a bold and audacious adventure.
The accomplished storyteller Matsunojō Kanda embodies the central character, Sōtarō, driven by his quest to unveil the riddles of the deep subterranean realm. The ensemble cast features Tomoyo Kurosawa as Tanne, Yū Serizawa as Saki, and Raikō Sakamoto as Inarizaka.
Tsukahara, renowned for works like “The Man Traveling with the Brocade Portrait,” “Joseito,” “Hashi no Mukou,” as well as SEKAI NO OWARI rock band’s in-concert anime visuals and set design, embarked on his feature-length directorial debut with the captivating “Kurayukaba.” Beyond directing, he is credited with the original story and screenplay. The character designs were masterfully crafted by Kazunori Minagawa, known for his animation director roles in projects like Macross Delta, Tokyo Ravens, Yuruyuri, and Code Geass: Akito the Exiled.
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Earning a prestigious spot at the 2018 Annecy International Animated Film Festival in June 2018, the Kurayukaba project left an indelible mark on the global animation landscape.
Sources | Press release, Fantasia International Film Festival’s website, Comic Natalie
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