News

'Phantom of the Kill -Zero Kara no Hangyaku-' Concept Movie Debuts Online in May

The staff of "Phantom of the Kill -Zero Kara no Hangyaku-" (Phantom of the Kill: Treason From Zero), the prequel concept anime film short based on the popular smartphone game Phantom of the Kill, announced on Thursday that the film will debut online in a Nico Nico livestream on May 26. The livestream will correspond with a live event in Tokyo, the final stop in the short film's preview screening tour.

The pre-program will begin at 6:00 p.m. JST and the short movie itself will begin at 7:00 JST. It will be followed by a discussion and Q&A session with director Naoyoshi Shiotani, voice actress Kana Hanazawa, and producer Jun Imaizumi. After an intermission the staff will present news on the Phantom of the Kill game and franchise.

Naoyoshi Shiotani (Psycho-Pass, Blood-C: The Last Dark) directed the 15-minute concept film at Production I.G. The Roppongi Hills Arena in Tokyo hosted a premiere screening, VR experience, and red carpet event on April 7. The preview screening tour is visiting Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Tokyo.

The concept anime film short is part of a larger "Project Zero" prequel campaign. The "Project Zero" website teases an upcoming VR experience. Other recent tie-in works include a December 26 light novel by Takaaki Kaima with with illustrations by Mai.E, a character figure slated for this summer, a soundtrack that shipped on December 24, a background music compilation with gatcha ticket that shipped October 23, and an artbook.

Fuji & gumi Games' strategy drama RPG follows mysterious girls who carry the names of legendary weapons (such as "Masamune") as they search for their lost memories. The game allows players to collect characters and weapons, and enter dungeons to engage in turn-based tactical battles. Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii supervised the opening animation for the game.

The game has had crossovers with the Puella Magi Madoka Magica franchise, anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, Psycho-Pass, and Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works.

The game launched in Japan in October 2014, and it launched in the West last Wednesday.

Update: Gumi reached out to ANN to clarify that the game launched in the West last Wednesday. Gumi has also provided ANN with a press release about the global release with more information.